Your DNA Is Nothing Special: It’s time to relax ab... https://www.scribd.com/article/338357410/Your-D...

Explore

EXPLORE BY INTERESTS
Career & Money

Business Biography & History

Entrepreneurship
Leadership & Mentoring
Money Management
Time Management

Personal Growth

Happiness
Psychology
Relationships & Parenting
Religion & Spirituality
Self-Improvement

Politics & Current Affairs

Politics
Society

Science & Tech

Science
Tech

Health & Fitness

Fitness
Nutrition
Sports & Recreation
Wellness

Lifestyle

Arts & Languages

Fashion & Beauty
Food & Wine
Home & Garden
Travel

Entertainment

Celebrity Biography & Memoir

Pop Culture

Biographies & History

Biography & Memoir

History

Fiction

Children’s & YA
Classic Literature
Contemporary Fiction
Historical Fiction
LGBTQ Fiction
Mystery, Thriller & Crime
Romance
Science Fiction & Fantasy

BROWSE BY CONTENT TYPE

Books

Audiobooks

1 of 7 3/19/18, 11:27 PM
Your DNA Is Nothing Special: It’s time to relax ab... https://www.scribd.com/article/338357410/Your-D...

News & Magazines

Sheet Music

Back
Search Search Search
UploadSaved
close user settings menu
Hi, phoebus almasy!

Public Profile
Account Settings

Upload A Document
Document Uploads

Read for Free

Help
Sign Out

Your DNA Is Nothing Special

by Chip Rowe Feb 5, 2015 11 minutes
Save  For Later

Who’s your daddy? It’s a fair question. A meta-study published in 2006 by a University of Oklahoma anthropology professor estimated that 30 percent of men
who have low paternity confidence about a child were justified in their suspicions. Even among men with high paternity confidence (that is, they’re married
to the mother), about 2 percent were cuckolds.1 During the eons before reliable paternity tests became available in the 1960s, there was no way to verify
these “non-paternal events”; even the mother could only guess. Today anyone can submit a few hundred dollars and a scraping of their cheek cells and, if the
older guy who claims to be the father does the same, within weeks confirm or deny that claim. Predictably, that 2 percent margin of error has led to some
uncomfortable situations (see Genetic Surprises).

DNA testing has become very popular among genealogists. The birth certificates, census records, and other documents they usually rely on can be wrong.
DNA is never wrong. It can’t be altered, or forged, and you can’t misfile it. You can’t even always destroy it: DNA has been recovered from a frozen, 5,000-
year-old corpse and used to identify his living descendants.2 Genetics do not uncover everyday family secrets such as the fact your great-great-grandfather
owned slaves (unless he fathered children with some of them) or that a great uncle flunked out of West Point—it reveals the family secret, from whence you
came, your begat. And your tree very likely has some invasive branches. As you look further up the tree, the chances of a non-paternal event rise
exponentially. After 10 generations, you have 1,024 ancestors—I’m telling you, someone strayed. That’s why it’s prudent to trace families, not pedigrees.

You read these alarming stories once in a while about men who were first enthused about testing but then troubled when they discovered they aren’t who
they thought they were, at least biologically, or that they have a half-brother they didn’t know about, or that an unsuspecting, elderly

You're reading a preview, become a member to read more.

Become A Member

Related Interests
Cancer
Genetics
Gene
Breast Cancer
Genetic Testing

Sharing Options

2 of 7 3/19/18, 11:27 PM
Your DNA Is Nothing Special: It’s time to relax ab... https://www.scribd.com/article/338357410/Your-D...

Share on Facebook, opens a new window

Share on Twitter, opens a new window
Share on LinkedIn
Share by email, opens mail client

From this issue

Information
Nautilus

Related Articles

Save  For Later

NPR3 min readScience

Cancer Is Partly Caused By Bad Luck, Study Finds

Researchers have long known behavior...

Save  For Later

Nautilus7 min read

My Family’s Decade in Genetic Limbo: Personal DNA testing may yet deliver on its promise.
In 2008, my 19-year-old daughter, Danielle, took the same type of DNA test for breast and...
Save  For Later

Popular Science2 min read

This "Map" Could Change the Way We Treat Cancer

A breast cancer cell, photographed by a...

More from Nautilus

Save  For Later

Nautilus9 min readPsychology

The Girl Who Smelled Pink: A mother wonders if we are all born with synesthesia.

3 of 7 3/19/18, 11:27 PM
Your DNA Is Nothing Special: It’s time to relax ab... https://www.scribd.com/article/338357410/Your-D...

My tongue is orange!” my 2-year-old daughter shrieked after licking a dollop of clear hand sanitizer. More orange experiences followed. “Mommy, my ear
feels orange,” she...
Save  For Later

Nautilus11 min readHappiness

Unhappiness Is a Palate-Cleanser: Why it’s impossible to always be happy.
Happiness, in one form or another, seems to be a common goal that most of us would like to attain. We often behave as though we might find a route to
contentment—comfort, satiety, warmth, or some other reward—and be happy all the time if we could jus
Save  For Later

Nautilus3 min readSelf-Improvement

You Can Have Emotions You Don’t Feel

What does it mean to have an emotion? It seems obvious that having one means feeling it. If you’re happy but don’t know it, in what sense could you actually
be happy? Such reasoning seemed...

Related
Skip carousel
carousel previouscarousel next

The Everything Health Guide to Living with Breast Cancer: An accessible and comprehensive resource for women
The Everything Health Guide to Living with Breast Cancer: An accessible and comprehensive resource for women
AuthorLucia Giuggio Carvalho
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars(0/5)
Save  For Later
Uplift: Secrets from the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors
Uplift: Secrets from the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors
AuthorBarbara Delinsky
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars(4/5)
Save  For Later
The Breast Cancer Survival Manual, Fifth Edition: A Step-by-Step Guide for Women with Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer
The Breast Cancer Survival Manual, Fifth Edition: A Step-by-Step Guide for Women with Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer
AuthorJohn Link, M.D.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5/5)
Save  For Later
Breast Cancer: Where To Begin: A Guide to Finding Help and Making Treatment Decisions
Breast Cancer: Where To Begin: A Guide to Finding Help and Making Treatment Decisions
AuthorJamie D. Daniel, M.D.
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars(0/5)
Save  For Later
39 All Natural Breast Cancer Juice Recipes: The Most Effective Way to Treat and Prevent Breast Cancer Through Organic Ingredients
39 All Natural Breast Cancer Juice Recipes: The Most Effective Way to Treat and Prevent Breast Cancer Through Organic Ingredients
AuthorJoe Correa CSN
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars(0/5)
Save  For Later
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Hope & Healing for Your Breast Cancer Journey: Surviving and Thriving During and After Your Diagnosis and Treatment
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Hope & Healing for Your Breast Cancer Journey: Surviving and Thriving During and After Your Diagnosis and Treatment
AuthorDr. Julie Silver
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars(0/5)
Save  For Later
21st Century Adult Cancer Sourcebook: Breast Cancer - Clinical Data for Patients, Families, and Physicians
21st Century Adult Cancer Sourcebook: Breast Cancer - Clinical Data for Patients, Families, and Physicians
AuthorProgressive Management
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars(0/5)

4 of 7 3/19/18, 11:27 PM
Your DNA Is Nothing Special: It’s time to relax ab... https://www.scribd.com/article/338357410/Your-D...

Save  For Later

One Cure: An Essay Arguing Against the Idea that A Single Cure for Cancer is Impossible
One Cure: An Essay Arguing Against the Idea that A Single Cure for Cancer is Impossible
AuthorJohn R. Freeman II
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars(0/5)
Save  For Later
Your Life In Your Hands: Understanding, Preventing, and Overcoming Breast Cancer
Your Life In Your Hands: Understanding, Preventing, and Overcoming Breast Cancer
AuthorProf. Jane A. Plant, PhD
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars(0/5)
Save  For Later
Breast Cancer: Cancer Is Curable, It's Up to You
Breast Cancer: Cancer Is Curable, It's Up to You
AuthorMichael Redtenbacher, M.D.
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars(0/5)
Save  For Later
I Am Not My Breast Cancer: Women Talk Openly About Love and Sex, Hair Loss and Weight Gain, Mothers and Daughters, and Being a Woman with
Breast Cancer
I Am Not My Breast Cancer: Women Talk Openly About Love and Sex, Hair Loss and Weight Gain, Mothers and Daughters, and Being a Woman with
Breast Cancer
AuthorRuth Peltason
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars(4/5)
Save  For Later
The Pink Virus
The Pink Virus
AuthorDr. Kathleen Ruddy
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars(0/5)
Save  For Later
Genetic and Metabolic Disease in Pediatrics: Butterworths International Medical Reviews
Genetic and Metabolic Disease in Pediatrics: Butterworths International Medical Reviews
AuthorElsevier Books Reference
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars(0/5)
Save  For Later
You Can Get Through This! How to Stay Positive When You're Coping with Breast Cancer
You Can Get Through This! How to Stay Positive When You're Coping with Breast Cancer
AuthorDomini Stuart
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars(0/5)
Save  For Later
The Plasma Proteins V5: Structure, Function, and Genetic Control
The Plasma Proteins V5: Structure, Function, and Genetic Control
AuthorElsevier Books Reference
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars(3/5)
Save  For Later
Where'd I Put My Boobs? Life Goes On During Breast Cancer
Where'd I Put My Boobs? Life Goes On During Breast Cancer
AuthorSarah Ball
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5/5)
Save  For Later
I'm Still Standing: My Fight Against Hereditary Breast Cancer
I'm Still Standing: My Fight Against Hereditary Breast Cancer
AuthorWendy Watson
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars(0/5)
Save  For Later
One Piece of Advice: Words to Guide You Through Early Breast Cancer
One Piece of Advice: Words to Guide You Through Early Breast Cancer
AuthorYvonne Hughes
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars(0/5)
Save  For Later
How to Cook a Revolution: Recipes for Breast Cancer Prevention
How to Cook a Revolution: Recipes for Breast Cancer Prevention
AuthorDr. Kathleen T. Ruddy
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars(0/5)
Save  For Later
Our genetic destiny: understanding the secret of life
Our genetic destiny: understanding the secret of life
AuthorAmil Shah
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars(0/5)
Save  For Later
Struck by Lightning: My Breast Cancer Journal
Struck by Lightning: My Breast Cancer Journal
AuthorDonna Race Aravanis
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars(0/5)
Save  For Later
Breast Support: If you or someone you love has breast cancer … you need this book
Breast Support: If you or someone you love has breast cancer … you need this book

5 of 7 3/19/18, 11:27 PM
Your DNA Is Nothing Special: It’s time to relax ab... https://www.scribd.com/article/338357410/Your-D...

AuthorGwendoline Smith
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars(0/5)
Save  For Later
Genetics of Human Neoplasia, Part A
Genetics of Human Neoplasia, Part A
AuthorElsevier Books Reference
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars(0/5)
Save  For Later
Another Chance at Life: A Breast Cancer Survivor's Journey
Another Chance at Life: A Breast Cancer Survivor's Journey
AuthorLeonore H. Dvorkin
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars(0/5)
Save  For Later
Genetic Recombination in Cancer
Genetic Recombination in Cancer
AuthorGajanan V. Sherbet
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars(0/5)
Save  For Later

Footer Menu
Back To Top

About

About Scribd
Press
Our blog
Join our team!
Contact Us
Invite Friends
Gifts

Support

Help / FAQ
Accessibility
Purchase help

AdChoices
Publishers

Legal

Terms
Privacy
Copyright

Social Media

Copyright © 2018 Scribd Inc.

.

6 of 7 3/19/18, 11:27 PM
Your DNA Is Nothing Special: It’s time to relax ab... https://www.scribd.com/article/338357410/Your-D...

Browse Books
.
Site Directory
.
Site Language:
English
中文
Español
‫اﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ‬
Português
日本語
Deutsch
Français
Turkce
Русский язык
Tiếng việt
Język polski
Bahasa indonesia

7 of 7 3/19/18, 11:27 PM