DNA Questions

[Dana Jean]

Back to a random question:

I did a DNA test as some of you may know. I was truly a Heinz 57 mutt. I had so many interesting things turn up -- my question, let's say I wanted to go back to school. Maybe there's a scholarship involved but you have to be a certain ethnicity. Let's say I do have DNA proof I am that ethnicity -- can I check that particular box? Could I apply for that scholarship? I mean, I suppose I could apply for the scholarship, but ethically what are your thoughts?

What about other documents where you have to check a box. Could I check "other?"

 

[DiO'Bolic]

Back to a random question:

I did a DNA test as some of you may know. I was truly a Heinz 57 mutt. I had so many interesting things turn up -- my question, let's say I wanted to go back to school. Maybe there's a scholarship involved but you have to be a certain ethnicity. Let's say I do have DNA proof I am that ethnicity -- can I check that particular box? Could I apply for that scholarship? I mean, I suppose I could apply for the scholarship, but ethically what are your thoughts?

What about other documents where you have to check a box. Could I check "other?"

Interesting question. I would say it would depend on the percentage of the ethnic background because if you think about it... we’re supposedly all originally from Africa. It's just the amount of exposure to the sun over the many years that changed us from that original form.

 

[Dana Jean]

Interesting question. I would say it would depend on the percentage of the ethnic background because if you think about it... we’re supposedly all originally from Africa.

But, I have proof of this ethnicity. We can all say we originated from Africans, but what if I have DNA proof?

 

[Moderator]

Back to a random question:

I did a DNA test as some of you may know. I was truly a Heinz 57 mutt. I had so many interesting things turn up -- my question, let's say I wanted to go back to school. Maybe there's a scholarship involved but you have to be a certain ethnicity. Let's say I do have DNA proof I am that ethnicity -- can I check that particular box? Could I apply for that scholarship? I mean, I suppose I could apply for the scholarship, but ethically what are your thoughts?

What about other documents where you have to check a box. Could I check "other?"

Not sure how that works with other ethnicities but don't you have to be a certain percentage? I think that's the criteria for claiming Native American ethnicity.

 

[Dana Jean]

Not sure how that works with other ethnicities but don't you have to be a certain percentage? I think that's the criteria for claiming Native American ethnicity.

You have to be a certain percentage through the male lineage (usually) to be recognized by the tribe. But that is a separate entity in and of itself.

I don't think scholarships have the same , what's the phrase I'm looking for, burden of proof.

 

[DiO'Bolic]

What if you’re from Mars, as all the women I’ve ever dated have claimed?

 

[Moderator]

You have to be a certain percentage through the male lineage (usually) to be recognized by the tribe. But that is a separate entity in and of itself.

I don't think scholarships have the same , what's the phrase I'm looking for, burden of proof.

Good question. With all of the interest in DNA/ancestry testing, this may be something they'll need to address if there aren't already rules in place.

 

[Dana Jean]

What if you’re from Mars, as all the women I’ve ever dated have claimed?

Well, people can SAY they are from Mars, but that doesn't make them a martian. DNA. Spit will clear that up.

 

[Dana Jean]

Good question. With all of the interest in DNA/ancestry testing, this may be something they'll need to address if there aren't already rules in place.

I think you're right. I was just wondering about this. And I saw an ancestry commercial where a lady thought she was one thing, but turned out to be something completely different so now she checks the box "other."

Could I check the box other I wonder?

 

[Moderator]

I think you're right. I was just wondering about this. And I saw an ancestry commercial where a lady thought she was one thing, but turned out to be something completely different so now she checks the box "other."

Could I check the box other I wonder?

I think we all could.

 

[Dana Jean]

I think we all could.

Yes, it's absolutely one of the funnest (is that a word) things I have ever done for myself. It has just been a hoot.

You know, this could be a huge Supreme Court kind of case. If someone wanted to challenge this.

And, just playing Devil's Advocate here, what about Affirmative Action? Could I apply for jobs under affirmative action and check that box?

 

[Dana Jean]

Maybe this is a hot topic question? I hope not. Just musings and questions.

 

[do1you9love?]

Back to a random question:

I did a DNA test as some of you may know. I was truly a Heinz 57 mutt. I had so many interesting things turn up -- my question, let's say I wanted to go back to school. Maybe there's a scholarship involved but you have to be a certain ethnicity. Let's say I do have DNA proof I am that ethnicity -- can I check that particular box? Could I apply for that scholarship? I mean, I suppose I could apply for the scholarship, but ethically what are your thoughts?

What about other documents where you have to check a box. Could I check "other?"

You should absolutely check Other if that's what you feel fits you best.

Not sure how that works with other ethnicities but don't you have to be a certain percentage? I think that's the criteria for claiming Native American ethnicity.

I think there is a percentage, and I believe that for a scholarship, that percentage would be defined and investigated. Just a brief Google search brought up tons of articles with advise for college applicants to check multi-racial boxes.

 

[DiO'Bolic]

Yes, it's absolutely one of the funnest (is that a word) things I have ever done for myself. It has just been a hoot.

You know, this could be a huge Supreme Court kind of case. If someone wanted to challenge this.

And, just playing Devil's Advocate here, what about Affirmative Action? Could I apply for jobs under affirmative action and check that box?

Did you do it through 23andMe? Looks like they have an interesting contest going on. I like the commercial for it. (Although I doubt they could get me to Mars. )

 

[Dana Jean]

You should absolutely check Other if that's what you feel fits you best.


I think there is a percentage, and I believe that for a scholarship, that percentage would be defined and investigated. Just a brief Google search brought up tons of articles with advise for college applicants to check multi-facial boxes.

Oh, very good. So they have addressed this question. I'll Google too. But again, playing Devil's Advocate, I bet someone could challenge that in a court of law, even though there might be clear guidelines. (Because everyone pushes rules and guidelines in court all the time with mumbo jumbo logic!)

 

[Moderator]

Yes, it's absolutely one of the funnest (is that a word) things I have ever done for myself. It has just been a hoot.

You know, this could be a huge Supreme Court kind of case. If someone wanted to challenge this.

And, just playing Devil's Advocate here, what about Affirmative Action? Could I apply for jobs under affirmative action and check that box?

Just speaking for myself, but if the aggregate of my DNA/ancestry testing put me squarely in the Caucasian category, that's what I would classify myself. I would feel like I was gaming the system to check off an ethnicity that was a tiny proportion of the ethnicity pie and in doing so could be taking someone else out of the running who needed that edge more than I did.

 

[DiO'Bolic]

Oh, very good. So they have addressed this question. I'll Google too. But again, playing Devil's Advocate, I bet someone could challenge that in a court of law, even though there might be clear guidelines. (Because everyone pushes rules and guidelines in court all the time with mumbo jumbo logic!)

I read an article recently where two identical twins took one of those DNA tests and came up with slightly different results. I think those tests are more for fun than anything that might hold up in court at the present time.

 

[Dana Jean]

Did you do it through 23andMe? Looks like they have an interesting contest going on. I like the commercial for it. (Although I doubt they could send me to Mars. )

No, just a basic ancestry.com one. It has made me want to do a more sophisticated test that breaks things down even more.

For instance, I'm 43% Europe West. This covers a sh*t ton of territory.

Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein

Also found in: England, Denmark, Italy, Slovenia, Czech Republic

Unless you can track your ancestors to the smaller region, you're stuck with all of this. Now, through my research, I am narrowing it down to about 5. And a couple of them I have DNA broken down to that particular country already. So there is overlap. (If I'm saying that clearly)

Again, for instance, I am this 43 percent Europe West, but, I also have England broken down into a separate category all by itself.

I would like to take another that would just really break that down exactly.

 

[Dana Jean]

Just speaking for myself, but if the aggregate of my DNA/ancestry testing put me squarely in the Caucasian category, that's what I would classify myself. I would feel like I was gaming the system to check off an ethnicity that was a tiny proportion of the ethnicity pie and in doing so could be taking someone else out of the running who needed that edge more than I did.

And that is the box I check. And how I feel about it too.

But again with the damn devil stuff, what if people decided they didn't want to be categorized this way?

 

[Moderator]

And that is the box I check. And how I feel about it too.

But again with the damn devil stuff, what if people decided they didn't want to be categorized this way?

That's where it's going to come into setting more specific guidelines or doing away with affirmative action altogether which I don't think we're ready for yet in this country.