In discussions on the ethics of genome collections and biobanks, the main worry about whether we are permitted to collect and use individuals’ genomic and genetic data is the potential for the violation of individuals’ right to informational privacy. Yet, if we do not permit these endeavors, we risk giving up on the future benefits of biomedical research. In this paper, I describe a private venture in blockchain genomics that seeks to provide an apt solution to concerns about potential privacy violations in genome collections and biobanks. I then provide some reasons to doubt the kind of solution to the dilemma that such start-ups propose. I argue that the sort of autonomy that grounds the value of the right to informational privacy cannot be secured with blockchain technology alone. So, blockchain genomics ventures are insufficient to establish the permissibility of genome collections and biobanks. I then discuss an additional ethical challenge to genomic biobanks. This challenge takes the form of doubting that future benefits that result from biomedical research dependent on genomic databases will outweigh the costs. Despite criticisms of genomic research, I claim that it is reasonable to think that future net benefits will be gained from research on such databases. Therefore, I conclude that there remains a dilemma in the ethics of genomic biobanks.

在讨论基因组收集和生物样本库的伦理时，我们是否被允许收集和使用个人的基因组和基因数据的主要担忧是可能会侵犯个人的信息隐私权。然而，如果我们不允许这些努力，我们就有可能放弃生物医学研究的未来利益。在本文中，我描述了区块链基因组学领域的一家私人企业，该企业旨在为对基因组收集和生物库中潜在隐私侵犯的担忧提供适当的解决方案。然后，我提供了一些理由来怀疑此类初创企业提出的解决困境的方法。我认为，仅靠区块链技术无法确保作为信息隐私权价值基础的那种自主权。所以，区块链基因组学风险不足以建立基因组收集和生物库的许可。然后我讨论了基因组生物库的另一个伦理挑战。这一挑战的形式是怀疑依赖于基因组数据库的生物医学研究的未来收益是否会超过成本。尽管对基因组研究提出批评，但我认为可以合理地认为，未来将从对此类数据库的研究中获得净收益。因此，我得出结论，基因组生物库的伦理仍然存在两难选择。尽管对基因组研究提出批评，但我认为可以合理地认为，未来将从对此类数据库的研究中获得净收益。因此，我得出结论，基因组生物库的伦理仍然存在两难选择。尽管对基因组研究提出批评，但我认为可以合理地认为，未来将从对此类数据库的研究中获得净收益。因此，我得出结论，基因组生物库的伦理仍然存在两难选择。