#dna testing

The company said its systems were not breached and that attackers gathered the data by guessing the login credentials of a group of users and then scraping more people’s information from a feature known as DNA Relatives. Users opt into sharing their information through DNA Relatives for others to see. 

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The full picture of why the data was stolen, how much more the attackers have, and whether it is actually focused entirely on Ashkenazim is still unclear.

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Callow notes that the situation raises broader questions about keeping sensitive genetic information safe and the risks of making it available in services that are designed like social networks to facilitate sharing.

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“This incident really highlights the risks associated with DNA databases,” Callow says. “The fact that accounts had reportedly opted into the ‘DNA Relatives’ feature is particularly concerning as it could potentially result in extremely sensitive information becoming public.”

Yeah, so, don't reuse passwords, and be careful what kind of information you share purposefully or opt in to passively sharing.

(audio sped up) 🔗 to second part

Folks, do your genealogy.

Words from a person who processes genealogical research for people said this:

DNA testing gives people ranges and estimates of where they think your heritage maybe from. DNA testing cannot link you to blood relatives from Africa. If we all descend from West African slaves, these DNA tests should link us to blood relatives in Africa. A 5th cousin, a 7th cousin, 8th cousin twice removed or something should be possible to link people but that never happens with these tests.

DNA testing cannot tell you if you descend from a Powhatan chief, a DNA testing cannot tell you if your ancestors fought in the war of 1812 or fought in the US Color Troops during the Civil War, or if you have 200 acres in land patents.

DNA tests will give several percentages of “African” from different countries.

DNA tests are not conclusive for proving ethnicity or country of origin. DNA tests can place you at the scene of a crime, a DNA test can tell you who your mama and daddy and cousins are — they can link you to blood relatives but they never link you to blood relatives on the continent of Africa.

I hate the idea of mandatory DNA testing of children primarily because it's anti-child, default fathers are used to ensure a child has 2 legal parents, this laws means a man is not legally responsible for a child who isn't genetically his, but does nothing to ensure the bio dad is also the legal dad, so a child is denied a father and we're back to single mothers being left on their own

But it's also anti-woman because it assumes women cannot be trusted, but there's no equivalent burden for men; no one asks for like, men having to share their location or being forbidden from having more than one phone, or stuff like that