The Human Genome Project was formally launched in 1990, and was declared completed on April 14, 2003. The National Institutes of Health funded the project. Now, nearly 20 years later, “secrets from the past” are coming to light via DNA. I, personally, could not be more delighted.  

 In some cases, shock and trauma, are the end result after information and relatives are discovered during research. With that being said, thousands of people have discovered long-sought-after biological connections, bringing them immense joy.  

 Last month, a friend forwarded me an article from the Guardian, written by Jenny Kleeman, titled, “The great sperm heist: ’They are playing with people’s lives” published September 25, 2021.  This article describes an extreme case of misuse and unethical dealings in genetic science. It does not, however, make all genetic exploration dangerous. Unfortunately, there are outliers in all fields of study creating havoc for all concerned. This, however, does not warrant halting ethical practices in DNA genealogy research.

 Confidence in DNA data collection systems will always vary from weak to strong based on the information available to each individual. I encourage genealogists to keep informed in this area so that DNA can be a tool in your toolbox.