Comments for The Genetic Genealogist

Comment on A Critique of Genetic Ancestry Testing in Science Magazine by This Week in Science | The Daily Scan | GenomeWeb

This Week in Science | The Daily Scan | GenomeWeb — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:29:54 +0000

[...] In a policy forum article, lead author Sandra Soo-Jin Lee from Stanford looks at quality standards in genetic ancestry testing, ultimately calling for government regulation of this field. Blogger Blaine Bettinger offers his thoughts on the article here. [...]

Comment on A Critique of Genetic Ancestry Testing in Science Magazine by N. Yvonne Tallini

N. Yvonne Tallini — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:02:04 +0000

TruGenetics, Inc. is offering free genome screening to their first 10,000 customers. Anyone know anything about this company?

N. Yvonne Tallini, RN PhD

Comment on A Critique of Genetic Ancestry Testing in Science Magazine by N. Yvonne Tallini

N. Yvonne Tallini — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:00:21 +0000

I also read with interest the article by Lee et al and Blaine’s poignant comments. In my opinion the only reason this article appears in one of the top ranked scientific journals, “Science”, is due to the fact geneatic ancestry is a new, hot topic/subject. Notice the article appears in the segment “Policy Forum” which is a heads-up for more regulation. I felt they blurred the lines between DNA samples obtained by the scientific community for research purposes only compared with individuals interested in their own disease potential or common ancestral “origin” assuming the same regulations should govern both bodies. Considering this field is still in the early stages of development some regulation will be necessary but educating the consumer should be the primary goal not having federal agencies such as “Federal Trade Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” all providing regulatory standards.
N. Yvonne Tallini, RN PhD

Comment on A Critique of Genetic Ancestry Testing in Science Magazine by Stephen J Danko, PhD

Stephen J Danko, PhD — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:51:32 +0000

Blaine, I read the article by Lee et al. before reading your blog, and I agree with your analysis.
My first reaction to the article was that the Havasupi case is a poor example to support the authors' argument for increased regulation of direct-to-consumer genetic ancestry tests. There exists a huge difference between human samples collected for research purposes by a clinical laboratory and genetic genealogy tests ordered by individual consumers who submit samples of their own DNA for analysis. I also support your goal of educating the consumers who may wish to take advantage of tests for genetic genealogy. I believe that the better consumers understand genetic genealogy tests, the more likely they will be to choose the best test for their purposes, understand the results, and feel in the end that the tests helped them achieve their goals. Stephen J Danko, PhD's last blog post..The Death and Burial of Johann Gerhard Lather ? 1739

Comment on The ASHG Ancestry Testing Statement and Recommendations by A Critique of Genetic Ancestry Testing in Science Magazine » The Genetic Genealogist

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:52:21 +0000

[...] I wrote when the ASHG statement was released last year, government regulation in this field will not solve [...]

Comment on Ancient Ancestry Finder From Ancestry.com - A Best Guess at Ancient Origin of Your Y-DNA or mtDNA by William Evans

William Evans — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:59:16 +0000

Interesting… My biological surname is Allen. I put my known country of origin, England and they gave me R. bzzzzz.. wrong, Im actually I2a1 (M-26) so its obviously very vague. Hey its free..

Comment on Ancient Ancestry Finder From Ancestry.com - A Best Guess at Ancient Origin of Your Y-DNA or mtDNA by Richard

Richard — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:12:20 +0000

I can’t trace either of my lines beyond the US. The predictor got my paternal haplogroup right as R, probably because my father’s last name is of Welsh origin. But it predicted A on my maternal side. The correct answer is H.

Comment on Latest Genetic Genealogy Series “Faces of America” Expected From PBS in 2010 by Latest Genetic Genealogy Series “Faces of America” Expected From … « Obamabidenforchange.com

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:05:09 +0000

[...] Read more here: Latest Genetic Genealogy Series “Faces of America” Expected From … [...]

Comment on Using Genetic Genealogy to Solve the Mystery of Benjaman Kyle by techLady011

techLady011 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:12:09 +0000

Great blog. Thanks!

Will surely bookmark it for reference! Keep up the good work.

Comment on Familybuilder Announces DNA Testing by Emily

Emily — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:59:08 +0000

Did anyone notice that David Rheins NEVER mentioned the name of the lab? AND stated: “We may also use your DNA analysis results to perform studies.” SO…it could be scientific studies which could include drug companies.

SADLY, This company doesn’t really understand how useless 17 ydna markers really is and that five years is NOTHING for genealogists. Again, these new companies are driving by providing a CHEAP product price to lure people who hear a bit about genetic genealogy and jump on that one-horse cart. I’ve had so many complaints about DNA Ancestry and regrets that genealogists used them because they were cheaper than some. The general public does not understand all this and these upstart companies are using that fact, giving them a product that is totally a waste. Genetic Genealogy will be given a bad name and it will be TOTALLY the fault of such companies!