More than 30 million people in the U.S. have taken a consumer DNA test. Yet few people understand the consequences that may occur. §§More than 30 million people in the U.S. have taken a consumer DNA test through companies like 23andMe and AncestryDNA---often on a whim or after being given the test as a holiday gift. Yet few people understand before they take the tests the grave and multifaceted consequences that may occur. Arm yourself with crucial information before you take a DNA test. If you already have taken a test, learn how to protect your privacy, your family and yourself with the first comprehensive book on how to navigate this fraught terrain.
At age 53, attorney Maria Leonard Olsen learned that the father who raised her is not her biological father. She learned this from a DNA test presented to her as a gift. She also learned that she had watched her biological father on multiple television shows and in movies throughout her life. Her world was upended. As she sought out resources and support groups, Maria discovered she was far from alone. DNA discovery stories are no longer rare. Nor are DNA test discoveries lacking in legal ramifications. Unfortunately, the law takes time to address the concerns that scientific advances can elicit.Legislation typically is slow to address science"s effects on people"s rights. In the meantime, people are left without guidance or resources on how to protect themselves. About one in seven adults in the U.S., or 30 million people, have used consumer DNA tests. Approximately a quarter of these people learned of a relative they had not previously known about, and ro
ughly 27 percent were surprised by the ethnic background of their ancestors. These numbers are only expected to grow as the booming DNA testing industry increases-and the fallout for many will be significant. Science has opened a new vista, excavating family secrets that were buried for generations. Few consumers today understand the possible consequences of taking a consumer DNA test. Maria Olsen brings legal expertise, personal experience, and research involving hundreds of interviews with others impacted by surprise DNA test results to offer the first comprehensive guide to navigating this new terrain. Learn what you need to know before you take the test and what you need to do to protect yourself afterwards-as well as advice and support for how to handle surprising results-in this practical, wide-ranging, and accessible guide.
Preface: The DNA Test Journey and ImplicationsChapter 1: My Unusually Excellent DNA Test JourneyChapter 2: A DNA PrimerChapter 3: Practical Tips for Those Who Have Found New Family Members Via DNA TestsChapter 4: Lessons Learned From Consumer DNA Testing JourneysChapter 5: Privacy ConcernsChapter 6: Use of DNA Test Results in Law EnforcementChapter 7: Insurance and Medical Implications of DNA TestsChapter 8: Paternity and Fertility Donor FraudChapter 9: Inheritance IssuesChapter 10: Retroactive Child Support Possibilities and Other Emerging Family Law IssuesChapter 11: DiscriminationChapter 12: The Bioethics of DNA ApplicationsEpilogue ResourcesGlossary of Terms and Common Ancestry Acronyms
"DNA testing can be a treasure trove of information about who you are, but it can also be a Pandora"s box with surprises that change your life. Maria Leonard Olsen tells you what you need to know about the treasures and the surprises in this easy to read yet authoritative book, which includes a comprehensive collection of resources." Professor Robert Plomin Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King"s College London, author of Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are
