It’s pretty funny to see the general public respond to questions like “would you give your DNA to a national crime database” and €would you give your DNA to find out that your DNA has 3% of features commonly associated with the average DNA profile from someone originating from in or about the general area of Spain".
People treat these ancestry databases as if they’re a direct path to their genetic ancestry whereas the best they can offer is statistical comparison against other people from specific areas that indicate there may be a connection. It’s about ad close as you can come to biological astrology. Meanwhile, they’re paying money to private parties that sell access to DNA databases and hand out access to the police whenever the cops come up with a story sad enough.
I can understand people taking these tests for medical reasons, or for adopted people to come closer to finding their birth parents, but most of these people just seem to be using their DNA as some kind of gimmick.
I’ve worked in genetics settings, and am considering a career in it – which is partially why I wouldn’t want to send my DNA in. I don’t really see a point in it because you said, its mostly statistical analysis and, buy and large, isn’t very specific.
For lack of better term this privatized genetic screening phenomenon feels like pop science on crack. Spit in a tube, have the cool science company analyze it - find out cool stuff. But when I’m asked about it, I always warn people of the same thing. This is still a relatively new field. Legislation protecting people on the privacy of their genetic code is shaky at best, and the information you get isn’t going to be all that useful.
My parents both come from different ethic minority populations so they wanted to learn more about their roots.
taking these tests for medical reasons, or for adopted people
which in response to that - I’d say that that another case could be for people that do have a curiosity of where they came from given other unique familial backgrounds - which is why I mentioned my family. But I agree it’s hard to draw the line on cost/benefits for each person and where it’s merely novelty versus having legitimate benefit.
for getting a better medical understanding - I really think that it would be better to see a genetic counselor or clinical geneticist. It’s still a growing field in medicine so there aren’t that many - and they typically work in prenatal and pediatric settings. But it’s my hope that as the profession grows, this information will be liaised more by medical professionals - both to guide people in understanding the results of genetic screens and also so that this information is protected under patient privacy laws.
apologies if this was a little scattered. I’m kinda a nerd for genetics and have a lot of thoughts about it - and this was mostly me thinking as I was writing
Damn, “biological astrology” is dialed in, very well said!
The vast majority of people in the general public would give happily to both, so I’m not sure what your point is here.
It’s only places like this that fear these things.
This confirms yet again my decision not to trust these genetic businesses. Why anyone does I do not know. But, people sign up for Facebook which should explain almost any crazy behavior.
It doesn’t matter if you give them information. If your second cousin did, then they can find you.
How does that work? And what if my relationship to my second cousin is not by blood?
See article third paragraph
Not seeing how that answers either of my questions.
If someone blood related enters such a program, certain dna markers get on file that could lead to you. In recent years that way many unidentified dead or serial killers got identified, because someone related made such a test and the fbi database started beeping for a partial match.
I understand why people feel this way, but the donor conception industry in the US is so irresponsible that genetic testing is some people’s only way to figure out what is going on medically with themselves. Some donor conceived people are finding themselves in MASSIVE sibling pools in the same geographic area.
I still can’t understand to this day why it even matters where you came from instead of worrying more about where you are right now. This DNA garbage simply reeks of modern Eugenics where people are trying to claim superiority over each other
Well in my case I never knew my birth family or where I’m from.
So it’s not about feeling superior. It’s about having a slice of belonging.
It’s about Eugenics, nothing more
Thank you for telling me how I feel about something.
Nevermind, he/she probably has some inferiority complex oder his/her own heritage for some reason and now projects. Nothing wrong with trying to find out about ones „hidden past“, I did something similar with my family name and found some very interesting history.
Your welcome, sometimes it’s important to broaden your mind
KHHHHAAAAAANNNNNNN!!!
I don’t remember that version of Meghan Trainors song.
@YaaAsantewaa @shreddy_scientist one reason is diversity, but yes, checking that with DNA is stupid because it matters much more where you grew up
I agree which is what I’m saying, your DNA doesn’t matter, where you are now does and it’s better to move forward than getting hung up on the past otherwise we’re getting into Eugenics territory where people will claim land and territory based on their “DNA profile”, and I don’t want that kind of racist garbage
Apparently we’ve learned nothing from the past and it’s just repeating itself with a shiny new coat of paint
Law enforcement can find you from your second cousins dna
Why are people freaking out. DNA is fairly private as currently its about pattern matching
