DNA Testing and Public Awareness question...?

Question:Has there been something on TV or online recently that REALLY plugs DNA testing for genealogy purposes? I have seen LOTS more questions recently on this topic, and unfortunately, most of them have almost NO idea what DNA can (and more importantly, CAN'T) do. Anybody?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Has there been something on TV or online recently that REALLY plugs DNA testing for genealogy purposes? I have seen LOTS more questions recently on this topic, and unfortunately, most of them have almost NO idea what DNA can (and more importantly, CAN'T) do. Anybody?

Speaking only from the US (though I do understand that the UK has a similar situation - but can't vouch for it). There are a number of TV shows that have intentionally or otherwise pushed this. The various CSI shows make this seem much different than it is. And there was the famous Oprah DNA test (which was subsequently proved to be wrong) that placed her ancestry in a particular Zulu tribe.

But a lot of this started in the US, similar to the Oprah incident, because of the absolute brick wall most African Americans hit when they traced their ancestry back to slavery. Because of records (or lack thereof), there was just nowhere to go. So ancestral DNA testing was (and pretty much still is) the only way to go to have a CHANCE of figuring out "where you came from". And of course, given the demand, many "business" sprung up to take people's money and "give them what they want".

Sort of the same as the big "industry" willing to present you with handsomely displayed coats of arms of YOUR FAMILY, or tartans of your clan....and of course the "history of your surname" items.

This has been also augmented in the last few years by the "granting" of opportunities to people of certain ethnic classes. One such opportunity is preference in some college admissions and scholorship opportunities. Thus in the US, besides those who really are trying to research their ancestry, there are a ton of people who are trying to prove their "ancestry", especially a Native American tie, so they might better able to get into the college of their choice with a scholorship.

And once it starts, word just gets around (especially if one of the sources is Oprah). Also, unfortunately, even places like rootsweb often have banner ads for DNA testing sites (kind of bothers me that solid sites don't have stronger requirements for their ads - because just showing up on the site gives the business an extra boost of validity).