Co-constructing ancestry through direct-to-consumer genetic testing

Alexander Lang,Florian Winkler

doi:10.14512/tatup.30.2.30

Abstract

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic ancestry tests offered via the internet supposedly uncover the ancestry of those tested. While these tests might be seen as a means to find a biologically inscribed and fixed genealogy, this paper explores how companies and customers co-construct ancestry through genetic ancestry testing. The study draws on a review of relevant literature, qualitative interviews with experts and stakeholders, a website analysis, and an autoethnographic self-observation. It shows how DTC genetic testing companies create specific concepts of ancestry in their marketing, development of specific databases, and presentation of results, but also how users interpret and incorporate their results into their own genealogies and lives. Looking at the potential social impact of DTC ancestry testing, the paper questions its categorization as recreational activity or entertainment.

Highlights

Since 2000, companies have been selling direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic ancestry tests over the internet
Direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic ancestry tests offered via the internet supposedly uncover the ancestry of those tested
While these tests might be seen as a means to find a biologically inscribed and fixed genealogy, this paper explores how companies and customers co-construct ancestry through genetic ancestry testing

Summary

Introduction

Since 2000, companies have been selling direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic ancestry tests over the internet. The companies advertise genetic ancestry testing as a form of entertainment and a tool for recreational genealogy, and as a means of widening one’s social network and finding out more about oneself. Some of their customers may be motivated by the desire to contribute to biomedical research with their genetic and personal data (Mählmann et al 2016). Customers interpret their results in various ways (Panofsky and Donovan 2019; Roth and Ivemark 2018) This social co-construction of ancestry is the focus of our paper. Our paper further develops ideas from a technology assessment study on new applications of DNA analysis (Lang et al 2020)

Methodology and data

Discussion

Funding declaration