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Why you give ancestry sites rights to exploit your genes forever

Every year, tens of thousands of us send off for DNA tests hoping to learn about where in the world our ancestors come from. Tracing roots has never been more popular and the market leader Ancestry.com have tested four million people worldwide, including it’s estimated 700,000 Britons. What you may not know because you didn’t read those pesky terms and conditions is that in return for such shocking insights that you may be 31% Scandinavian, you’ve given them license to commercially exploit your genes forever. There are some protections and insurances and you can opt out, but none the less some people are very uncomfortable with the idea. Joel Winston is a New York lawyer. Shari Vahl founds out more.

First broadcast on You & Yours, 25 May 2017.

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5 minutes

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