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A family secret exposed.
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If my father wasn't
my biological father, who was?
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00:00:16,633 --> 00:00:19,200
Something very, very important
was kept from me.
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00:00:19,233 --> 00:00:21,700
A hidden legacy...
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00:00:21,733 --> 00:00:23,866
revealed.
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Somewhere in slavery that 20%
might've been integrated
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with our DNA,
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and that might not have been
voluntary.
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A life-threatening illness...
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00:00:33,900 --> 00:00:36,333
prevented.
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They quite possibly
saved my life.
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And a decades-old murder
finally solved.
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Without my DNA,
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it would have been dead
in the water.
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Just a few of the millions
of stories
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launched by one of
the most popular
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00:00:53,433 --> 00:00:57,933
and promising new technologies...
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consumer DNA testing.
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00:01:02,866 --> 00:01:06,266
With a swab, or a bit of spit,
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some 30 million of us
have turned over
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our most personal information
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hoping to discover
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what's hidden inside us.
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But what do the tests
really deliver?
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Spain, Portugal...
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Norway?!
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How good is the science?
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And how are the tests
changing our lives?
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I just couldn't believe it.
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I was on the phone
with my older sister.
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In search of clues...
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"The Secrets in Our DNA,"
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right now, on "NOVA"!
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It's a promise
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many of us just can't resist.
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Send in your DNA and unlock
secrets about family...
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...ancestry...
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...and even health.
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It's rare that something
comes along that is truly new.
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00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:24,166
And this is something
that's truly new.
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00:02:25,433 --> 00:02:27,000
But just how reliable
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00:02:27,033 --> 00:02:28,533
are consumer DNA tests,
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and their scientific-looking
ancestry percentages?
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Should we worry about
our privacy?
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What are the unforeseen
consequences when we reveal
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the "Secrets in Our DNA"?
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00:03:04,066 --> 00:03:05,666
In the suburbs
of Olympia, Washington,
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one woman finds out
just how unpredictable
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those consequences can be.
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Chelsea Rustad, who
works as an I.T. specialist,
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is an avid family historian.
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In 2015,
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she takes a test
with the biggest
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of the direct-to-consumer
companies... AncestryDNA.
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People end up
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00:03:29,266 --> 00:03:31,833
doing it oftentimes because,
"I just wanna learn
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00:03:31,866 --> 00:03:33,933
about my ancestral background."
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But then something else pops up
that they really
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were not expecting at all,
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and that's exactly what this was
for me.
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The test results
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suggest that Chelsea is mostly
of Norwegian
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and German ancestry.
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Then, because she's also curious
to find new relatives,
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she downloads her raw file
from Ancestry,
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and uploads it to a free website
called GEDmatch.
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It's a place where anyone
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can search for matches no matter
what company they tested with.
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GEDmatch shows Chelsea
everyone else on the site
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who shares DNA with her.
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It's kind of humbling
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and interesting to see
those interconnections,
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to realize the sheer number
of people that we share
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some percentage of DNA with
and don't even realize it.
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On GEDmatch, Chelsea sees
an aunt whom she knows,
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but no new close relatives.
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She logs off, and doesn't check
the site again.
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Three years go by.
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And then, on the evening
of May 17, 2018,
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Chelsea gets some unexpected
visitors.
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00:04:48,966 --> 00:04:50,276
I look through the peephole
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and see that there are two cops
waiting outside there.
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And when I opened the door,
they introduced themselves
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as investigators who are looking
into a homicide
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that was a cold case
from 31 years ago.
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They've come to her door
as a result of that DNA file
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she posted on GEDmatch.
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To her amazement,
they tell her that her DNA
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has led them to a suspect.
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00:05:22,700 --> 00:05:26,933
It was just really a lotto
take in and really shocking.
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Every step of what
they explained to me
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is a horror story.
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Chelsea's hopeful search
for relatives
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00:05:38,500 --> 00:05:40,200
has taken a dark turn...
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into the hunt for a killer.
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Someone she's related to.
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Though her story is unusual,
it shows that
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consumer DNA companies
can fulfill
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one of their biggest promises
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extremely well: connecting
us to our relatives.
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Direct-to-consumer,
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00:06:08,233 --> 00:06:10,466
or DTC DNA testing,
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is a billion-dollar business
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made possible by the simple
rules of heredity.
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We inherit our DNA
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from both of our parents.
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50% from mom, 50% from dad.
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And they inherit it
from their parents.
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And their parents, of course,
inherited it from their parents.
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Our parents each contribute
about 50% to our DNA.
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And the same is true for them
and their parents.
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So the amount of DNA we inherit
from any ancestor
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drops by half with each
preceding generation.
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We also share DNA with anyone
who shares a common ancestor
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with us: siblings,
half-siblings, first cousins,
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second cousins and so on.
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The way that the DTCs determine
those relationships
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00:07:03,433 --> 00:07:06,066
is by comparing people's DNA.
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The amount that is shared
is measured in a unit
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called centimorgans.
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The more centimorgans
two people share,
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the closer they are related.
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And the fewer centimorgans
they share,
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the more distantly related
they are.
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But with the DTCs,
a relationship to someone
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can't always be determined
just by counting centimorgans.
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Because the numbers fall
within ranges.
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You might share the same number
with a cousin,
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and a great-uncle, for example.
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Just because you have an amount
of shared DNA doesn't mean
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you actually know for sure what
that person's relationship is,
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it's just a probability...
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a spectrum of possible
relationships.
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June Smith lives in New Jersey,
not far from Philadelphia.
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In 2018,
she takes a consumer DNA test,
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hoping to solve
a longstanding mystery.
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She's spent years searching for
her roots.
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When June was 16,
growing up in Philadelphia,
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the woman she knew as her mother
revealed a secret.
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She said, "Your mother
was a white woman,"
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and I said, "A white woman?"
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which was totally shocking
to me.
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Her biological mother's name
was Ann D'Amico.
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June has never learned
the identity of her father.
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When June takes her test
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with AncestryDNA,
she checks the box
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asking to be linked
to any customers with whom
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she shares DNA.
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Though she knows Ann has died,
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there's someone else
she desperately wants to find.
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While digging into Ann's
life story, June learned that
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she'd given birth
to another biracial daughter,
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who had a different father.
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A girl named Joan Moser,
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June's older half-sister.
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I set out to search for her.
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And I would go on websites,
I would do
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all kind of people searches
looking for Joan Moser.
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But we could never come up
with her.
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One day, June receives a message
on her Ancestry page,
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telling her she has a new match
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with a close relative...
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a woman named Sigrid Gilchrist.
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She'd also grown up
in Philadelphia,
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the only child of a Black couple
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active in the civil rights
movement.
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But at 16, Sigrid learned
a long-hidden truth
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from her mother.
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She told me I was adopted.
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That my mother was Italian
and my father was Black.
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It was crushing.
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I had no idea.
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In the years that followed,
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Sigrid never connected
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with any of her
biological relatives.
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Until, by pure chance,
right around the time
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that June tests with Ancestry,
Sigrid does too.
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Ancestry reports that
the two women,
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who share 1,641 centimorgans,
may be first cousins.
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But June can't help wondering:
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might Sigrid be someone
even closer?
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The two women agree
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to talk on the phone.
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She said, "I have three
questions to ask you."
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I said, "Okay."
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I said, "Were you adopted?"
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She said, "I was."
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I said, "Are you biracial?"
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She said, "I am."
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I said, "Would your birth mothername
happen to be Ann D'Amico?"
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I said, "Yes, that was her name,
my biological mother."
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She said, "Are you Joan Moser?"
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And then I said, "That was the
name on my birth certificate."
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I said, "Oh my God,
you're my sister.
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You're not my cousin."
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We cried and I just couldn't
believe it.
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I was on the phone
with my older sister.
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Yes.
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It was just like we've known
each other forever.
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One-on-one spirit feeling
that you can't describe.
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Finding my sister gave me
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a sense of belonging.
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It gave me a sense of saying,
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"Hey, you know,
we got the same blood."
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But I do see...
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Looks like me... you.
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Yes.
Mm-hmm.
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Look at the chin.Yeah. I can tell.
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It's good havingan older sister.
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I don't like being older,
but it's okay.
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00:11:56,433 --> 00:12:01,600
:
I love having
a younger sister.
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She understands.
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00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:04,466
Yeah, yeah.
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00:12:07,133 --> 00:12:09,166
People like Sigrid and June
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can be connected by the DTCs
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00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:16,766
thanks to an amazing
recent discovery about DNA.
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We've known for a long time
that the DNA molecule,
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00:12:21,133 --> 00:12:24,700
which we carry in almost
every cell in our body,
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00:12:24,733 --> 00:12:29,200
contains the code that directs
our lives.
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00:12:29,233 --> 00:12:34,766
The code is carried in chemical
building blocks called bases.
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Known as A, C, G and T,
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they form pairs to create
the familiar ladder-like
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structure of DNA.
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It takes a whopping three
billion of those base pairs
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to make up our complete genome.
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00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:53,566
But since 2003,
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when scientists first readthrough
all of those base pairs,
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they've discovered
a surprising fact
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about more than 99% of them.
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If you look at any two people,
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the vast, vast majority of their
DNA is exactly the same.
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Because all of the things
that keep you alive,
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I mean, all of that has to be
the same, it can't change.
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Otherwise it doesn't work.
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00:13:19,333 --> 00:13:22,166
But there are places in our DNA
that do vary.
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Some of them are called
237
00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:29,200
single nucleotide polymorphisms,
or SNPs.
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They're spots where most of us
have one kind of base pair
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but some of us have another.
240
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So instead of trying to identify
all three billion
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00:13:39,566 --> 00:13:41,833
of a customer's base pairs,
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the DTCs do something
243
00:13:43,633 --> 00:13:45,966
that's cheaper and faster.
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They only check out
a customer's SNPs.
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Usually about 700,000 of them.
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00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:56,700
And comparing people's SNPs
is an efficient way
247
00:13:56,733 --> 00:13:58,633
to see if they're related.
248
00:13:58,666 --> 00:14:00,333
Because when their SNPs
match up,
249
00:14:00,366 --> 00:14:05,366
all the DNA in between the SNPs
is usually identical too.
250
00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:07,300
And matching DNA segments
251
00:14:07,333 --> 00:14:12,566
are the telltale signs
of a family relationship.
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00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:15,966
By looking at the amount
of shared DNA,
253
00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:19,933
direct-to-consumer tests can
give a quite accurate picture
254
00:14:19,966 --> 00:14:24,400
of relationships between
individuals.
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00:14:24,433 --> 00:14:29,900
FamilyTreeDNA in Houston is one
of the four biggest DTCs.
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00:14:31,100 --> 00:14:34,900
Like many of them,
the lynchpin of its operation
257
00:14:34,933 --> 00:14:37,466
is its technology
for reading SNPs.
258
00:14:37,500 --> 00:14:43,600
And this is it: a small piece
of glass called a SNP chip.
259
00:14:43,633 --> 00:14:47,966
It contains hundreds of
thousands of tiny beads.
260
00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:52,766
Each one holds a short piece
of DNA called a probe.
261
00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:56,300
And we put an individual's DNA
on the chip,
262
00:14:56,333 --> 00:15:00,166
and the part of
an individual's DNA
263
00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,133
that matches the little probe,
264
00:15:03,166 --> 00:15:05,100
they will bind together.
265
00:15:05,133 --> 00:15:08,200
Once bound,
the identity of the SNP
266
00:15:08,233 --> 00:15:10,766
is revealed by a
fluorescent dye.
267
00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:15,633
For example, if you have an A,
you'll see green.
268
00:15:15,666 --> 00:15:18,500
If you have a G, you'll see red.
269
00:15:20,966 --> 00:15:25,033
The SNP data enables the lab
to see how much DNA is shared
270
00:15:25,066 --> 00:15:29,066
by customers who've opted for
family matching.
271
00:15:29,100 --> 00:15:32,900
The company website shows them
their list of matches.
272
00:15:32,933 --> 00:15:37,133
It will show everyone
that you're related to,
273
00:15:37,166 --> 00:15:39,366
and the estimated relationship.
274
00:15:42,166 --> 00:15:47,266
But sometimes, that match list
can reveal a painful truth.
275
00:15:48,933 --> 00:15:53,000
This anonymity and taking these
secrets to the grave,
276
00:15:53,033 --> 00:15:57,266
with the advent of DNA testing,
it really doesn't exist anymore.
277
00:15:57,300 --> 00:16:03,133
That's what Dani Shapiro
was shocked to discover.
278
00:16:03,166 --> 00:16:04,833
A novelist and memoirist,
279
00:16:04,866 --> 00:16:08,233
she's written about growing up
in an Orthodox Jewish family
280
00:16:08,266 --> 00:16:09,266
in New Jersey,
281
00:16:09,300 --> 00:16:13,433
and about her parents,
Irene and Paul.
282
00:16:13,466 --> 00:16:15,633
I was very, very bonded
with my dad...
283
00:16:15,666 --> 00:16:17,333
much more so than with my mom.
284
00:16:17,366 --> 00:16:20,866
He worked on the floor of the
New York Stock Exchange.
285
00:16:20,900 --> 00:16:22,900
And I would meet him for lunch
sometimes.
286
00:16:22,933 --> 00:16:25,033
And he would come out
and he would just like
287
00:16:25,066 --> 00:16:27,700
fling his arms open, just like,
288
00:16:27,733 --> 00:16:30,866
:
"Hiya darling,"
give me this huge hug.
289
00:16:30,900 --> 00:16:32,266
It's going to make me cry.
290
00:16:32,300 --> 00:16:35,700
I loved my father.
291
00:16:35,733 --> 00:16:37,800
From childhood on,
292
00:16:37,833 --> 00:16:40,666
this Jewish daughter
draws comments.
293
00:16:40,700 --> 00:16:42,100
"You don't look Jewish."
294
00:16:42,133 --> 00:16:43,142
"You can't possibly be Jewish."
295
00:16:43,166 --> 00:16:44,500
"There's no way you're Jewish."
296
00:16:44,533 --> 00:16:46,609
"Did your mother have an affair
with a Swedish milkman?"
297
00:16:46,633 --> 00:16:47,966
"Shapiro your married name?"
298
00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:49,366
I could go on.
299
00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:54,000
One day in 2016, her husband,
Michael Maren,
300
00:16:54,033 --> 00:16:58,266
decides to take a DNA test
from Ancestry.
301
00:16:58,300 --> 00:17:02,633
Without thinking about it much,
Dani decides to take one too.
302
00:17:02,666 --> 00:17:06,400
She knows that both of her
parents are of Ashkenazi,
303
00:17:06,433 --> 00:17:10,633
or eastern European Jewish,
descent.
304
00:17:10,666 --> 00:17:14,766
Several weeks later
they get their results.
305
00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:18,300
We open them,
and he's like, "Huh.
306
00:17:18,333 --> 00:17:20,033
"According to this,
you're about 50-50,
307
00:17:20,066 --> 00:17:22,866
"Eastern European Ashkenazi
308
00:17:22,900 --> 00:17:25,333
"and the rest is all
Western European...
309
00:17:25,366 --> 00:17:28,733
French, Irish, English,
Swedish, German."
310
00:17:28,766 --> 00:17:33,900
My only response was, "Oh, well
they must've made a mistake."
311
00:17:33,933 --> 00:17:37,566
It was only a few days later,
my husband came in
312
00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:40,133
and he said,
"You have a first cousin
313
00:17:40,166 --> 00:17:42,200
"on your Ancestry.com page.
314
00:17:42,233 --> 00:17:44,066
"A first cousin who
we don't know, we don't,
315
00:17:44,100 --> 00:17:45,666
we don't know this
first cousin."
316
00:17:45,700 --> 00:17:50,133
In search of clues,
Dani turns to someone she's sure
317
00:17:50,166 --> 00:17:52,400
is a blood relative.
318
00:17:52,433 --> 00:17:53,642
I have a much older half-sister
319
00:17:53,666 --> 00:17:56,666
from a first marriage
of my dad's.
320
00:17:56,700 --> 00:17:58,366
I recalled that
321
00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:00,800
a number of years ago
she had done I think 23andMe.
322
00:18:00,833 --> 00:18:03,666
And I sent her an email
and I said,
323
00:18:03,700 --> 00:18:08,700
"Do you have your results from,
from the DNA test you did?"
324
00:18:08,733 --> 00:18:10,900
And she did
and she sent them to me.
325
00:18:10,933 --> 00:18:14,400
Dani gives the half-sister's
file to her husband.
326
00:18:14,433 --> 00:18:19,566
Using GEDmatch, he checks to
seehow much DNA she and Dani share
327
00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:22,833
and discovers the truth.
328
00:18:22,866 --> 00:18:24,966
He said, "You're not sisters."
329
00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:28,866
And I said,
"Not, not half-sisters?"
330
00:18:28,900 --> 00:18:30,500
'Cause that's what we were.
331
00:18:30,533 --> 00:18:32,200
And he said,
"No kind of sisters.
332
00:18:32,233 --> 00:18:33,366
You're not related."
333
00:18:34,933 --> 00:18:37,700
And so that was the moment
for me when all of the pieces
334
00:18:37,733 --> 00:18:41,166
began to just click into place
where I thought,
335
00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:45,900
"Well, if he's not one of our
fathers, he's not my father."
336
00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:50,800
Something very, very important
was kept from me.
337
00:18:50,833 --> 00:18:56,733
And it felt to me like
my identity was... um...
338
00:18:56,766 --> 00:18:58,700
in pieces.
339
00:19:00,366 --> 00:19:02,566
Her parents are both deceased.
340
00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:05,633
But she remembers her motheronce
saying she had a hard time
341
00:19:05,666 --> 00:19:08,000
getting pregnant,
342
00:19:08,033 --> 00:19:12,266
and mentioning a fertility
clinic in Philadelphia.
343
00:19:12,300 --> 00:19:15,133
Dani and her husband track down
the first cousin
344
00:19:15,166 --> 00:19:17,833
who popped up on Ancestry.
345
00:19:17,866 --> 00:19:23,700
His uncle turns out to be
Dani's biological father.
346
00:19:23,733 --> 00:19:27,900
A retired doctor, he'd gone
tomedical school in Philadelphia,
347
00:19:27,933 --> 00:19:30,766
and had been a sperm donor
at the clinic.
348
00:19:32,100 --> 00:19:33,633
She searches the internet,
349
00:19:33,666 --> 00:19:36,666
and sees a video of him
giving a talk.
350
00:19:36,700 --> 00:19:38,166
I knew what I was seeing.
351
00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:41,366
And I remember getting up
and walking into the bathroom,
352
00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:43,866
and looking at my facein
the mirror for the first time
353
00:19:43,900 --> 00:19:46,600
after seeing him,
354
00:19:46,633 --> 00:19:49,466
and understanding my face
for the first time in my life.
355
00:19:49,500 --> 00:19:53,833
Dani feels compelled
to write a new book
356
00:19:53,866 --> 00:19:58,033
about family, identity,
and her own experience.
357
00:19:58,066 --> 00:20:02,000
Its title: "Inheritance."
358
00:20:02,033 --> 00:20:04,133
My book is dedicated
to my father.
359
00:20:04,166 --> 00:20:08,700
And sometimes someone will say
to me, "Which father"?
360
00:20:08,733 --> 00:20:10,633
And I'm like, "Are you kidding?"
361
00:20:10,666 --> 00:20:14,566
My mother wanted to
bear a child.
362
00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:19,500
And I think it must reallynot
have been easy for my father
363
00:20:19,533 --> 00:20:22,433
to have gotten to this place
where he was
364
00:20:22,466 --> 00:20:26,633
willing to genetically
replace himself.
365
00:20:26,666 --> 00:20:28,766
That's what that is.
366
00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:32,200
It's saying one of us is going
to be the biological parent
367
00:20:32,233 --> 00:20:34,700
of this child
and one of us is not.
368
00:20:34,733 --> 00:20:39,266
And no one's ever gonna know
except for us.
369
00:20:44,500 --> 00:20:46,466
Dani is far from alone.
370
00:20:46,500 --> 00:20:49,900
According to one estimate,
some one million people
371
00:20:49,933 --> 00:20:52,733
have discovered
from consumer DNA tests
372
00:20:52,766 --> 00:20:55,333
that the man who raised them
373
00:20:55,366 --> 00:20:57,200
is not their biological father.
374
00:20:57,233 --> 00:21:01,400
Or that they have a half-sibling
they never knew about.
375
00:21:02,533 --> 00:21:05,266
And there are even
darker secrets that sometimes
376
00:21:05,300 --> 00:21:08,133
come to light.
377
00:21:08,166 --> 00:21:10,700
In Washington State, in 2018,
378
00:21:10,733 --> 00:21:15,200
the secret that Chelsea Rustad's
DNA helps to reveal
379
00:21:15,233 --> 00:21:16,700
could be the key
380
00:21:16,733 --> 00:21:21,800
to cracking a 31-year-old
cold case.
381
00:21:21,833 --> 00:21:24,000
It's really upsetting, very
distressing to think about.
382
00:21:24,033 --> 00:21:27,400
Only a monster could do
such things to people.
383
00:21:29,066 --> 00:21:32,166
On November 18, 1987,
384
00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:34,400
two young Canadians...
385
00:21:34,433 --> 00:21:36,800
Jay Cook, 20 years old,
386
00:21:36,833 --> 00:21:40,933
and his girlfriend,
Tanya van Cuylenborg, 18...
387
00:21:40,966 --> 00:21:45,800
leave their hometown, a suburb
of Victoria, British Columbia,
388
00:21:45,833 --> 00:21:51,533
heading to Seattle, to run
an errand for Jay's dad.
389
00:21:51,566 --> 00:21:56,600
Six days later,
Tanya's partially clothed body
390
00:21:56,633 --> 00:21:58,333
is found by the side
of this road
391
00:21:58,366 --> 00:22:00,733
in Skagit County, Washington.
392
00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:03,733
She's been shot in the head.
393
00:22:03,766 --> 00:22:07,266
And there's evidence of rape.
394
00:22:07,300 --> 00:22:10,600
Two days after that,
some 65 miles away
395
00:22:10,633 --> 00:22:13,566
in Snohomish County,
beneath this bridge,
396
00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:17,900
hunters find Jay's body.
397
00:22:17,933 --> 00:22:19,000
He's been strangled
398
00:22:19,033 --> 00:22:21,266
with twine and dog collars...
399
00:22:21,300 --> 00:22:24,433
his head beaten with rocks.
400
00:22:24,466 --> 00:22:28,166
We had two young
totally innocent kids
401
00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:32,133
that got kidnapped
and brutally murdered.
402
00:22:32,166 --> 00:22:36,600
During the investigation,
police recover
403
00:22:36,633 --> 00:22:40,600
potentially precious evidence
from Tanya's body:
404
00:22:40,633 --> 00:22:43,866
the assailant's DNA.
405
00:22:43,900 --> 00:22:47,200
They will run it through
a lab procedure that is still
406
00:22:47,233 --> 00:22:51,266
the gold standard for proving
identity with DNA.
407
00:22:51,300 --> 00:22:55,766
It zeroes in on just 20 or so
places in the genome
408
00:22:55,800 --> 00:23:00,800
where a short string of letters,
for example G-A-T-A,
409
00:23:00,833 --> 00:23:02,700
just keeps on repeating.
410
00:23:02,733 --> 00:23:08,433
They're called
short tandem repeats, or STRs.
411
00:23:08,466 --> 00:23:09,766
And scientists can count
412
00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:13,566
the number of times they repeat.
413
00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:15,576
And those counts vary
person to person
414
00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:18,300
just like the ridge lines
on a fingerprint.
415
00:23:18,333 --> 00:23:21,766
It's a very powerful technique
because with enough locations,
416
00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:25,100
you can do an identity match
with very high probability
417
00:23:25,133 --> 00:23:26,909
because of these slight
differences one person
418
00:23:26,933 --> 00:23:28,100
to the next.
419
00:23:29,300 --> 00:23:31,566
But like a crime scene
fingerprint,
420
00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:35,033
a crime scene STR profile
is only useful
421
00:23:35,066 --> 00:23:38,200
if it matches one that's already
in the possession
422
00:23:38,233 --> 00:23:41,133
of law enforcement.
423
00:23:41,166 --> 00:23:43,666
For decades,
the profile in this case
424
00:23:43,700 --> 00:23:48,866
doesn't match anyone known
to the police.
425
00:23:48,900 --> 00:23:53,133
The case goes cold.
426
00:23:53,166 --> 00:23:55,100
Until the day when
Chelsea Rustad
427
00:23:55,133 --> 00:23:59,700
uploads a DNA file to GEDmatch,
428
00:23:59,733 --> 00:24:01,400
where it becomes a clue
429
00:24:01,433 --> 00:24:04,366
that will eventually lead
the police to a major break
430
00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:06,866
in the case.
431
00:24:10,233 --> 00:24:15,200
Chelsea's experience
will make headlines.
432
00:24:15,233 --> 00:24:18,166
But most DNA test-takers
just want to know,
433
00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:21,066
"What are my roots?"
434
00:24:21,100 --> 00:24:24,600
A seemingly simple question
that often leads to its own
435
00:24:24,633 --> 00:24:27,033
set of mysteries.
436
00:24:27,066 --> 00:24:29,766
Don't open anything
until we ask you to.
437
00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:33,766
These 14 people are about
to experience
438
00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:36,666
DNA ancestry testing
for themselves.
439
00:24:36,700 --> 00:24:38,800
'Cause there are so many kids
I'm growing up with
440
00:24:38,833 --> 00:24:40,733
who are all in
the same situation.
441
00:24:40,766 --> 00:24:42,466
We don't know our heritage.
442
00:24:42,500 --> 00:24:43,866
We could probably safely assume
443
00:24:43,900 --> 00:24:46,833
that our ancestors' ancestors
had something to do
444
00:24:46,866 --> 00:24:48,600
with like slavery
and things like that.
445
00:24:48,633 --> 00:24:51,766
But we don't really know
where we came from.
446
00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:55,233
Cherry Richardson is taking part
in a research study
447
00:24:55,266 --> 00:24:58,633
at West Chester University
in Pennsylvania.
448
00:24:58,666 --> 00:25:01,766
So we have a research
protocolby which we collect data
449
00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:03,433
for this particular project.
450
00:25:03,466 --> 00:25:06,533
The study is run by two
communications professors...
451
00:25:06,566 --> 00:25:10,266
Bessie Lawton and Anita Foeman.
452
00:25:10,300 --> 00:25:12,533
The question they're asking is:
453
00:25:12,566 --> 00:25:17,000
how does DNA testing affect our
understanding of who we are?
454
00:25:17,033 --> 00:25:18,466
And also, our ability
455
00:25:18,500 --> 00:25:20,766
to understand what makes us
different?
456
00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:22,376
And after we receivethe results,
457
00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:23,466
we bring you together...
458
00:25:23,500 --> 00:25:25,400
The whole idea is to listen
to each other
459
00:25:25,433 --> 00:25:26,733
and talk with one another...
460
00:25:26,766 --> 00:25:28,966
Anita was inspired to start
the project
461
00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:31,066
because of her experiences
462
00:25:31,100 --> 00:25:33,033
as a diversity trainer.
463
00:25:33,066 --> 00:25:35,200
I thought looking at our DNA
464
00:25:35,233 --> 00:25:38,966
was a really interesting way
toapproach this whole conversation
465
00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:42,800
about race and diversity
in a way that was not going
466
00:25:42,833 --> 00:25:44,366
to make people defensive.
467
00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:45,500
And that has happened.
468
00:25:45,533 --> 00:25:47,766
We don't identify ourselves
with Africa.
469
00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:49,100
We just say we're Black.
470
00:25:49,133 --> 00:25:50,200
You know, we literally
471
00:25:50,233 --> 00:25:52,066
separated from that
which we came from.
472
00:25:52,100 --> 00:25:54,866
In a previous test
with Ancestry,
473
00:25:54,900 --> 00:25:56,233
Tyquine Golden was told
474
00:25:56,266 --> 00:25:58,533
his roots were 80% West African,
475
00:25:58,566 --> 00:26:00,800
and 20% British.
476
00:26:00,833 --> 00:26:02,100
They got everybody.
477
00:26:02,133 --> 00:26:04,233
In today's test
with FamilyTreeDNA,
478
00:26:04,266 --> 00:26:07,366
he hopes to learn more.
479
00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:11,733
My suspicions might lead me
to say, somewhere in slavery,
480
00:26:11,766 --> 00:26:17,500
20% might've came in and have
been integrated with our DNA.
481
00:26:17,533 --> 00:26:20,166
And that might not have been
voluntary.
482
00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:22,700
I think as an African American,
it's a tough thing
483
00:26:22,733 --> 00:26:25,300
to grapple with when you think
about the origin
484
00:26:25,333 --> 00:26:28,666
of your Caucasian,
or white ancestry,
485
00:26:28,700 --> 00:26:31,733
that often happened due to rape
and mistreatment.
486
00:26:31,766 --> 00:26:33,066
But it is part of your history.
487
00:26:33,100 --> 00:26:37,800
So you have to confront iton
some level and understand it.
488
00:26:37,833 --> 00:26:39,242
It's part of how you got here.
489
00:26:39,266 --> 00:26:41,333
I don't want to hide
from the truth.
490
00:26:41,366 --> 00:26:44,900
No matter how bad it could be.
491
00:26:46,500 --> 00:26:48,800
Now it's time to collect DNA...
492
00:26:48,833 --> 00:26:50,200
You can turn it around
493
00:26:50,233 --> 00:26:51,500
a little bit to capture more.
494
00:26:51,533 --> 00:26:53,433
and ship the samples off
to Houston.
495
00:26:56,566 --> 00:27:00,366
So how do DTCs like
FamilyTreeDNA come up
496
00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:02,566
with a breakdown
of your ancestry?
497
00:27:04,266 --> 00:27:06,700
It's a process that also
centers around SNPs...
498
00:27:06,733 --> 00:27:09,166
those places in our DNA
499
00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:13,966
that most frequently vary
between people.
500
00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:16,466
The company compares your SNPs
501
00:27:16,500 --> 00:27:20,600
with those of people in what
are called reference groups...
502
00:27:20,633 --> 00:27:24,100
people alive today whose DNA
has been tested
503
00:27:24,133 --> 00:27:26,133
and who share patterns of SNPs
504
00:27:26,166 --> 00:27:27,566
that scientists have found to be
505
00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:30,733
typical for the region in which
they live.
506
00:27:31,866 --> 00:27:35,000
Those patterns are compiled into
a database.
507
00:27:35,033 --> 00:27:38,100
But how well does it represent
test-takers?
508
00:27:39,900 --> 00:27:41,066
They're telling you
509
00:27:41,100 --> 00:27:43,333
this is your background based on
our database.
510
00:27:43,366 --> 00:27:44,942
Well, if something's not
in their database,
511
00:27:44,966 --> 00:27:47,466
they can't tell you that it's in
your background.
512
00:27:48,766 --> 00:27:50,400
The DTCs have less data
513
00:27:50,433 --> 00:27:53,633
about people of African
and Asian descent than they do
514
00:27:53,666 --> 00:27:57,133
about people of European
descent.
515
00:27:57,166 --> 00:28:00,700
Most of the genetic testing
that has been done
516
00:28:00,733 --> 00:28:04,300
has been done on North Atlantic
Europeans.
517
00:28:04,333 --> 00:28:08,866
So our reference databases
are biased.
518
00:28:13,666 --> 00:28:15,109
Why don't we all just
take a minute,
519
00:28:15,133 --> 00:28:16,833
and open your results,
520
00:28:16,866 --> 00:28:20,000
and take a look at the map
for the first time.
521
00:28:20,033 --> 00:28:23,566
FamilyTreeDNA has given
Nick Pasvanis,
522
00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:26,333
whose parents trace
their ancestors to Greece,
523
00:28:26,366 --> 00:28:30,233
Germany, England, and Scotland,
a detailed breakdown.
524
00:28:30,266 --> 00:28:33,100
I'm 45%Southeastern European,
525
00:28:33,133 --> 00:28:36,033
which is aboutwhat I expected.
526
00:28:36,066 --> 00:28:39,700
I've always felt like I wasjust
a general European mutt.
527
00:28:39,733 --> 00:28:42,433
And that's pretty muchwhat the map shows.
528
00:28:42,466 --> 00:28:45,533
So, I was
wonderingwhen I got it, like,
529
00:28:45,566 --> 00:28:47,466
if it would say if I was Black,
530
00:28:47,500 --> 00:28:50,200
and I am 94% West African,
531
00:28:50,233 --> 00:28:52,700
:
so, yeah, I'm pretty Black.
532
00:28:52,733 --> 00:28:58,466
But Cherry Richardson's African
bubble provides little detail.
533
00:29:00,666 --> 00:29:03,666
Hana Wiessmann and Viola Wang,
534
00:29:03,700 --> 00:29:05,600
who were both born in China,
535
00:29:05,633 --> 00:29:08,566
have even bigger bubbles.
536
00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:10,876
I mean, I have just these giant
bubbles, and they're like,
537
00:29:10,900 --> 00:29:13,933
"You're super Asian," like,
Ikind of already knew that, so...
538
00:29:13,966 --> 00:29:16,700
Basically, people have huge
bubbles are considered
539
00:29:16,733 --> 00:29:19,133
"the minorities."
540
00:29:19,166 --> 00:29:22,800
And it's unfortunate because
it perpetuates
541
00:29:22,833 --> 00:29:29,066
a kind of Eurocentrism that has
tainted our scholarship.
542
00:29:29,100 --> 00:29:32,233
That is a foundation
for notions,
543
00:29:32,266 --> 00:29:35,700
false notions
of white supremacy.
544
00:29:35,733 --> 00:29:38,233
And it highlights
the disparities
545
00:29:38,266 --> 00:29:42,100
that are currently prevalent
throughout science
546
00:29:42,133 --> 00:29:44,166
and particularly in genetics.
547
00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:48,466
There's also 23% southeast with
Italy and Greece highlighted,
548
00:29:48,500 --> 00:29:50,600
which was never on our radar.
549
00:29:50,633 --> 00:29:55,233
But there's another problem
withthe way DTCs calculate ancestry.
550
00:29:55,266 --> 00:29:57,000
64% European...
551
00:29:57,033 --> 00:29:59,966
The DNA of
peoplewho lived in a place long ago...
552
00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:02,066
your ancestors...
553
00:30:02,100 --> 00:30:04,066
may be different from the DNA
of the people
554
00:30:04,100 --> 00:30:08,966
in the reference groups
who live there today.
555
00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:11,466
That's because for centuries,
people,
556
00:30:11,500 --> 00:30:12,866
and their DNA,
557
00:30:12,900 --> 00:30:16,900
have been moving around
the globe.
558
00:30:16,933 --> 00:30:20,200
You really have to get over
the hurdle of static thinking
559
00:30:20,233 --> 00:30:22,966
about human populations.
560
00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:26,533
That there are Irish genes,
and Italian genes,
561
00:30:26,566 --> 00:30:31,833
and, and Nigerian genes,
and Zimbabwean genes
562
00:30:31,866 --> 00:30:35,600
and that's just not the way
that human evolution works.
563
00:30:35,633 --> 00:30:38,833
Because static feeds into
the racist paradigm,
564
00:30:38,866 --> 00:30:43,966
feeds into the me versus you,
you know, us versus them.
565
00:30:46,300 --> 00:30:48,366
And yet it is true that certain
566
00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:51,466
SNP patterns are more prevalent
in some places than others.
567
00:30:54,300 --> 00:30:55,609
There are several clues
568
00:30:55,633 --> 00:30:58,266
that can link you back to areas
569
00:30:58,300 --> 00:31:02,600
and specific regions
where your ancestors evolved.
570
00:31:02,633 --> 00:31:04,900
The companies are doingthe
best they can with the data
571
00:31:04,933 --> 00:31:06,333
that they have.
572
00:31:06,366 --> 00:31:10,033
And that's why all the DNA
testing companies are trying
573
00:31:10,066 --> 00:31:15,733
to add more discrete populations
to their database,
574
00:31:15,766 --> 00:31:22,066
so that when they don't assign
your population perfectly,
575
00:31:22,100 --> 00:31:25,100
they're as close
as they possibly can be.
576
00:31:25,133 --> 00:31:28,966
Bessie and Anita are finding
that whatever their flaws,
577
00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:34,433
DNA ancestry tests, by
makingpeople think about their roots,
578
00:31:34,466 --> 00:31:38,300
can help them to better
appreciate human diversity.
579
00:31:38,333 --> 00:31:40,500
The north of Africa,
Middle East,
580
00:31:40,533 --> 00:31:42,466
the western Europe, but I was...
581
00:31:42,500 --> 00:31:43,866
It makes people think of
582
00:31:43,900 --> 00:31:49,200
their stories in relation toother
people in the whole story
583
00:31:49,233 --> 00:31:50,733
of human migration.
584
00:31:50,766 --> 00:31:54,500
Most people have felt this to be
a positive experience.
585
00:31:54,533 --> 00:31:58,333
Tyquine Golden's results
from FamilyTreeDNA
586
00:31:58,366 --> 00:31:59,500
are very close
587
00:31:59,533 --> 00:32:02,000
to those he received
from Ancestry.
588
00:32:02,033 --> 00:32:03,209
Can't ignore it now.
589
00:32:03,233 --> 00:32:04,900
The whole, like,
590
00:32:04,933 --> 00:32:08,866
Ireland and U.K. part
of the DNA.
591
00:32:08,900 --> 00:32:10,400
Let me ask,
do you think you're
592
00:32:10,433 --> 00:32:13,100
as authentically Black
as she is?
593
00:32:13,133 --> 00:32:14,866
I don't think it makes
a difference.
594
00:32:14,900 --> 00:32:16,500
They sat there
595
00:32:16,533 --> 00:32:19,366
and had a conversation
about race
596
00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:23,666
that was fun and exciting
and joining.
597
00:32:23,700 --> 00:32:25,133
And if that can happen
598
00:32:25,166 --> 00:32:28,566
more and more,
what are the possibilities?
599
00:32:31,766 --> 00:32:35,233
But as difficultas
determining ancestry may be,
600
00:32:35,266 --> 00:32:38,866
the toughest challenge
the DTCs are taking on
601
00:32:38,900 --> 00:32:43,400
may be assessing
our genetic disease risks.
602
00:32:43,433 --> 00:32:44,776
Because when it comes
to the accuracy
603
00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:50,400
of those tests,
the stakes couldn't be higher.
604
00:32:50,433 --> 00:32:52,633
We all face the risk
of developing
605
00:32:52,666 --> 00:32:55,200
life-threatening diseases.
606
00:32:55,233 --> 00:32:56,666
But some of us face
607
00:32:56,700 --> 00:33:04,700
a greater risk because of
variations in our genes...
608
00:33:06,933 --> 00:33:08,333
that form the genetic code
609
00:33:08,366 --> 00:33:10,633
for making proteins,
610
00:33:10,666 --> 00:33:14,200
the critical molecules
that keep our bodies working.
611
00:33:14,233 --> 00:33:16,966
It is hard to believe that
a single letter change
612
00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:19,133
could affect a human being
so profoundly
613
00:33:19,166 --> 00:33:22,000
among this huge string
of three billion letters.
614
00:33:22,033 --> 00:33:25,000
But then you get those
critical places
615
00:33:25,033 --> 00:33:27,766
where if you've made
that specific change,
616
00:33:27,800 --> 00:33:30,866
the protein simply doesn't work
anymore.
617
00:33:30,900 --> 00:33:34,700
Several of the DTCs
now offer testing
618
00:33:34,733 --> 00:33:37,300
for genetic health risks.
619
00:33:37,333 --> 00:33:40,233
But how reliable are they?
620
00:33:40,266 --> 00:33:41,966
Most of those tests
621
00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:50,000
look only at selected SNPs and
ignore the rest of the genome,
622
00:33:52,900 --> 00:33:57,100
where other risks
23andMe's controversial teste:
623
00:33:57,133 --> 00:34:00,000
for breast cancer risk.
624
00:34:00,033 --> 00:34:03,433
It looks at two genes
called B-R-C-A,
625
00:34:03,466 --> 00:34:06,066
or "bra-ka" genes.
626
00:34:06,100 --> 00:34:10,100
They code for proteins
that control cell growth.
627
00:34:10,133 --> 00:34:12,433
But certain base pair variations
628
00:34:12,466 --> 00:34:14,133
derail the BRCA genes,
629
00:34:14,166 --> 00:34:18,200
and make some cancers...
Such as pancreatic,
630
00:34:18,233 --> 00:34:23,233
prostate, and especially ovarianand
breast cancer... more likely.
631
00:34:23,266 --> 00:34:28,966
Scientists have documentedclose
to 4,000 such variations.
632
00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:34,900
23andMe sells a SNP test
that looks for three of them.
633
00:34:34,933 --> 00:34:39,066
They're among the variationsthat
put women at very high risk
634
00:34:39,100 --> 00:34:40,700
for breast cancer.
635
00:34:40,733 --> 00:34:44,600
Each can be reliably detected
by SNP testing.
636
00:34:44,633 --> 00:34:48,366
And each is ten times
more common in women who have
637
00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:52,433
Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry.
638
00:34:52,466 --> 00:34:57,633
Jessica Algazi, a 52-year-old
entertainment lawyer
639
00:34:57,666 --> 00:35:02,100
in Los Angeles, has three
Ashkenazi grandparents.
640
00:35:03,466 --> 00:35:08,233
In 2018, she takes the 23andMe
BRCA test,
641
00:35:08,266 --> 00:35:11,866
having no idea
it will change her life.
642
00:35:11,900 --> 00:35:16,166
One day, when she's playing
golf, she gets an email.
643
00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:19,200
I get the resultsas
I'm sitting on a golf course
644
00:35:19,233 --> 00:35:22,933
in a golf cart and I looked down
and like, "Oh my God,
645
00:35:22,966 --> 00:35:24,366
I can't believe this."
646
00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:27,433
23andMe reports that she has
647
00:35:27,466 --> 00:35:30,900
a BRCA 1 variation
that makes it highly likely
648
00:35:30,933 --> 00:35:34,333
she will develop ovarian
or breast cancer.
649
00:35:34,366 --> 00:35:37,400
A second test by a DNA lab
650
00:35:37,433 --> 00:35:41,300
that specializes in BRCA testing
confirms it.
651
00:35:41,333 --> 00:35:44,166
Although she is cancer-free
for now,
652
00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:46,100
she makes a decision.
653
00:35:46,133 --> 00:35:50,366
My gynecologist said, you know,
654
00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:52,700
"Jess, you got to do
something now.
655
00:35:52,733 --> 00:35:55,133
"You'll have your ovaries
and tubes removed
656
00:35:55,166 --> 00:35:59,833
and you need to havea
double mastectomy right away."
657
00:35:59,866 --> 00:36:03,800
And so, I'm just grateful that
I was able to find out in time
658
00:36:03,833 --> 00:36:05,466
to do something
before I got sick.
659
00:36:05,500 --> 00:36:09,033
I'm eternally grateful
to the folks at 23andMe
660
00:36:09,066 --> 00:36:11,466
for giving me that opportunity.
661
00:36:11,500 --> 00:36:14,800
They quite possibly
saved my life.
662
00:36:14,833 --> 00:36:18,766
But most women who have
BRCA variations don't have
663
00:36:18,800 --> 00:36:22,633
any of the three that 23andMe
tests for.
664
00:36:22,666 --> 00:36:26,000
Women like Pamela Munster.
665
00:36:26,033 --> 00:36:27,233
She happens to be
666
00:36:27,266 --> 00:36:29,433
an oncologist in San Francisco
667
00:36:29,466 --> 00:36:32,400
who specializes
in breast cancer.
668
00:36:32,433 --> 00:36:33,966
I have the BRCA1 gene...
669
00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:38,133
She has no Ashkenazi Jewish
ancestry.
670
00:36:38,166 --> 00:36:44,200
In 2010, Pamela takes 23andMe's
BRCA test herself.
671
00:36:44,233 --> 00:36:45,500
What I learned is that
672
00:36:45,533 --> 00:36:48,700
I didn't have much of
a breast cancer risk,
673
00:36:48,733 --> 00:36:50,633
and by 23andMe's reckon,
674
00:36:50,666 --> 00:36:52,533
my breast cancer risk
was actually quite low.
675
00:36:52,566 --> 00:36:58,233
But in 2012, Pamela is diagnosed
with breast cancer.
676
00:36:58,266 --> 00:37:02,566
And the way that my cancer
looked under the microscope,
677
00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:05,333
I had the sense that
this breast cancer
678
00:37:05,366 --> 00:37:06,866
was associated with a
BRCA mutation.
679
00:37:06,900 --> 00:37:11,266
To confirm her hunch,
Pamela has her DNA tested
680
00:37:11,300 --> 00:37:14,433
by what's known
as a clinical lab,
681
00:37:14,466 --> 00:37:16,866
the kind doctors use.
682
00:37:16,900 --> 00:37:20,366
They don't just look at
scattered SNPs.
683
00:37:20,400 --> 00:37:24,500
They look at every single
base pair in genes...
684
00:37:25,866 --> 00:37:29,866
A process known as sequencing.
685
00:37:29,900 --> 00:37:32,800
They go through the entire
BRCA gene.
686
00:37:32,833 --> 00:37:37,166
And they... remember, these are
like 80,000 base pairs.
687
00:37:37,200 --> 00:37:38,933
And they can tell you
is the letter there,
688
00:37:38,966 --> 00:37:40,000
is the letter not there.
689
00:37:40,033 --> 00:37:43,500
Pamela turns out to be right.
690
00:37:43,533 --> 00:37:46,500
She does have a BRCA2 mutation.
691
00:37:46,533 --> 00:37:50,866
But it's not any of the three
variants 23andMe tests for.
692
00:37:50,900 --> 00:37:54,500
It's one of the thousands
of others.
693
00:37:54,533 --> 00:37:58,333
If I just want to know
who I'm related to, 23andMe,
694
00:37:58,366 --> 00:38:00,866
Ancestry are very good tests.
695
00:38:00,900 --> 00:38:03,900
If you want to know,
do you carry a BRCA gene
696
00:38:03,933 --> 00:38:06,300
and are you at risk
for breast cancer?
697
00:38:06,333 --> 00:38:11,200
I think 23andMe
is not an ideal test.
698
00:38:11,233 --> 00:38:15,933
But 23andMe says that
its BRCA test has alerted
699
00:38:15,966 --> 00:38:20,166
some 3,000 people
to their cancer risk.
700
00:38:20,200 --> 00:38:23,400
And that choosing these
three variants makes sense,
701
00:38:23,433 --> 00:38:27,533
because they confer
such high risks.
702
00:38:27,566 --> 00:38:30,366
What these variations mean
for someone's risks
703
00:38:30,400 --> 00:38:32,933
is very, very well understood.
704
00:38:32,966 --> 00:38:36,166
The studies that have shown
near, nearly half of people
705
00:38:36,200 --> 00:38:38,366
carrying one of these variants
don't realize it.
706
00:38:38,400 --> 00:38:42,733
So it's great for those people
who were not even thinking
707
00:38:42,766 --> 00:38:44,042
they were carrying that mutation
708
00:38:44,066 --> 00:38:46,833
to pick it up with
direct-to-consumer testing.
709
00:38:46,866 --> 00:38:49,700
It's not a good thing
if those people think
710
00:38:49,733 --> 00:38:54,900
they have been exhaustively
tested because they have not.
711
00:38:57,433 --> 00:38:59,466
And there are also concerns
712
00:38:59,500 --> 00:39:03,566
about how test-takers' data
is used.
713
00:39:03,600 --> 00:39:04,933
In 2018,
714
00:39:04,966 --> 00:39:09,066
23andMe agrees to share
anonymized information
715
00:39:09,100 --> 00:39:11,266
about millions of its customers
716
00:39:11,300 --> 00:39:14,533
with GlaxoSmithKline
to use in the development
717
00:39:14,566 --> 00:39:17,333
of new drugs.
718
00:39:17,366 --> 00:39:22,300
23andMe says some 80% of its
customers have given consent
719
00:39:22,333 --> 00:39:26,266
for their data to be used
in research.
720
00:39:27,800 --> 00:39:30,533
Most have also filled in
health questionnaires,
721
00:39:30,566 --> 00:39:34,333
enabling valuable linksto
be made between their genes,
722
00:39:34,366 --> 00:39:36,933
and their health histories.
723
00:39:36,966 --> 00:39:38,976
The potential of what you can do
with that information
724
00:39:39,000 --> 00:39:40,566
is just astounding.
725
00:39:40,600 --> 00:39:43,333
But while the possible rewards
726
00:39:43,366 --> 00:39:46,233
of the deal seem clear, to some,
727
00:39:46,266 --> 00:39:48,800
it raises ethical questions.
728
00:39:48,833 --> 00:39:50,776
You're actually paying
your money to give your data
729
00:39:50,800 --> 00:39:51,900
to a company.
730
00:39:51,933 --> 00:39:54,333
And then it will be
capitalized on
731
00:39:54,366 --> 00:39:57,500
potentially without benefit
to you.
732
00:39:57,533 --> 00:39:59,242
When you're dealing with
such a new technology,
733
00:39:59,266 --> 00:40:03,400
I think the full implications
can't possibly be understood
734
00:40:03,433 --> 00:40:06,133
by consumers because things are
just too new.
735
00:40:07,700 --> 00:40:13,533
So how safe is the
data of23andMe's 12 million customers?
736
00:40:13,566 --> 00:40:14,909
We do not sell data.
737
00:40:14,933 --> 00:40:19,166
We do not share your data
with any insurance company
738
00:40:19,200 --> 00:40:23,066
or any employer, hard stop,
without your consent.
739
00:40:24,400 --> 00:40:27,066
Federal law prohibits
most employers from using
740
00:40:27,100 --> 00:40:31,133
genetic data to make
workplace decisions.
741
00:40:31,166 --> 00:40:33,766
And prohibits health insurers
from using it
742
00:40:33,800 --> 00:40:36,500
to change or deny coverage.
743
00:40:36,533 --> 00:40:38,466
But disability
and life insurance companies
744
00:40:38,500 --> 00:40:40,900
are free to use it.
745
00:40:40,933 --> 00:40:45,633
While 23andMe and FamilyTreeDNA
talked with "NOVA"
746
00:40:45,666 --> 00:40:47,666
about these issues,
747
00:40:47,700 --> 00:40:52,900
AncestryDNA declined
to participate in this film.
748
00:40:54,866 --> 00:40:57,333
The risks inherent
in new technologies
749
00:40:57,366 --> 00:40:58,933
often become obvious
750
00:40:58,966 --> 00:41:01,733
only in hindsight.
751
00:41:01,766 --> 00:41:05,500
Chelsea Rustad could neverhad
predicted that her DNA test
752
00:41:05,533 --> 00:41:09,533
might lead the police
to a dangerous murder suspect.
753
00:41:09,566 --> 00:41:13,833
They found him using
a new investigative technique
754
00:41:13,866 --> 00:41:18,900
that springs directly from
the rise of consumer testing.
755
00:41:18,933 --> 00:41:21,766
It's called genetic genealogy.
756
00:41:21,800 --> 00:41:24,966
And before it was used
to solve crimes,
757
00:41:25,000 --> 00:41:29,033
it was used by people looking
for their birth parents.
758
00:41:29,066 --> 00:41:32,933
One of its pioneers
is a retired patent lawyer
759
00:41:32,966 --> 00:41:34,733
named Barbara Rae-Venter.
760
00:41:34,766 --> 00:41:35,842
I really backed into
761
00:41:35,866 --> 00:41:37,533
this whole thing.
762
00:41:37,566 --> 00:41:42,500
Because I was doing, uh...
unknown parentage type work
763
00:41:42,533 --> 00:41:44,400
with adoptees.
764
00:41:44,433 --> 00:41:46,800
For adoptees, DNA has been huge,
765
00:41:46,833 --> 00:41:49,833
because for them to try
and figure out
766
00:41:49,866 --> 00:41:52,266
who their birth relatives were
just using paper,
767
00:41:52,300 --> 00:41:53,866
very, very difficult.
768
00:41:53,900 --> 00:41:57,633
Barbara starts by connecting
the adoptee to the people
769
00:41:57,666 --> 00:42:00,700
in their DNA match list.
770
00:42:00,733 --> 00:42:07,366
Then by digging through records,
she finds more relatives.
771
00:42:07,400 --> 00:42:12,900
The goal: find an ancestor
who links everyone together
772
00:42:12,933 --> 00:42:16,000
and points directly
to the birth parent.
773
00:42:16,033 --> 00:42:22,666
In 2017, Barbara is asked
by investigators in California
774
00:42:22,700 --> 00:42:25,533
to try to solve
a different kind of mystery:
775
00:42:25,566 --> 00:42:29,700
one of the nation's
most notorious cold cases.
776
00:42:30,933 --> 00:42:33,200
The so-called
Golden State Killer
777
00:42:33,233 --> 00:42:34,400
was suspected of committing
778
00:42:34,433 --> 00:42:38,466
at least 13 murders
and more than 50 rapes
779
00:42:38,500 --> 00:42:42,033
during the 1970s and '80s.
780
00:42:44,700 --> 00:42:46,733
Police have long had his DNA,
781
00:42:46,766 --> 00:42:49,500
but they have no idea who he is.
782
00:42:50,966 --> 00:42:52,100
Barbara agrees to help.
783
00:42:54,066 --> 00:42:57,100
From the crime scene DNA,
a SNP profile is made,
784
00:42:57,133 --> 00:43:00,366
and then uploaded to GEDmatch.
785
00:43:00,400 --> 00:43:05,700
Using the relatives who pop up,
Barbara creates a family tree
786
00:43:05,733 --> 00:43:08,166
and eventually zeroes in
787
00:43:08,200 --> 00:43:11,666
on a man named Joseph DeAngelo.
788
00:43:11,700 --> 00:43:16,600
A one-time policeman, DeAngelohad
never been under suspicion.
789
00:43:16,633 --> 00:43:22,300
Police collect his DNA
and run an STR test.
790
00:43:22,333 --> 00:43:25,433
The result:
a perfect match with the DNA
791
00:43:25,466 --> 00:43:29,333
of the Golden State Killer.
792
00:43:29,366 --> 00:43:30,666
Murder in the first degree...
793
00:43:30,700 --> 00:43:32,766
that charge, sir,
how do you plead?
794
00:43:32,800 --> 00:43:36,300
In June 2020,
Joseph DeAngelo pleads guilty
795
00:43:36,333 --> 00:43:38,300
to 13 counts of murder.
796
00:43:38,333 --> 00:43:39,466
Guilty.
797
00:43:39,500 --> 00:43:41,700
He is sentenced
to life in prison.
798
00:43:43,566 --> 00:43:45,533
At the time
of DeAngelo's arrest,
799
00:43:45,566 --> 00:43:48,133
Detective Jim Scharf
is amazed to learn
800
00:43:48,166 --> 00:43:52,866
what's been accomplished
using genetic genealogy.
801
00:43:52,900 --> 00:43:56,500
He quickly thinks about
Tanya and Jay.
802
00:43:56,533 --> 00:43:59,166
He reaches out
to a computer scientist
803
00:43:59,200 --> 00:44:04,933
he's been working within
Virginia... Steve Armentrout.
804
00:44:04,966 --> 00:44:07,133
So do I need to hardwirethe number in here
805
00:44:07,166 --> 00:44:08,900
or am I doing a calculation?
806
00:44:08,933 --> 00:44:12,366
Steve's company,
Parabon NanoLabs,
807
00:44:12,400 --> 00:44:15,533
has developed methodsand
software for sifting through
808
00:44:15,566 --> 00:44:17,533
hundreds of thousands of SNPs.
809
00:44:17,566 --> 00:44:21,200
We first have to get DNA
from the crime scene
810
00:44:21,233 --> 00:44:25,200
into a format that can be used
for uploading.
811
00:44:25,233 --> 00:44:28,100
Jim gave us the okay
on a Thursday.
812
00:44:28,133 --> 00:44:29,066
On Friday,
813
00:44:29,100 --> 00:44:32,700
we were uploading to GEDmatch.
814
00:44:33,833 --> 00:44:35,200
Steve has teamed up
815
00:44:35,233 --> 00:44:36,600
with a genetic genealogist
816
00:44:36,633 --> 00:44:39,866
in California, CeCe Moore.
817
00:44:39,900 --> 00:44:41,300
On Saturday morning,
818
00:44:41,333 --> 00:44:44,700
I rolled out of bedbefore
I even put my contact in,
819
00:44:44,733 --> 00:44:48,566
and flipped open my laptop to
see if we had that match list.
820
00:44:48,600 --> 00:44:49,800
And we did.
821
00:44:49,833 --> 00:44:55,566
GEDmatch shows two people
who each share around 3%
822
00:44:55,600 --> 00:44:59,000
with the unknown suspect.
823
00:44:59,033 --> 00:45:03,400
So to have two people that
shared about 3% of their DNA
824
00:45:03,433 --> 00:45:05,800
or enough to be a second cousin
with the suspect
825
00:45:05,833 --> 00:45:08,333
did feel like getting struck
by lightning.
826
00:45:08,366 --> 00:45:12,100
Second cousins will share
827
00:45:12,133 --> 00:45:13,633
a set of great-grandparents,
828
00:45:13,666 --> 00:45:15,109
and that's not that far back
in the tree.
829
00:45:15,133 --> 00:45:16,566
In genealogy,
830
00:45:16,600 --> 00:45:20,166
I can almost always get backto
someone's great-grandparents.
831
00:45:20,200 --> 00:45:27,100
One of CeCe's two top matches
is Chelsea Rustad.
832
00:45:27,133 --> 00:45:32,166
The other is a cousin
who'snever been publicly identified.
833
00:45:32,200 --> 00:45:35,066
They both share DNA
with the suspect.
834
00:45:35,100 --> 00:45:38,633
But don't share any
with each other.
835
00:45:38,666 --> 00:45:40,800
That meant that they represented
different branches
836
00:45:40,833 --> 00:45:42,900
of the suspect's family tree.
837
00:45:42,933 --> 00:45:44,833
I really lucked out.
838
00:45:44,866 --> 00:45:50,233
I found an obituary from a woman
who was carrying the surname
839
00:45:50,266 --> 00:45:53,733
that I had just seen in
the other match's family tree.
840
00:45:53,766 --> 00:45:54,966
So that told me
841
00:45:55,000 --> 00:45:56,933
we have a woman from this tree
842
00:45:56,966 --> 00:45:59,600
and a man from this tree
who have married.
843
00:45:59,633 --> 00:46:01,233
And hopefully had children.
844
00:46:01,266 --> 00:46:05,733
CeCe knows that if they did,
those children would carry
845
00:46:05,766 --> 00:46:10,200
a mix of DNA very similar
to that of the suspect.
846
00:46:10,233 --> 00:46:13,800
The couple had four children.
847
00:46:13,833 --> 00:46:18,133
We got really lucky that therewas
only one male in this family
848
00:46:18,166 --> 00:46:21,600
because the genetic genealogy
was pointing at one person
849
00:46:21,633 --> 00:46:23,100
and only one person,
850
00:46:23,133 --> 00:46:25,400
and that was
William Earl Talbott II.
851
00:46:30,200 --> 00:46:32,233
At the time of the murders,
852
00:46:32,266 --> 00:46:34,766
Talbott lived a few miles
from the bridge
853
00:46:34,800 --> 00:46:38,833
where Jay Cook's body was found.
854
00:46:38,866 --> 00:46:41,866
Now, he is 55.
855
00:46:41,900 --> 00:46:43,300
A truck driver.
856
00:46:43,333 --> 00:46:46,500
The police follow him.
857
00:46:46,533 --> 00:46:49,300
They want his DNA
858
00:46:49,333 --> 00:46:50,700
to see if it matches the DNA
859
00:46:50,733 --> 00:46:53,766
from the crime scene.
860
00:46:53,800 --> 00:46:56,133
One day they get lucky.
861
00:46:56,166 --> 00:47:00,266
A drinking cup falls out
of his truck.
862
00:47:00,300 --> 00:47:02,833
Jim Scharf brings the cup
863
00:47:02,866 --> 00:47:05,033
to the Washington State Patrol
Crime Lab
864
00:47:05,066 --> 00:47:07,333
for STR testing.
865
00:47:07,366 --> 00:47:11,800
Lab supervisor Lisa Collins
asks him to wait.
866
00:47:11,833 --> 00:47:14,766
Soon, she returns.
867
00:47:14,800 --> 00:47:18,733
Lisa turned and handed me
the report and said,
868
00:47:18,766 --> 00:47:20,200
"Jim, it's him.
869
00:47:20,233 --> 00:47:22,066
There's a match."
870
00:47:22,100 --> 00:47:24,933
And I couldn't believe it.
871
00:47:24,966 --> 00:47:27,400
My eyes teared up.
872
00:47:27,433 --> 00:47:29,466
I yelled out a scream.
873
00:47:29,500 --> 00:47:31,100
"This is wonderful.
874
00:47:31,133 --> 00:47:33,633
We finally got this guy."
875
00:47:36,233 --> 00:47:39,133
On May 17, 2018,
876
00:47:39,166 --> 00:47:41,266
William Earl Talbott II
877
00:47:41,300 --> 00:47:44,266
is arrested on a charge
of first degree murder
878
00:47:44,300 --> 00:47:48,500
for a 31-year-old crime.
879
00:47:48,533 --> 00:47:51,200
He's a man who was identified
880
00:47:51,233 --> 00:47:54,733
not because he took a DNA test,
881
00:47:54,766 --> 00:47:56,600
but because a relative did.
882
00:47:56,633 --> 00:47:59,300
Someone he'd never even met.
883
00:48:01,000 --> 00:48:05,966
In June 2019, the jury
delivers its verdict.
884
00:48:06,000 --> 00:48:09,066
We the jury find the defendant
William Earl Talbott II
885
00:48:09,100 --> 00:48:11,333
guilty of the crime
of first degree murder
886
00:48:11,366 --> 00:48:13,666
as charged in count one.
887
00:48:13,700 --> 00:48:17,733
Talbott is the first
suspectidentified by genetic genealogy
888
00:48:17,766 --> 00:48:21,333
ever to be convicted by a jury.
889
00:48:21,366 --> 00:48:22,433
He is soon sentenced
890
00:48:22,466 --> 00:48:26,500
to two consecutive life terms
in prison.
891
00:48:26,533 --> 00:48:28,666
It has been reiterated to me
892
00:48:28,700 --> 00:48:31,166
so many times
by the investigators
893
00:48:31,200 --> 00:48:35,400
that they wouldn't have come
this far without my DNA.
894
00:48:35,433 --> 00:48:37,566
It would have been
dead in the water.
895
00:48:37,600 --> 00:48:41,333
Since Talbott's conviction,
the Parabon team has used
896
00:48:41,366 --> 00:48:43,866
genetic genealogy to identify
897
00:48:43,900 --> 00:48:47,333
more than a hundred
criminal suspects.
898
00:48:47,366 --> 00:48:50,533
But just being named
by a genealogist isn't enough
899
00:48:50,566 --> 00:48:51,800
to get a person arrested.
900
00:48:51,833 --> 00:48:56,300
We have to get confirmation DNA
901
00:48:56,333 --> 00:48:59,600
using STR testing
before we have probable cause
902
00:48:59,633 --> 00:49:01,900
to make an arrest.
903
00:49:01,933 --> 00:49:06,800
Even so, to critics,
the use of genetic genealogy
904
00:49:06,833 --> 00:49:10,800
by law enforcement
raises privacy questions.
905
00:49:10,833 --> 00:49:14,300
Do we want to catch people who
have committed heinous crimes?
906
00:49:14,333 --> 00:49:16,066
Absolutely, yes.
907
00:49:16,100 --> 00:49:19,000
But what DNA profiles are being
trolled through?
908
00:49:19,033 --> 00:49:21,833
What failed attempts
to find suspects
909
00:49:21,866 --> 00:49:22,966
are we not hearing about
910
00:49:23,000 --> 00:49:25,033
and the data violations
and privacy violations
911
00:49:25,066 --> 00:49:26,566
that happen along the way?
912
00:49:26,600 --> 00:49:30,766
The genetic genealogy team
at Parabon says the fears
913
00:49:30,800 --> 00:49:32,800
are exaggerated.
914
00:49:32,833 --> 00:49:34,166
People have control
915
00:49:34,200 --> 00:49:38,000
over whether their DNA is used
in these investigations.
916
00:49:38,033 --> 00:49:41,366
Simply taking a DNA test
at 23andMe, at Ancestry,
917
00:49:41,400 --> 00:49:44,900
your DNA is in their
private database.
918
00:49:44,933 --> 00:49:49,300
But there's little regulation,
and policies vary.
919
00:49:49,333 --> 00:49:55,200
In 2019, FamilyTreeDNA
apologized for letting the FBI
920
00:49:55,233 --> 00:49:57,833
search its database
for people who share DNA
921
00:49:57,866 --> 00:50:01,833
with crime scene samples
without customers' permission.
922
00:50:01,866 --> 00:50:03,466
FamilyTreeDNA and GEDmatch
923
00:50:03,500 --> 00:50:08,733
both now say they only do so
with explicit permission.
924
00:50:08,766 --> 00:50:12,166
And another worry:
consumer DNA companies,
925
00:50:12,200 --> 00:50:17,766
like any that collect data,
are vulnerable to hackers.
926
00:50:17,800 --> 00:50:23,733
Yet the risks are clearly
not deterring everyone.
927
00:50:23,766 --> 00:50:27,600
No one is forcing anyone to take
a DNA test.
928
00:50:27,633 --> 00:50:32,500
If your paranoia,
and fear of Big Brother
929
00:50:32,533 --> 00:50:35,366
is greater than your interest
930
00:50:35,400 --> 00:50:38,333
in reading the medical
and history book
931
00:50:38,366 --> 00:50:41,866
written into your cells, then
Ithink that you should not test.
932
00:50:44,066 --> 00:50:46,500
There's beauty in, you know,
understanding where you're from,
933
00:50:46,533 --> 00:50:47,576
and then searching for that.
934
00:50:47,600 --> 00:50:50,000
The consumer DNA phenomenon
935
00:50:50,033 --> 00:50:53,333
is changing many people's lives
936
00:50:53,366 --> 00:50:55,766
by revealing the secrets
that lie hidden
937
00:50:55,800 --> 00:50:58,866
deep inside ourselves.
938
00:50:58,900 --> 00:51:04,800
But are its benefits worth
its cost and risks?
939
00:51:04,833 --> 00:51:07,200
Do I want to know that I'm at
risk for Alzheimer's
940
00:51:07,233 --> 00:51:10,966
when there's absolutely nothing
I can do about it?
941
00:51:11,000 --> 00:51:12,266
Maybe not.
942
00:51:12,300 --> 00:51:15,966
With these DNA tests
as popular as they are,
943
00:51:16,000 --> 00:51:17,166
the chances are
944
00:51:17,200 --> 00:51:19,500
that everyone who has had
a secret of this nature
945
00:51:19,533 --> 00:51:21,866
kept from them
is gonna find out.
946
00:51:21,900 --> 00:51:28,266
Our hearts and our minds don't
know fully how to grapple with
947
00:51:28,300 --> 00:51:30,500
what we're being asked
to grapple with.
948
00:51:31,966 --> 00:51:37,900
I think the surge in DNA testing
over the last 20 years
949
00:51:37,933 --> 00:51:40,333
has opened people's minds
to the possibility
950
00:51:40,366 --> 00:51:43,700
that they share more
with other people
951
00:51:43,733 --> 00:51:45,400
than what they thought they did.
952
00:51:45,433 --> 00:51:48,466
That 1% that makes us different
953
00:51:48,500 --> 00:51:53,600
is really just the beautifuldiversity
in the natural world.
954
00:51:53,633 --> 00:51:56,266
And it's not that
one genotype or genome
955
00:51:56,300 --> 00:51:57,600
is better than another.
956
00:51:57,633 --> 00:51:59,400
It's just they're beautifully
different.
957
00:51:59,433 --> 00:52:01,366
The more we are tested,
958
00:52:01,400 --> 00:52:04,900
the more we see how connected
we are to each other.
959
00:52:04,933 --> 00:52:07,900
And perhaps, if we see that
we're connected to each other,
960
00:52:07,933 --> 00:52:10,466
we'll treat each other
a little bit better.
961
00:52:57,200 --> 00:53:01,533
To order this program on DVD,
visit ShopPBS
962
00:53:01,566 --> 00:53:04,833
or call 1-800-PLAY-PBS.
963
00:53:04,866 --> 00:53:07,566
Episodes of "NOVA" are available
with Passport.
964
00:53:07,600 --> 00:53:11,100
"NOVA" is also available
on Amazon Prime Video.
74949
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