Genetic Ancestry Tests and Race

Roth, Wendy D.; Lyon, Katherine

doi:10.1093/oso/9780190465285.003.0008

Cited by 5 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…Because we used Bayesian analyses, replicated our effects across two different experimental paradigms, used a variety of methods to isolate the influence of receiving one's DNA ancestry results from confounding factors (e.g., the act of taking a test, information about their genetic relatives, the opinions of others) and used two different measures of genetic knowledge, we provide new evidence that the degree of knowledge about genetics is unlikely to influence responses to DNA ancestry results, at least in the present context and population. Our findings also appear consistent with additional research using nonexperimental methods (see Hochschild & Sen, 2015;Roth & Lyon, 2018;Scully et al, 2016). More specifically, a survey of people's retrospective responses to their own DNA ancestry results suggests that only a small percentage of people may fully embrace their new identities or engage in meaningful new intergroup interactions (Roth & Lyon, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Our findings also appear consistent with additional research using nonexperimental methods (see Hochschild & Sen, 2015;Roth & Lyon, 2018;Scully et al, 2016). More specifically, a survey of people's retrospective responses to their own DNA ancestry results suggests that only a small percentage of people may fully embrace their new identities or engage in meaningful new intergroup interactions (Roth & Lyon, 2018). Furthermore, studies using qualitative interviews (Scully et al, 2016) and responses to vignettes (Hochschild & Sen, 2015) also suggest that how people incorporate new ancestry information into their lives may be much more subtle than previously assumed.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…Jonas R. Kunst played a supporting role in project administration and an equal role in conceptualization, setting. More specifically, in Study 1, a general sample of (i.e., largely nonstudent) White/European Americans 2 -the largest U.S. consumer group of DNA ancestry tests (Roth & Lyon, 2018;Tung et al, 2011) and a group with especially high ancestral uncertainty (Horowitz et al, 2019)-were randomly assigned to receive one of three plausible, yet bogus, results that varied in their percent of Native American genetic ancestry. This genetic ancestry was selected over alternatives given the especially widespread-yet typically false (Bryc et al, 2014)-belief among many White/ European Americans of distant indigenous ancestry (see Golbeck & Roth, 2012;Reardon & TallBear, 2012).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Finding your roots: Do DNA ancestry tests increase racial (in)tolerance?

Kimel,

Bierwiaczonek,

Obaidi

et al. 2024

Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied

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While it is often assumed that Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) ancestry results illuminate one's true racial or ethnic lineage, the consequence of this inference remains largely unknown. This leaves two conflictual hypotheses largely untested: Do DNA ancestry tests increase racial tolerance or, alternatively, racial intolerance? Two multiwave experiments aimed to test these hypotheses using either real or bogus DNA ancestry results in combination with random assignment and a tightly controlled repeated-measurements experimental design. Bayesian and inferential analyses on both general and student populations of majoritygroup members in the United States (i.e., White/European Americans) indicated no support for either hypothesis on measures including multiculturalism, essentialism, and outgroup bias, even when moderating factors such as the degree of unexpected ancestry and genetic knowledge were considered. Despite wide societal optimism as well as concern, receiving DNA ancestry results appears not to impact feelings and attitudes about other racial and ethnic groups. Implications for prospective test-takers and education are discussed. Public Significance StatementDespite wide scientific consensus that the concept of "race" is not useful for explaining genetic variation, many assume that their DNA ancestry results illuminate their true racial and ethnic lineages. This tendency has led to significant public and scientific concern-and optimism-over the potentially farreaching implications of this inference. Yet, whether DNA ancestry tests actually increase racial tolerance or, alternatively, intolerance has been largely untested. While we suggest that interventions to increase genetic literacy continue and urge that DNA ancestry testing companies exercise caution when presenting their results (e.g., emphasizing just how much DNA is shared between any two humans), our results suggest that neither the considerable concern-nor intense enthusiasm-for these tests' potential to alter thoughts and feelings toward other racial and ethnic groups is warranted.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Finding your roots: Do DNA ancestry tests increase racial (in)tolerance?

Kimel,

Bierwiaczonek,

Obaidi

et al. 2024

Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied

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“…For example, previous work shows that people (e.g., African Americans) use biogeographic ancestry information to (re)construct their own racial identities and the extent to which they affiliate with racial/ethnic groups (Lawton & Foeman, 2017; Morning, 2017; Nelson, 2008; Nelson, 2016). Roth and Lyon (2018) found that 73.9% of about 600 individuals who took genetic ancestry tests reported that the biogeographic ancestry information affected how they racially identified. Even more telling, some people reported that they changed their racially/ethnically identification and/or sought new affiliations with other racial/ethnic groups based on their biogeographic ancestry results (as cited in Heine et al, 2017; Morning, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biogeographic ancestry information facilitates genetic racial essentialism: Consequences for race‐based judgments

James

Bonam

2022

J Applied Social Pyschol

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Direct‐to‐consumer genetic ancestry tests measure biogeographic ancestry (BGA), which refers to an individual's ancestral origin in relation to major population groups. There is growing concern that biogeographic information exaggerates both false beliefs about racial genetic differences and, ultimately, racial bias. Across three studies (N = 1317), we find that biogeographic information impacts racial categorization and beliefs about both genetic racial essentialism (i.e., the extent to which people believe that race is genetically derived) and biological race differences. Specifically, we find people are more likely to categorize Black/White biracial targets as Black and believe that a target is more biologically different from White people (e.g., has thicker skin) as the target's percent sub‐Saharan African biogeographic ancestry (ABGA) increases (Studies 1 and 2). We also find that people misrepresent BGA as “race genes,” such that they perceive Black/White biracial targets with more ABGA as sharing more genes with Black people, which then predicts greater Black racial categorization of the target and increased beliefs that the target is susceptible to certain physical and mental illnesses (Study 2). Notably, BGA remains a predictor of these outcomes even when people know the target's specific racial ancestry, that is, their exact number of Black grandparents (Study 2). Finally, we find that exposing people to the idea that race is genetically derived, compared to biologically derived, exaggerates beliefs that genes determine both human life (genetic essentialism) and racial categories (genetic racial essentialism; Study 3). We discuss implications for studying psychological essentialism, racial bias, and racial health disparities.

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“…[3] Most people seek out consumer genetic testing to trace their ancestry, both to identify relatives as well as to discover or confirm one's ethnic heritage. [50] 23andMe was the first service to offer both ancestry testing and information about inherited traits and diseases. In addition to providing direct individual benefits, some services also aim for a higher calling: asking users to contribute their DNA to genomic research projects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

"Becoming Part of Something Bigger"

King

2019

Proc. ACM Hum.-Comput. Interact.

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Direct to consumer genetic testing (DTCGT) services where users can identify their inherited diseases and traits, find genetic relatives, and learn more about their ethnic heritage continue to grow in popularity. At the same time, one's DNA is one of the most identifiable, immutable forms of personal information, and sharing it carries risks to one's privacy. What motivates individuals to engage in DTCGT, and what are the implications for information privacy at both the individual and societal levels? This study uses qualitative interviews with ten customers of the DTCGT service 23andMe to explore why they engaged in DTCGT, the benefits they received, their expectations of privacy, and perceptions of risk. It also introduces the use of social exchange theory as a theoretical framework for examining the social dimensions of information privacy and personal disclosure. The findings demonstrate that the participants' assumptions of anonymity, as well as their their belief that their contributions to online genetic databases aid the public good, were key motivating factors. The participants were generally unaware of the potential risks to their individual genetic privacy as well as the impact of large scale genetic testing databases on networked, collective privacy. The findings demonstrate that framework of social exchange theory aids in understanding how the form of the relationship affected the participants' decisions to disclose their personal information to 23andMe as well as their perceptions of risk in the DTCGT context. CCS Concepts: • Human-centered computing → Empirical studies in HCI; Empirical studies in collaborative and social computing; • Security and privacy → Social aspects of security and privacy;

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Genetic Ancestry Tests and Race

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

Finding your roots: Do DNA ancestry tests increase racial (in)tolerance?

Finding your roots: Do DNA ancestry tests increase racial (in)tolerance?

Biogeographic ancestry information facilitates genetic racial essentialism: Consequences for race‐based judgments

"Becoming Part of Something Bigger"

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