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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 is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

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.

Fund the Facts

You just read trusted, local journalism that’s free for everyone, thanks to donors like you.

If that matters to you, now is the time to give. Join the 50,000+ members powering honest reporting and a more connected — and civil! — Connecticut.

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