Many who have done a DNA home test begin to question their family heritage and wonder if they might have been misled. However, taking DNA tests from different companies reveal wildly varying results. There are a few reasons for this: <ul><li>The companies are only looking at very recent DNA samples, from a relatively small group, in one specific database.</li><li>The databases are skewed towards different parts of the world. Some have more American customers and other more British or Australian customers. </li><li>These companies don't ask about the genetics of the past, and which of those past inferred genetic clusters we get our ancestry from. </li><li>We probably inherit very few genes from our ancestors. DNA is inherited in “chunks” that break up the further back in time you go.</li><li>There are ancestors from whom you inherit no DNA.</li></ul>

DNA home test variances

DNA testing companies often have very few samples from Africa. Some companies are trying to rectify this and have launched a program to encourage researchers to study remote populations and submit their data.However, questions have been raised about the ethics of European and American scientists collecting genetic information from Africans for economic gain.

Samples from Africa

DNA-testing is done by millions of people all over the world to analyze their DNA and find out where they originate. Targeted marketing for DNA home-testing kits shows models under the banner “find out your ethnicity” or urges people to book holidays based on their “DNA story”. It’s estimated the industry will be worth £7.7bn by 2022.

Ancestry testing

Genetics over the last 30 years has revealed that there are no clearcut biological racial categories. Everyone is racialized in some way.Ancestry is a legacy, not a bloodline. Our genetic script is just one side of the story.

Ethnicity and Ancestry

Some problems arise regarding DNA home tests about what happens after the results of land.<ul><li>Storage of sensitive genetic information. An open-source DNA testing site was recently used by the police to identify a killer.</li><li>Emotional side effects after receiving confusing or life-changing results.</li></ul>

DNA home tests

Last year, I did what 12 million people from all over the world have done and surrendered my spit to a home DNA-testing company. I hoped a MyHeritage test would bring me the peace I needed; my Irish mother had never been able to give me any information about my biological father.

DNA home tests

'It made me question my ancestry': does DNA home testing really understand race?

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