You might have seen those fun little ads online claiming you can get closer to your roots if you take a DNA test to learn about your genetic makeup. The ads make it seem like a fun, harmless little endeavor to get in touch with distant relatives and enjoy the science of gene sequencing. However, due to the multiple problems with the commercial gene-sequencing industry, it’s inadvisable for most people to get such a test.
There are tons of reasons, but the biggest ones are potential for privacy breaches and the possibility of learning something that might emotionally scar you.
You Can’t Handle the Truth
There are horror stories of people getting back a DNA test only to learn they have an incurable, terminal genetic illness. This illness was likely passed to their children, and now, there’s nothing they can do about it except wait for symptoms to start to manifest. This horrible fate has been likened to being told the date of your own death: it’s the kind of information you think you want until you have it.
Another potential “nightmare” scenario for genetic sequencing involves accidentally uncovering family secrets about your origins. Maybe the person you thought was your uncle is actually your father. Maybe the person you thought was your sister is actually your mother. By turning over these genetic stones, you could reveal the ugly truth underneath.
Privacy Concerns
Another major concern is privacy. The big commercial DNA test companies sell your data to the highest bidder. If law enforcement wants access to their database, they’ve got to hand it over, causing you to potentially be included in DNA profiles when they’re looking for criminals.
What’s worse, big pharma companies want your DNA. They’ll use your genetic profile to conduct research that could link you and members of your family to potentially unethical studies. Not to mention, when you send in your DNA to a commercial lab, you could be exposing family members to scrutiny without their consent, as they’re being indexed in relation to your genetic sequence.
Even worse, your data could be hacked. All it takes is an enterprising hacker with the right know-how and equipment, and your genetic data could be leaked onto the wider internet for all to see. In an era when extremists are focusing on race as a spark for political violence, having your exact genetic makeup in such a precarious positions could be disadvantageous.
