That's a very good and level headed response to the parent. I agree with both perspectives. I think the crucial point is that you seem to have thought through the implications of deciding for or against using 23andme and after weighing the outcomes, you made an educated decision. Perhaps the decision was right (fingers crossed), maybe it was wrong, but the important point is that you thought about it.
I took parent's post less as a blanket warning against doing DNA tests, and more of a caution to consider the implications.
I think there is value in services like 23andme, and even if there are risks that the information will be misused, the risks are worth it. I don't mean the risks associated with case of a specific person, but the research and services associated with DNA sequencing in general.
Maybe 23andme is not the way forward, and eventually some other (better) services will arise, but we (humanity) are in something of an uncharted territory here, so there is need for a bit of trial and error. Yes there be dragons, and occasionally we'll have our eyebrows singed, but advances in medicine and biology (as your case highlights) are vast.
I took parent's post less as a blanket warning against doing DNA tests, and more of a caution to consider the implications.
I think there is value in services like 23andme, and even if there are risks that the information will be misused, the risks are worth it. I don't mean the risks associated with case of a specific person, but the research and services associated with DNA sequencing in general.
Maybe 23andme is not the way forward, and eventually some other (better) services will arise, but we (humanity) are in something of an uncharted territory here, so there is need for a bit of trial and error. Yes there be dragons, and occasionally we'll have our eyebrows singed, but advances in medicine and biology (as your case highlights) are vast.