Is It Safe To Get Your DNA Tested?

Once it’s out of your body, your genetic information is valuable to a variety of people, but you can keep it safe(ish) with a few simple steps.

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To learn more, start your googling with these keywords:
Personal Genetic Analysis: Direct-to-consumer DNA testing, usually through mail-in saliva samples.
Single Nucleotide Polymorphism: A variation at a single spot on the genome that is present in some part of the population.
Genotyping chip: A microarray that allows genetic testing companies to test a DNA sample for hundreds of thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms.
Health Care Fraud: A crime that usually involves misrepresenting medical information in order to make money.
Targeted Advertising: The practice of placing ads based on consumer demographics or behavior.
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act: A 2008 American law that prohibits health insurers and employers from using genetic information when making coverage or hiring decisions.
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Credits (and Twitter handles):
Video Illustrator: Jesse Agar
With Contributions From: Henry Reich, Alex Reich, Ever Salazar, Peter Reich

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References:

Cappos, Justin. (2017). Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, NYU. Personal Communication.

[AvailableUsernameTed]

Ha .. I change my DNA regularly to avoid problems like this! Now if you'll excuse me I have to brush my tail.

[zperk]

I knew I shouldn't have made my 23andMe password "password"

[feynstein]

Hmm DNA testing companies should be mandated by law to keep that information private. Unlike Google and Facebook, we do pay for these services and so there's no need for them to resort to selling our information.

[sebastianelytron]

I once went to a job interview wearing black denim. They immediately told me my interview has been cancelled and I can't apply because of my choice of clothing.

Can I sue them for *jean discrimination?*

[johnbagel]

Welp if someone steals my DNA I have a natural defense! If they try to replicate my face they will probably say something along these lines,
“WOW I really messed this up there is no way anyone can look this ugly” or “wow I think I just stole the DNA of a blobfish”

[acidicjello]

Knowing to what extent data is safe from hackers answers only a small portion of this question. Password safety isn't the only thing to consider so make sure you thoroughly understand and trust a company's policies and terms before giving them personal and/or genetic information.

[ekn_]

I still ask what they can do with my DNA.
Studying disappointment genes?

[charlesfudge]

I work as a geneticist. Don't use 23 and me or similar companies. I even advise against giving your dna to universities unless you have carefully read their t&c because the terms they put on them are sometimes pretty iffy to say the least. I work at a university, I would know.
Maybe in a while it will get less problematic with new laws or regulations, but not yet.

[frozzenwaterfall]

This Video feels like a mashup advertisement of dashlane and 23andme ...

[lordoverride]

So they "promise" not to share... And if they don't keep it, it sure would be the first time in the history of western companys.

[Humanius]

I love your video's, but with this video I do have some issues regarding disclosure.

I really think you should have disclosed up front that this video was sponsored by Dashlane. There are tools in YouTube to put a watermark on the video stating that the video contains promoted content. And if you don't want to do that, you could have said in the introduction that Dashlane is the sponsor for this video.
I also believe that you should have disclosed that you have been sponsored by 23andMe before on other videos as well. Even if it might not have influenced your opinion, that is still quite relevant information.

[IblisLakon]

That gives another question. How safe are your passwords when password company keeps them?

[TheSliderW]

I'm glad 23andMe isn't a sponsor this time and i'm also happy you mentioned all the issues related to miss-use of personal data.
Still, I think it should be engraved in people's head that while passwords give you a sense of security, they don't prevent data from spilling into the internet regardless. Everyone should think twice before entrusting their data to any company or website because these companies do loose data all the time should it be due to hacking, employees leaking it out, poor security, etc... ( Just google for it, there has been more leaked data and databases in the past 2-3 years than ever before and you can even search some of those databases thanks to some websites such as leakedsource.ru ).
So it doesn't matter if your password is strong if your data is stored on vulnerable servers. We should be able to ask these companies to disclose how they're storing the data and what steps they take to protect it.

Another issue which I can add my own testimony to as I worked in IT for a few companies is that most of them DON'T delete your data upon request. They'd rather keep it for as long as possible for their metrics and just flip a switch on their database or copy it to a backup and show your info as "deleted" when it's not. They do this regardless of what the law says because they'll make more money with your data while they can than what they'll ever loose if they get caught. And after a while, some even sell out lists of emails to advertisement companies for huge amounts but that's another subject.

[ces]

The issues raised are exactly why I will not use those services.

[igorbagnucki]

Isn't KeePass generally more trusted password manager as an open source application?

[codediporpal]

1:00 "genetic testing companies take security pretty seriously"

LOL. It's at this point I realize I'm watching an advertisement.

[Cathowl]

Yeah, there's a reason I have three tiers of password security depending on how much trouble I'd be in if someone got ahold of my password for that site.

Low to non-secure: A simple password I share with my friend which is basically just for keeping strangers from getting into the temporary servers we run for playing co-op games together.

Low to medium secure: A single more complex password I use for unimportant forums and other sites I don't care about much but need a password to access.

Medium to high secure: A unique password per site containing both numbers and letters.

I started doing these tiers after someone broke into my WoW account and one of my first thoughts is "I share this password with my bank account!", so the first thing I did after locking down my WoW account was go change my bank password, and it's been unique ever since because that was a helluva scare.

[joshuabarrios]

*Lmao this was the smoothest sponsored video i've ever seen in YouTube damn 😂*

[deiutz]

hahaha, they take security seriously. like Equifax, right?

[rika]

I literally just got an email with an ad offering me to get my DNA tested and now this video! :D