In what can be considered the first all-encompassing workplace protection since the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) - an anti-discrimination law that bans discrimination of workers on the basis of genetic background - took effect on Saturday.

The GINA, which was signed by President Bush in 2008, ushers in a new era in terms of protecting people who have a hereditary predisposition to disease. The law is also a massive victory for proponents of personalized medicine, including the use of genetic tests that help in the diagnosis of disease and the selection of medication.

Eliminating the most notable hurdle in the way of genetic testing, the newly-enforced law prohibits employers from hiring, firing or determining promotions of the employees on the basis of genetic makeup.

Furthermore, the law also forbids health insurers from giving excessive consideration to a person's genetics - like predisposition for Parkinson's disease - for either setting insurance rates or denying coverage.

Noting that the GINA endorses the belief that people have a right to be judged solely on merit, Stuart J. Ishimaru, acting chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, said in a statement: "No one should be denied a job or the right to be treated fairly in the workplace based on fears that he or she may develop some condition in the future."