New Perspective: How Consumer Genetics Can Foster Ethnic Understanding

Abstract

We live in a time rife with ethnic tensions, yet many of us unknowingly share our genetic heritage with those perceived to be "the other. " If we knew more about our genetic heritage, would we be more accepting of others? In research involving direct-to-consumer genetics (DTCG), that is what we found. When people took a genetic test, they not only gained a better understanding of what they already knew about their family history but, more importantly, about their unknown genetic heritage, leading to a desire to share and learn more. This paper explores if DTCG can foster ethnic understanding.