On the same day, two articles were
published about Genetic Testing and families.
For the former article, there have
been many comments posted about it on the International Society of Genetic
Genealogy Facebook page.
Obviously these articles raise very
complex questions regarding rights to information and so much more.
Whenever a client asks me about
doing genetic testing for genealogical purposes I always tell them “if you don’t
want to know the truth, don’t do DNA testing!”
Also regarding the first post, the
comments on FB include some discussion about why similar articles aren’t
written about people making similar discoveries (e.g. dad had another child
with someone else) through other means? I do believe that such articles are being written and even books, though, what DNA brings to the table is the incontrovertible evidence of relationship which we cannot ascertain (unless all the involved parties are still alive and/or they left a detailed and explicit document about what occurred) from the horses mouth exactly what happened. So, a paper trail may give us a very good
level of “certainty” and it’s not proof in the way DNA testing has become. This, to me, makes DNA testing a “great” (or
we can substitute “easy”) lightening rod for articles like these.
A DNA test is “easy” to blame for
the actions of ancestors. Yet, in many
(though clearly not all) cases, all the adults involved were willing
participants in the producing of future generations, regardless of surname and
circumstances. The test just provided “proof”
of those long-ago events and there is nothing we, as researchers, can do to
change history.
Unfortunately, even those not
involved in genealogical research or DNA testing, may learn things they didn’t
want to know because their extended family has pursued research and DNA
testing. It’s kind of like when your
neighbor tells you something about another neighbor which would have never come
up in a conversation with that other neighbor – it’s hard to get that
information out of your head and it sometimes changes your relationship with
both neighbors. What can you do to
prevent it? Bury your head in the sand? Not talk to anyone? I don’t have an answer ....
Again, these do represent cautionary
tales about the unanticipated and often undesirable outcomes that genetic
testing can lead to.
Do read
these articles. Do share your reactions
to them. Have they changed your
perspective on DNA testing for genealogical purposes?
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