DHS/S&T/PIA-037 Genomics Informatics System (GIS)

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) created the Genomics Informatics System (GIS) to analyze bio-forensic data for classified development projects and law enforcement casework. GIS processes deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and amino-acid sequences transferred to GIS from external sources. S&T uses GIS for the analysis of bio-forensic data that may include the DNA or amino-acid sequences of synthetic constructs, viruses, bacteria, plants, animals, and/or humans. GIS is not used to identify individuals, and the identity of an individual cannot be inferred from a DNA sequence or other information in the GIS database. S&T is conducting this PIA to analyze potential privacy risks in the collection, analysis, and storage of human DNA sequences by GIS. March 2019