DNA Documentation

A new fad that has become really big in the last few years are DNA/ancestry services. Sites like 23 and me and others take a sample of your DNA and send you a report of where your ancestors came from originally and even sometimes information about your personality or about the likeliness you are diagnosed with a disease. Aside from being cool to track down your heritage there seem to be some other benefits as well. Are you destined to have high cholesterol in the future? Will you get diabetes in the future? These tests can tell the truth. But what happens after a company sends its findings back to you? Where else does this information go? Many people have raised concern that the government is using this to document thousands of citizens DNA. The aforementioned site "23 and Me" has a statement on their website about how they handle requests from the police for DNA samples. Having samples like this on record could prove beneficial by being able to confirm suspects or victims but the question is raised; Is 23 and Me allowed to do this? In the transparency statement on their website, 23 and Me say that samples are subject to being handed over to authorities, but they will only do so if it is required by law, like in the case of a subpoena. So your DNA seems that it's protected for the most part. This is all subject to change though. Congress could pass a law tomorrow requiring these DNA samples to be handed over immediately. While unlikely the chance is there. Personally, I choose to not partake in these DNA sampling surveys, mainly because my parents and extended family have told me where our ancestors came from. I don't feel the need to figure out the deeper meanings so I don't choose to participate. My thought is that if you're thinking of sending your DNA away, understand all the accompanying risks that come with it, and possibly reevaluate if you want to go through with it.