Technology advances quickly, and sometimes so fast that ethics and the law have trouble keeping up. Science recently posted an article about legal ramifications of DNA sequencing (“lawsuits” appears in the title). While the article focuses on the clinical side of DNA testing, the issues raised could also apply to research-related DNA sequencing. You may recall the Revised Common Rule (RCR) added an “as applicable” informed consent element pertaining to the return of clinically relevant research results. While the RCR does not require the return of results, it does require subjects be told of whether clinically relevant results will provided to subjects. While DNA sequencing may not give us useful information now, what if it can five years from now? Should we try to track down subjects then?