Science and security of DNA testing
Ethical and privacy concerns emerge as DNA tests move from a scientific endeavor to a commercial one.
Online ancestry DNA tests are changing the scientific and social landscape, but what happens to our biodata in the hands of commercial companies?
Outfits like AncestryDNA and 23andMe are earning millions of dollars from people anxious to uncover their hidden histories. They are also collecting big data from vials of saliva customers are mailing in to find their roots.
In this second half of The Stream’s two-part examination of the DNA ancestry craze, we discuss how making DNA tests more mainstream could bring unintended consequences to race relations, health policies and policing.
On this episode of The Stream, we speak with:
Julie Granka @juliegranka
Population geneticist, Ancestry DNA
ancestry.com
Kevin Jones Giddins
Ancestry DNA user
Joseph Graves @gravesjl55
Evolutionary biologist, North Carolina A&T State University
ncat.edu
What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.