Member-only story
DNA Colonialism
When a DNA Test Creates a Family You Do Not Recognize at All
What if your genes could be sold, claimed, and weaponized against you
I first came across the story while reading the news. A headline about DNA testing and identity stopped me cold. At first, I thought it was just another curiosity piece. But the deeper I read, the more disturbed I felt.
People were mailing their saliva to companies and getting back ancestry reports that reshaped their sense of self. The articles showed charts, numbers, and new family trees that often clashed with the stories people had lived with for generations.
I was shocked. Obviously who won’t be.
It was not just about curiosity. It was about control. A test could suddenly place you in a community you had never been part of. It could name ancestors you never knew. It could hand strangers the power to tell you who you are.
That feeling has stayed with me.
The Allure and the Trap
The business of DNA testing is sold as a lifestyle product. Who would not want to know if they have roots in a faraway land or an unexpected connection to a tribe or dynasty.
