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The Genie is out of the bottle:
DNA testing and the end of donor anonymity
The Genie is out of the bottle: DNA testing and the end of donor - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
The Genie is out of the bottle: DNA testing and the end of donor - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
The Genie is out of the bottle: DNA testing and the end of donor anonymity DNA testing is on the rise www.varta.org.au N=312 Ancestry DNA tests how do they work? 3 main types 1. Y-DNA 2. mtDNA 3. Autosomal www.varta.org.au Autosomal
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www.varta.org.au
N=312
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3 main types
- 1. Y-DNA
- 2. mtDNA
- 3. Autosomal
Ancestry DNA tests – how do they work?
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www.varta.org.au
Autosomal
- ‘Microarray’
- Looks at up to 1M SNPs
(polymorphisms) in the genome
- Generates a unique ‘genetic
fingerprint’ for each individual
- This fingerprint can then be
compared with other individuals in the company’s database
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www.varta.org.au
What can these data be used for?
These data can:
- 1. identify people you
are related to
- 2. reveal ethnic origins
- 3. reveal risks of certain
diseases These data cannot:
- 1. tell you exactly how
you are related (without help)
- 2. reliably detect distant
cousins (>3rd cousins)
- 3. identify rare gene
mutations
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www.varta.org.au
Panel – Personal Experiences
- Rose Overberg – donor-
conceived person & DNA detective
- Kieran – donor-conceived
person
- Hayley Smith - donor-
conceived person
- Professor Daniel Roos -
donor
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www.varta.org.au
Implications for donor-conceived people
- DNA testing to find their
donor is only necessary in Victoria if there are no records
- it can now be possible to
work out your donor
- Enlist the support of a DNA
detective
- VARTA can support you with
- utreach
- DNA testing can also be
used to confirm the donor for VARTA applicants/subjects
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Implications for Parents
- People considering using a donor, donor
recipient parents need to be informed of the risks of keeping donor conception a secret
- Secrecy is no longer a viable option
- Should parents tell their child of their origins?
>becomes Should children tell their parents they know of their origins (Crawshaw 2017)
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Implications for donors
- Donors need to be aware that their
anonymity cannot be assured
- Donors may be contacted directly by donor
- ffspring or parents
- Donors can still be found even if they haven’t
had a DNA test themselves
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