Irish Times article warning of dangers of DNA testing

pinkypinky

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/don-t-buy-online-dna-ancestry-tests-you-are-the-real-product-1.3713619


I think if she'd written this 5 years ago it might have some impact but the 20m people who taken tests already and had successes are unlikely to care, and it's too late if they did.

endacl

Different companies will give different results. Why? Because their data set is the people who have sent them samples.

The question they’re really answering is ‘how do you match up with all the other fools who have sent us cash to answer that question?’.

It’s pointless. If anybody wants to know where they came from, they can just imagine back 20 or so generations to find a common ancestor for the population. Go back 35 generations and they’ll have found the complete set of common ancestors for everybody.

Because maths.

spurious

Odd she didn't mention Family Tree DNA who are around a long time and do not sell on DNA information.

pinkypinky

I think it's a weird pointed article. She doesn't mention Ancestry the company either.

NSAman

She is right though.

DNA database information has value. Ancestry and other sites are making you pay for their database.

Honestly, I would never purchase one of these kits. It is only a matter of time before these databases are sold to the highest bidder.

pinkypinky

I went into DNA testing expecting that companies would be using it for other than genealogy.
The trade-off for me is worth. I've uncovered all sorts of connections because of it.

pedroeibar1

Karlin L often is correct on tech stuff but that article is not up to her usual standard. I'm too busy to get into a debate. I raised this some time ago
HERE

Ipso

“Just don’t”

Great arguement.

Hermy

endacl wrote: »

If anybody wants to know where they came from, they can just imagine...

Surely you mean if anybody doesn't want to know where they came from they can just imagine back 20 or so generations?

I've spent my life imagining who my birth father is which unsurprisingly is quite unfulfilling. I'm hopeful that genetic genealogy will eventually allow me to get past the legal impediments which currently prevent me from knowing who he is.

Ash.J.Williams

If you send your DNA to the Internet you are an idiot, no exceptions.

Hermy

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

If you send your DNA to the Internet you are an idiot, no exceptions.

Why?

goat2

how does one get a dna kit

c.p.w.g.w

NSAman wrote: »

She is right though.

DNA database information has value. Ancestry and other sites are making you pay for their database.

Honestly, I would never purchase one of these kits. It is only a matter of time before these databases are sold to the highest bidder.

Or else health insurance providers.

Ipso

goat2 wrote: »

how does one get a dna kit

Contact Big Corporation, you will find them under the evil government department.

Or google Family Tree DNA, Ancestry or 23andme.

pinkypinky

Ok, so this post is gaining some new posters for the genealogy forum.

First, may I remind you of our charter, stickied at the top of the forum?

Secondly, we have some basic posts about DNA and genealogy here.

Also, Ash.J.Williams,this forum is concerned with genealogy and DNA is one of the major angles, so please don't disparage our regular posters by calling us idiots.

Waitsian

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

If you send your DNA to the Internet you are an idiot, no exceptions.

How do you do that exactly? Spit on your modem?