Students expressed privacy concerns after the Minzu University of China said it is requiring them to fill a consent form for a pre-enrollment physical examination, allowing the university to collect their gene samples, media reported.
"We were asked to fill out a consent form for collecting gene samples. The university infirmary will take our blood and urine samples when the form is accomplished," a student surnamed Zhang told the Global Times on Thursday.
"DNA is something quite personal, I don't think the university has any right to take a sample from me. Some students I know were reluctant to fill out the form for privacy reasons," he said.
A member of the university infirmary staff told the Beijing Times that providing DNA samples is voluntary. He said students' DNA samples will be used for China's 863 Program, and that the whole procedure is safe and legal. "Most students support our research, only a few refused to donate their DNA samples. We hope to encourage our students to contribute to China's science and research program." the staff said.
The 863 program is funded and managed by the Chinese government to stimulate the development of advanced technologies in a wide range of fields, with genetic engineering research being a crucial part of the program.
"The pre-enrollment physical examination is required by the Ministry of Education, not by the university. We haven't violated any regulation," said a member of the university infirmary staff reached by the Global Times. When asked if collecting gene samples is also required by the Ministry of Education, he declined comment.
According to regulations on pre-enrollment physical examination released by the ministry in 1998, all incoming university students are required to undergo a complete physical examination. Universities must strictly follow the regulations and should not apply its own standard. Collecting DNA samples is not included in the standard procedure.
A majority of students at the university are from China's ethnic minorities, with 54 percent from the 55 recognized minority groups, including Uyghurs and Tibetans.
