How a Third Cousin Could Give Away Your DNA Secrets

Relatively simple tests that can analyze an individual’s DNA have proved a boon in the fields of medicine and criminal justice, not to mention genealogy. They can identify genetic disorders, implicate or clear criminal suspects, and help people fill in their family trees. In recent years, however, it’s become clear that DNA data can be used in ways we never expected or desired. As a result, more people have begun to worry about what might happen to their most intimate personal information.