Superfad

Ancestry.com has about six million DNA samples in its database. In a four-day sale late last year, they sold 1.4 million test kits. In a short space of time, DNA mapping has raced from being the stuff of rarefied scientific research to an almost do-it-yourself process, achievable with a few decent wads of spit and around $100. New Zealanders are leaping into the craze too, eager to learn more about their ethnic make-up and possibly discover some previously unknown relatives who have already taken the test. But it’s not all harmless fun. In this Superfad episode, genealogist Gail Wilson-Waring tells us people have been known to get an unwelcome shock about their lineage after seeing their results. And geneticist Dr Kate Neas explains how results that suggest a greater risk of certain diseases may be misleading. Hosts Laura Walters and Katie Kenny ask: Are we comfortable with private companies holding DNA samples from many millions of people around the world? Read more about the DNA mapping craze via the Superf