DNA Testing...I know you've seen the adverts for the different ways to see exactly where you come from...to find out about your ancestors...your roots...what your "PEOPLE" looked like - or might have looked like. I'm talking many many generations back. What would happen if you do this cheek swab/blood test thing and find out something you were not prepared for?
Suppose you do the test and find out that your parents that have raised you your whole life, came to all your dance recitals...little league games...bandaged all your scrapes, cuts and bruises...taught you to drive...cried as you walked across the stages for your high school and college graduations...those 2 people who you love sooooo much...based on the DNA test results ARE NOT YOUR PARENTS?! I'm talking no relationship at all. You start to think, man your whole life was a lie...why didn't they tell you that you were adopted? Wait, were you adopted? Or maybe - OMG were you KIDNAPPED?! Switched at birth???Alright alright, whoa... let's hope at the worst you were adopted and they just couldn't bring themselves to tell you. Sucks but at least you won't have to wonder if you've ever been the face on any milk cartons...
Or let's suppose that you have been receiving minority presence grants/scholarships as a Black student attending a predominately white university. Now you've been Black your whole life but you do the test and good old DNA4ME shows you have ZERO African ancestry! You have tons of Native American, Scandinavian, Irish, Polynesian...see what I'm saying? Mind blown! Do you divulge what you've found out or keep quiet and keep getting those grants/scholarships? Hmm wonder if they'd make you pay it all back if they knew?
Beyond all of that, my biggest worry about doing a DNA ancestor thingy is the fact that even more of my personal data- basically what makes me ME - would be out there...stored somewhere by someone with access to it. Is it safe? See, this is where my conspiracy theory mind starts spinning thoughts like:
Hmm, I think I'm going to hold off for now on getting this test done. I mean I'd like to one day know where my ancestors were from and because I'm curious I will more than likely do a cheek swab, blood test thingy and submit it to DNAISME... one day - but not today.
What about you?
Suppose you do the test and find out that your parents that have raised you your whole life, came to all your dance recitals...little league games...bandaged all your scrapes, cuts and bruises...taught you to drive...cried as you walked across the stages for your high school and college graduations...those 2 people who you love sooooo much...based on the DNA test results ARE NOT YOUR PARENTS?! I'm talking no relationship at all. You start to think, man your whole life was a lie...why didn't they tell you that you were adopted? Wait, were you adopted? Or maybe - OMG were you KIDNAPPED?! Switched at birth???Alright alright, whoa... let's hope at the worst you were adopted and they just couldn't bring themselves to tell you. Sucks but at least you won't have to wonder if you've ever been the face on any milk cartons...
Or let's suppose that you have been receiving minority presence grants/scholarships as a Black student attending a predominately white university. Now you've been Black your whole life but you do the test and good old DNA4ME shows you have ZERO African ancestry! You have tons of Native American, Scandinavian, Irish, Polynesian...see what I'm saying? Mind blown! Do you divulge what you've found out or keep quiet and keep getting those grants/scholarships? Hmm wonder if they'd make you pay it all back if they knew?
Beyond all of that, my biggest worry about doing a DNA ancestor thingy is the fact that even more of my personal data- basically what makes me ME - would be out there...stored somewhere by someone with access to it. Is it safe? See, this is where my conspiracy theory mind starts spinning thoughts like:
- Who has access to my DNA once I submit it for testing?
- Are the results true?
- Who has access to the results?
- Can they use the results - my DNA - and say, plant it at a crime scene? Use it for experiments??!!
Hmm, I think I'm going to hold off for now on getting this test done. I mean I'd like to one day know where my ancestors were from and because I'm curious I will more than likely do a cheek swab, blood test thingy and submit it to DNAISME... one day - but not today.
What about you?
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