DNA Tests Directly Sent to Consumers Highlighted at Park University's Johnson Lecture Series
Bryant McAllister, Ph.D., an associate professor and the director of the biomedical sciences program at the University of Iowa, will speak at Park University on March 19, 2019, as part of its fourth annual Johnson Family Lecture Series in Science.
The lecture, titled "Direct-to-Consumer DNA Tests: Unintended Findings and Privacy Implications," will take place at 7 p.m. in the Jenkin and Barbara David Theater within Alumni Hall on Park University's Parkville Campus. Admission to the lecture is free, but registration is requested at Park University's website.
McAllister will discuss the science underlying direct-to-consumer (DTC) DNA tests and their potential to produce unintended findings. These could involve unexpected ancestry results or health risk information unrelated to the consumer’s initial purpose for testing.
Privacy issues arise because DTC DNA tests often involve sharing sensitive genetic data with companies whose data security and sharing practices vary, potentially exposing personal and familial genetic information to unauthorized access or use. This raises concerns about data breaches, use of genetic data for research without explicit consent, or sharing with third parties such as insurers or law enforcement.
However, the benefits of DTC DNA tests include increasing personal insight into genetic health risks, ancestry, and traits without needing a healthcare provider as an intermediary. They may empower individuals to take proactive health measures or inform family members about inherited conditions, enhancing personalized medicine and preventative care.
The Johnson Family Lecture Series in Science, established by Park University alumnus George Johnson, '63, Ph.D., aims to have established scientists discuss their research. The series was established in 2016 to provide an opportunity for community members and liberal arts and science majors to experience science in action.
McAllister's academic background includes a doctorate degree from the University of Rochester, a Master of Science degree in genetics, and a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from Texas A&M University. His research primarily investigates principles governing the organization of genes within chromosomes. McAllister teaches courses in evolution and genetics, including a first-year seminar class called "Who are You? Revelations from the Personal Genome."
On February 21, 2019, a marketplace for recreational genetics emerged, offering sophisticated genetic tests directly to consumers at relatively low costs. McAllister uses the tools available in this marketplace for investigating the intersection between biological and historical inferences of family history.
The lecture is part of Park University's fourth annual Johnson Family Lecture Series in Science. Johnson is professor emeritus at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine.
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