Blog # 6

To test or not to test...that is the question.

The other day I heard a commercial about a genetic testing company. I thought it would be pretty cool to find out who my ancestors were. Maybe I am a decedent of somebody famous. And, for those who believe in reincarnation, they might find out who they were in a past life. Why is it that people are always somebody famous in a previous life? You don’t hear people saying they were somebody who was a horrible person in a previous life. My mother says she must have been hung in a previous life, because she doesn’t like anything around her neck. She won’t wear turtle necks or necklaces. That kinda makes it easy for Mother's Day presents.

Another benefit of Genetic testing is you can find out if you are genetically predisposed to any medical issues. With that information, you can make choices that would help prevent or at least be prepared for any medical conditions that may arise. Sounds great right? I thought so too but I did a little research. Now although these sites say that your information will be kept private, can you really be sure of that? Most of the genetic databases are not currently being used by law enforcement agencies. From what I have found, there is only one database that is used by law agencies, Gen Match. This database was used to catch the Golden State Killer. He was identified by a familial DNA match. Some relative of his uploaded his DNA information into the genetic database and they were able to match a genetic profile. This was great for not only law enforcement but also for any future victims. The information that was able to be obtained from the genetic database, helped to catch a very bad person and prevent future crimes or horrible acts. Gen Match can be used to help law enforcement find not only perpetrators of crime but also victims. There are several unsolved criminal cases where victims have never been identified. With a genetic data base, victims can be identified. 

So here is the moral dilemma, by uploading your genetic testing results, you can help catch a criminal or identify a victim, but you will also be putting in DNA that will affect not only you, but your family, extended family and future generations. Will it be used in a positive way by halting crime or, will it  be used in the future for other means that we aren't even aware of yet. It is not out of the realm of thinking that insurance companies can decide not to insure because of a genetically predisposed conditions or things that are not related to the innocent question of ancestry.