Ethical Considerations in Investigative Genetic Genealogy

SOURCE www.foxnews.com
Pioneering investigative genetic genealogist CeCe Moore discusses the ethical responsibilities of genetic genealogists in using investigative genetic genealogy to solve violent crimes. Privacy concerns arise as the FBI accesses private DNA databases in the Bryan Kohberger case. Despite legal concerns, the method has strong public support.

Key Points

  • Public support for the use of investigative genetic genealogy to stop violent criminals is high.
  • Legal and ethical concerns surround the access of law enforcement to private DNA databases without consent.
  • Methods like cheek swab sampling from sources like 23andMe and Ancestry DNA provide more accurate data and protect privacy better.

Pros

  • Investigative genetic genealogy has overwhelming public support in solving violent crimes.
  • The method has helped apprehend suspects in cases where traditional investigations had failed.

Cons

  • Privacy concerns arise as law enforcement accesses private DNA databases without consent.
  • Critics fear that public participation in genetic genealogy testing may decline due to privacy worries.