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Science

Think Before You Spit: The Pandora’s Box of DNA Testing

Connecticut Public Radio | By Chion Wolf
Published May 28, 2021 at 10:19 AM EDT
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Pereru, Wikipedia
Randye & Rick Kaye are siblings who found out that their biological dads were two different sperm donors.
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Randye & Rick Kaye are siblings who found out that their biological dads were two different sperm donors.
Sigrid Johnson had a DNA test tell her that she wasn’t nearly as Black as she thought she was. Plus, instead of being a single child, she now has 20 half-siblings.
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Sigrid Johnson had a DNA test tell her that she wasn’t nearly as Black as she thought she was. Plus, instead of being a single child, she now has 20 half-siblings.
Dorothy Pomerantz found out that she is BRCA-positive via a test from 23andme.com.
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Dorothy Pomerantz found out that she is BRCA-positive via a test from 23andme.com.

What happens when you do a DNA test from a company like Ancestry.com or 23andme, and you get some life-shattering information, like your sibling is really your half-sibling, or that you may have a life-altering medical condition, or that you thought you were half Black, but the test says you’re barely Black at all.

Before you spit in that tube, hear from people who’ve been stunned and spun around by DNA tests.

Join the conversation onFacebook,Twitter, and email.

GUESTS:
  • Randye & Rick Kaye are siblings who found out that their biological dads were two different sperm donors
  • Sigrid Johnson had a DNA test tell her that she wasn’t nearly as Black as she thought she was. Plus, instead of being a single child, she now has 20 half-siblings
  • Dorothy Pomerantz found out that she is BRCA-positive via a test from 23andme.com

Jessica Severin de Martinez and Catie Talarski contributed to this show.

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Health ScienceHistoryHealth
Chion Wolf
Chion Wolf is the host of Audacious with Chion Wolf on Connecticut Public, spotlighting the stories of people whose experiences, professions, or conditions defy convention or are often misunderstood.
See stories by Chion Wolf

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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