Short Wave

Why You Can't Tell Your Race From A DNA Test

May 17, 2023

12:37

Creator website

Episode guests

Agustín Fuentes

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Insights on Ancestry Testing

01:53

The Impact of Genomic Data and DNA Test Kits

01:48

Introduction

2min

The Misinformation About Race and Biology

3min

The Dangers of Reference Populations

2min

The Importance of Genetic Testing

2min

The Importance of Genealogy Testing

4min

Race is a social construct — so why are DNA test kits like the ones from 23andMe coded like they reveal biological fact about the user's racial makeup? This episode, Short Wave Scientist in Residence Regina G. Barber talks to anthropologist Agustín Fuentes about the limits of at-home genetic tests and how misinformation about race and biology can come into play.

Using science at home to decode your life? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.

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