Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia have sued the bankrupt genetic testing company 23andMe in an effort to block the company's sale of its customers' genetic data.

The possible sale of 23andMe’s genetic data could set a precedent for future cases where companies look to offload increasingly personal data.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia on Monday filed a lawsuit in bankruptcy court seeking to block the sale of personal genetic data by 23andMe without customer consent. The lawsuit comes as a biotechnology company seeks the court’s approval to buy the struggling firm.