Ancestry DNA sold to Blackstone

Forums › Off topic › Ancestry DNA sold to Blackstone - Privacy Concerns?

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Linux

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#2538355 11-Aug-2020 08:03

@Mikeaqua A) That is just stupid thinking you are playing around with DNA here and people use this information including myself to reconnect people with unknown biological family! I found my unknown biological father using Ancestry and I have helped many others! This just can't be made up!

B) Go back and read my first post in this thread

MikeAqua

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#2538386 11-Aug-2020 09:48

Linux:

@Mikeaqua A) That is just stupid thinking you are playing around with DNA here and people use this information including myself to reconnect people with unknown biological family! I found my unknown biological father using Ancestry and I have helped many others! This just can't be made up!

Its thinking informed by professional experience with the kind of instrumentation they will be using, knowing how disciplined the approach has to be, knowing how easily mistakes can creep in and knowing how expensive it is (although scale helps somewhat). I'm not saying they will get it wrong all or most of the time, just .... grain of salt.

Clearly it's an emotional subject for you and I'm very happy to hear you found your biological father. But, please don't dismiss other people's thinking as stupid because you don't agree with it, and it doesn't match your experience.

Mike

MikeAqua

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#2538388 11-Aug-2020 09:51

Linux:

B) Go back and read my first post in this thread

Yes I already read that. The potential for the kind of takeover you are now concerned about is one the reasons I have ever gone opted for commercial DNA analysis. In fact I don't think I've ever had DNA testing of any kind done. Id have testing for a legitimate medical reason, which comes with appropriate controls.

Mike

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#2538530 11-Aug-2020 11:54

MikeAqua:

I've always looked at this sector and thought: -

(A) They are probably cutting all sorts of corners on the processing to save costs, so the results may not be very reliable.

(B) Why would I give such detailed biological information about myself to a private company?

There was good article in the Atlantic last year about the controversy surrounding use of data held by private DNA companies in criminal investigations.

I've found the results (compared to my predicted results) to be surprisingly accurate.

The first genetic anthropological study I joined was National Geographic's (recently ended) 'Genographic Project' in the mid '00's followed by their 2.0 Next Gen a few years later. There was some controversy, particularly from Indigenous groups, about the potential of 'private' genetic human migration studies to potentially clash with the oral history, beliefs, cultural perceptions and even modern land rights claims if unexpected results showed up. Other 'Government' sponsored studies (such as HGDP were) considered less likely to be biased.

The 'deep ancestry insight' results (120-12,000 years ago) from that study were interesting but I was looking for more exact (and recent) genetic history, and their 'regional ancestry' (10,000-500 years) was still a bit vague for me.

One of the reasons for my interest is my family has a very detailed family tree, most branches stretching back unbroken into the 1500's or earlier, and I wanted to see how accurately my personal genetic profile would reflect that documented pedigree.

So I did a bit of research and chose 23andMe, after actually reading their privacy policies and Terms of Service.

I joined in Canada - which has toothy genetic non-discrimination laws that (despite recent challenges) ensure strict privacy, and prevent the results being used for genetic discrimination in any capacity.

You give the company detailed biological information about yourself in return for them supplying genetic health insights, information on your ethnic origins, and, in conjunction with their 'reference population' data, detailing your ancestor's geographic locations.

Of course there's an option to connect with living relatives - known or unknown (which was really interesting for my wife's family).

I've found the geographic location data to be spot on. Up to 3-400 years back, things like the specific county in Ireland, a certain city in Scotland or town in Devon all match the information in our family tree. The few things that don't have provided more insight (who would have guessed my 'gypsy' G-G-G-Grandma was Persian)

Genetic health-wise, a biggie was finding I have the 'Celtic Curse' - hereditary Hemochromatosis.

While back in NZ I went to the doctor for a blood test, which showed iron overload, and led to another genetic test - through NZ Health services, for that specific condition, confirming both variants. I had treatment (ongoing), and a liver biopsy that showed - luckily - it was caught in time.
I'm now watching out for Age-Related Macular Degeneration..

None of the data the company holds on me can be used in criminal investigations (under normal circumstances), and I cannot legally be asked by Insurance companies to volunteer it.

You'll find US law enforcement is using information volunteered to GEDmatch and FTDNA for their recent well publicised cases - such as the capture of the 'Golden State Killer'.

MikeAqua

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#2538531 11-Aug-2020 11:59

Sidestep:

You'll find US law enforcement is using information volunteered to GEDmatch and FTDNA for their recent well publicised cases - such as the capture of the 'Golden State Killer'.

That is one the cases the Atlantic article refer to. Good read.

Mike

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