The Reliability and the Ethics of DNA Testing for Genealogy (part 2)
Earlier this week, I posted the first half of this article, discussing how DNA testing works, some factors that affect accuracy, choosing which company you want to test with, and why your DNA results may look different from your Genealogy Paper trail.
In this post, I will discuss the ethical concerns of DNA testing for genealogy purposes and go deeper into why DNA results can differ from company to company.
Ethical Considerations
DNA testing for genealogy raises important ethical concerns about the following:
1. Privacy
Your DNA contains information about your health, traits, and family connections. Understanding how companies handle and potentially share or sell your genetic data is essential. Consider whether you want your DNA in a searchable database or only for personal reporting. Also, keep in mind that companies can change hands. The people behind the company you test with may not always be in charge.
What does this mean? You should read the Privacy Statement of the company you want to test with. You should also read any Updated Privacy Statements when they are released. If you decide to test with a company, make sure you can leave later if you change your mind. And that when you leave, they will destroy your DNA sample.
2. Re-identification
Public genealogy databases can potentially re-identify anonymous testers, leading to unintended consequences. Maybe you decided to test anonymously because you already know your grandfather died from complications of Alzheimer’s, and you want to be sure an insurance company can not drop you or refuse coverage because you may be a genetic carrier of the variant the DNA company you chose tested for. Re-identification means that you feel secure that you are testing anonymously, but somehow, your private information is later identified.
3. Racial Essentialism
DNA testing can inadvertently promote racial essentialism, the idea that someone will act a certain way due to a person’s outward appearance, by categorizing social constructs as definitive genetic markers. Be cautious about drawing sweeping conclusions about identity from genetic markers alone.
If the company you test with has a history of bias, stereotyping, or ethnic oversimplification, this can lead to racial essentialism. These tests may not always accurately represent one’s cultural or ethnic identity because they rely on statistical comparisons to reference populations.
Heritage is a combination of personal experiences and community and personal relationships. DNA is measured by genetic markers and not by cultural histories that define your personal family history.
4. Family Implications
For generations, we have relied on those who came before us to tell us who our ancestors were — regardless of the validity of truth. With the dawn of affordable and accessible DNA testing, family secrets are being revealed. Maybe this is why you decided to take the test, or perhaps you had no idea your father was not your biological father — either way, revealing hidden truths can cause hurt, pain, and other issues in families. It is something to consider before taking a test.
The four points listed above aren’t the only things to consider before taking a DNA test, but they cover some more important points. Remember, it’s best to research before taking a DNA test and form your own decision from what you find.
Why do DNA Ancestry Test Results Differ?
DNA ancestry test results can sometimes deviate from family oral history for various reasons:
- Inheritance and Random Inheritance: DNA testing primarily reflects more recent ancestry, potentially missing distant ancestors. Imagine your parent’s DNA is a rainbow of color-coated candies in a bowl. Your mom’s DNA has more red candies, but your father’s has more blue. When you were born, you scooped up a handful that was a mixture of their DNA. Then, when your sibling was born — they did the same. Will you both have the same number of red and blue candies? No. Will you still have ½ of your mom’s and ½ of your dad’s DNA — yes. But inheritance isn’t perfectly balanced and isn’t black and white. Your sibling may have ten blue candies when you only have 2 — you are still 100% siblings, but your genetic inheritance is not identical.
- Human Error: Family stories may be inaccurately passed down over generations. Have you ever heard of the game telephone? Over generations, ancestors may get details wrong or maybe even embellish until the story reaches you, and it’s merely a fabrication of the past.
- Unexpected Paternity Events: Misattributed parentage can disrupt expected DNA patterns. There are many reasons why parentage may not be what you thought it was. A DNA test may reveal a family member you love and cherish isn’t a biological one. It happens more than you may realize.
- Reference Data Limitations: Reference populations may only cover some global ethnicities comprehensively. When the pandemic hit, and everyone was bored at home, the number of people who took a DNA test with companies like AncestryDNA or 23andMe jumped exponentially. The more people who take the test = the more global locations can be identified. But this is still not a guarantee the location your family originated from will be represented.
- Historical Changes: National borders and identities have shifted over time, affecting how DNA is categorized. A great example of this is one branch of my family. I have a lot of Eastern European heritage, but those borders have changed many times in the last two hundred years. Poland became Galicia and was part of the Austria-Hungarian empire, and then was Poland, but Russia took over part of it, and on and on and on.
- Base Pair Mutations: Small genetic mutations across generations can alter ancestral markers. Basically, base pair mutations are like typos in the DNA code. Like you tried to write DOG but accidentally wrote GOD. This would be a base pair mutation, and it can change the genetic instructions inherited from parent to child. Down the line, the base pair mutation can lead to genetic diseases or changes in physical traits. Yet, some mutations don’t cause any problems at all. It just depends on where in the DNA code the change occurred.
- Interpretation Variability: Different companies employ distinct algorithms and thresholds for ethnicity identification, leading to variations in results. This can lead to different companies presenting different Ethnic Results. Using me as an example, this can look like an inheritance of Egyptian Heritage on one platform is nowhere to be found on another.
Testing multiple family members with different companies to address discrepancies can help clarify ancestry surprises. However, it’s important to remember that human ancestry is inherently complex, and unexpected results are part of the journey.
Please remember that DNA testing for genealogy is a powerful tool that can unlock family mysteries and connect you with long-lost relatives. Still, there are also many variables to consider. While no test is flawless, choosing a reputable company and considering ethical implications will help you make informed choices on your genealogical journey. Remember that DNA testing is just one piece of the puzzle, and the rich tapestry of your family’s history extends far beyond the strands of DNA. Talk to your living ancestors, take the time to properly research your family history, and note what was happening around your family while they were still alive. War, famine, marriage, divorce, and so much more can mold and transform our family histories.
[Disclaimer: I am not a genetic genealogist, only a genetic genealogist enthusiast. If you are uncertain about taking a DNA test for genealogy purposes, please make sure to conduct deeper research on the pros and cons of DNA testing and reach out to specific companies who conduct these tests to be sure before sending off your sample.]
(Check out last week’s post: The Reliability and the Ethics of DNA Testing for Genealogy (part 1). Follow my profile for alerts!)
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Aryn is a genealogist who researches family trees, a lover of local cemeteries, and a social history enthusiast. She helps people discover their family roots and heritage through researching their family history.