To think this is an odd birthday request off DD?

[etonclean]

DD's birthday is in 2 weeks, she has asked for one of those DNA tests. She will be 19. Just in case someone asks I'd like to clarify it's not a "who's the daddy" test. You spit in a cup, send it off to the lab and then they get back to you telling you which areas of the world your ancestors are from and what diseases you have a genetic predisposition to.

I've said I'll get her one but I think it's a bit odd. There's no family secrets, me and DH are both definitely her biological parents (!) and both families are very healthy. We also both have family tracing back to Ireland.

AIBU in worrying she thinks there is some secret we are keeping from her about who she is? Or am I just being paranoid? She usually asks for makeup. DH got upset when I told him what she had asked for as he thought she must think he's not her dad, managed to reassure him though.

I think it’s a really cool present.

Yabu. I think it's frankly bizarre that your first thought was you daughter thinks you're hiding a family secret. And even more bizarre that your husband think she thinks he night not be her dad!!!!

Are you both paranoid about other stuff too?

I asked for this for Christmas when I was 21 I didn’t get it though mind you, are you my mum?

What do you think they would do with it?

Sell it?
When people mindlessly joined FB did they ever think their personal data would fall into the wrong hands?

YABU - they are fun and informative. Yes, they have your data, which will probably be sold on for research purposes. That's fine by me, frankly - I'm not doing anything with it.

A quick google re dna ancestry kits gives this for example

How valuable is your DNA? Well, pharma company GlaxoSmithKline signed a $300 million deal with DNA test company 23andme this year, for access to those databases. A medtech company owned by Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has a major deal to get DNA data from ancestry.com.

I would LOVE one of them! Lots of people do them. It’s not weird at all, it’s a really normal, natural thing to want to know where you’re from, what you’re connected to. I literally can’t think of a gift I’d like more to be honest (except for someone actually doing a detailed version of my family history which you can also get fromAncestry if you’re way richer than we are at the moment )

I think it's frankly bizarre that your first thought was you daughter thinks you're hiding a family secret. And even more bizarre that your husband think she thinks he night not be her dad!!!!
I thought the same 😂 worried about something OP?

I don't think it's odd at all. Family history has always been interesting to people has become really popular over the last few years, especially among the older teens / early twenties generation. The DNA kit from the family history people seems to be the latest development. My "children" (both early 20's) and a lot of their friends have done the test or asked for it for a gift. They've all been over excited by the results, and over -sharing them on SM too.

I also agree that your reaction is bizarre. If she did think her dad wasn't her dad, then what is a generic ancestry DNA test going for how her? Absolutely nothing. She'd need to compare her DNA to your husband's. This is an entirely different thing. Also, family secret? The results will be like "75% European and 25% african" etc. What sort of family secret are you imagining she's trying to find out with that information?

I'm another one who thinks it's really bizarre that people so blithely give away their genetic information to big businesses. If one of mine asked for something like this I'd have them do research into what the information may be used for now and on the future, who it may be sold to and who may demand access to it in future first. All consent should be fully informed.

I know a couple of people who've done this testing. It's interesting and commonplace enough amongst younger people. I'm surprised at your reaction - it wouldn't be my first thought.

They are just marketing to get hold of your DNA and hold it for ominous reasons

There are huge issues around data, security and platforms monetising and surveilling DNA amidst of course other things. I work in this area for my bread and butter but not sure the data/platforms aspect is “seen” by people usually in these things, as with google nest, the one ring doorbell etc.

@Thoughtlessinengland can you explain that in plain English please? Doesn’t the GDPR protect us all now?

The NHS already has all of our DNA data via the newborn blood spot cards (heel prick test). These are used for medical research purposes.

@NichyNoo

They don't have mine! I was born in South Africa. No idea what they took from me when I was born.

Regarding the NHS, are those cards kept with your name and address and all that? Because the ancestry people get your name and addresa so it's identifiable.

What do you think they would do with it?

Sell it, use it in research, give it to private agencies...all sorts, really.

There's no need to give your DNA away to a random company. You have no idea what they'll do with it once it's in their hands!

Big companies like ancestry, Amazon etc. aren't there for your benefit - they wouldn't
provide services like Alexa or DNA testing if they got nothing out of it.

Hiya

This BBC link is a good place to start www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/technology-48110894

But the issue is not solely about DNA particularly it is more generally about our data rights and whether we as individuals and societies are prepared to start looking at personal data rights more seriously as human rights. The recent hauling over coals that Mark Z has faced over Facebook is a good example.

GDPR only goes a certain way, there are countless ways around it and the fundamental fact is that the internet and digital platforms (with enormous power) are largely unregulated. Recently the LSE’s Truth Trust and Technology commission recommended the establishment of an Independent Platforms Regulator but it’s unlikely to happen.

Till then the most individuals can do is to choose wisely, be vigilant about personal data, be v cautious about the implications of “smartness” in our lives and around the home and encourage digital literacy in our kids and teens so they can benefit from the many opportunities of the internet and minimise the risks.

I don’t really care what a corporation does with my DNA. I can’t monetise it myself, why not let a corporation make something out of it and contribute to the global economy? I’m not afraid they’re going to clone me or something!

My 20 year old sister has said she would like one for Christmas!

17yo DD was desperate to find out if she would have some African (I'm not sure why). Rather disappointed to discover she's 100% white European.

One of my distant cousins has a bit of Cameroonian, though, I need to ask if she's got Sally Hemmings in her tree... in mean time, we found out a whole new great-uncle from DD's test. 😲

The 'ominous' insinuations go nowhere with me. The problem with Ancestry.com test is they don't let you download the raw data. But advantage of one of the competitor sites (like FamilytreeDNA) is you can download your raw results & share them with others or use them to find unusual genes, or look for health markers. I think there are other website services that are more interesting for health, like if you want to look for APOE genes. But yeah, be prepared for unexpected info. Quite a shock to find Unexpected Uncle.

I got into family history at the same age. Would have loved to do the ancestry tests back then!

I wouldn't want one myself but I can see why it would be interesting. I think it's quite cool she wants something interesting and a bit different for her birthday. Lots of people get into this stuff so it's not really that odd.

The NHS already has all of our DNA data via the newborn blood spot cards (heel prick test). These are used for medical research purposes.

Apparently it depends on which hospital. Some destroy them, others don't. Thanks for the info though, I have just started the process of finding out what happened to my daughter's.

Nah, my DS asked for one for Xmas last year (he was 18). He was just interested in his family history and finding out more about his ancestors and heritage. It was quite interesting, he came out as 64% Scottish/Irish heritage, when my family are all Welsh or English, and DH's dad was half Irish to our knowledge. It's opened up new areas of research too, he's traced his family tree back to the 1700s since he got the results.