Using DNA to Solve Crimes

[Miranda]

What are your thoughts about using familial DNA comparisons from open source consumer ancestry databases?

Would it be ethical if closed databases like 23andme and Ancestry began to disclose this type of information to law enforcement, if it was used to solve murders?

How would you feel if a distant relative were convicted of a crime as a result of the DNA you had submitted?

[Hannah]

Another stellar question, truly.

OKAY- so Initially, I am all for it. OPEN UP THOSE DATABASES, solve those crimes!

We’ve all given our email address at some point to enter into a sweepstakes to win the HGTV dream home and then ended up getting robo calls for the next 5 years telling us we won a cruise. Our information is constantly being sold and used in ways we did not intend for it to be used. To me this is a similar situation (loosely).

I think if I found out a family member was discovered to be a career criminal or murderer based on the use of DNA comparison from 23andme or Ancestry, I’d probably feel an intense guilt and need years of therapy to process that.

It’s tough to answer that part because I haven’t ever sent my DNA in and therefore my relatives will not be uncovered as hidden serial killers as a result. Would be interested to hear from someone who has submitted their DNA.