BY SABRINA WONG
Growing through the stages of life from infant to adult, there’s only so much one can learn about themselves. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing kits have become more and more popular these days, allowing the population to discover new traits about themselves. Although what someone may find through these kits may be interesting, is spending all that money on them really worth it?
People who use DNA testing kits are provided with elaborate details on a variety of topics, such as genetic health risks, wellness, carrier status and trait reports. The reports give back extremely intricate information. Some examples include: sleep movement, genetic weight, cilantro taste aversion, earlobe type, toe length ratio and mosquito bite frequency.
“The thing is, [the results] didn’t tell me things about myself, but they told me things that I’m most likely to have based on my genes,” 19-year-old Gabriella Jaspan said. “I found some of them to be inaccurate as well.”
Prices for these kits vary, ranging from $50 to over $130. That’s a lot of money to be spending to have a sample of DNA broken apart and analyzed. With so many categories being fulfilled through the testing kit, not all results are 100 percent guaranteed to be accurate. Some reports may be completely false, making it an unreliable source to receive information from.
“The thing is, [the results] didn’t tell me things about myself, but they told me things that I’m most likely to have based on my genes,” 19-year-old Gabriella Jaspan said. “I found some of them to be inaccurate as well.”
Jaspan was gifted one of these kits over two years ago. She used the 23andMe company.
There are a multitude of companies who sell DNA testing kits, with some of the most popular being 23andMe, AncestryDNA, Living DNA, FamilyTree DNA and MyHeritage. All of these kits require the participant to submit a sample of their saliva in a collection tube using a specific barcode to the company’s lab. After sending in the sample, it takes about six to eight weeks for the results to be returned.
An email is sent to the customer, notifying them that the reports are ready to view. These reports are presented digitally and are only available through the participant’s online account.
However, the security of DNA samples are not all protected. While some websites have a specific privacy policy where their measures are written down and can be read about, not all provide this extra feeling of safety.
In June of 2018, more than 92 million accounts from the genealogy and DNA testing service MyHeritage were found on a private server.
For the sites that don’t have their privacy policies listed, customers are not assured of a secure process. After sending in a sample of DNA to a random lab, where does it go after it has been evaluated?
DNA contains the biological instructions that allow for an organism to develop, survive and reproduce. These instructions are what make each species unique. If it is unknown where the DNA sample goes following its analyzation, then that means outside sources could potentially have access to private information.
Personal genetic data is not supposed to be released to the public or anyone untrusted. According to CNBC, there are huge risks that arise by sharing DNA. Hacking is always a possibility that can occur with any large company. In June of 2018, more than 92 million accounts from the genealogy and DNA testing service MyHeritage were found on a private server.
Laws covering genetic privacy may also not be broad enough. Currently, there is only one law that covers genetic privacy, which is certainly not very many. Based on the article, “Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (also known as GINA) is too narrow in its focus on banning employers or insurance companies from accessing this information.”
Many suspicions can emerge as a result of DNA testing kits. While they may provide a unique look at some traits someone never knew they had, the overpriced, unsecure feel that the kits constitute certainly do not make up for them. Save your time and money.
Photo by PCWorld
