#12 The Internet DNA Marketplace: Curiosity Kits __ Data Assets

In this episode, Megan pulls Debbie into the tangled world of DNA collection and tracking websites. What starts as a science-forward look at genetic testing, data storage, and how your spit ends up on the internet quickly spirals into questions about privacy, law enforcement, and whether your ancestors unknowingly signed you up for a lifelong surveillance program. Then, Debbie disappears down an urban exploration rabbit hole, abandoned houses, theme parks, and hospitals, and the very real science of decay. And they will examine the mystery about abandoned houses. Along the way, they connect the dots between forgotten places, forgotten data, and the unsettling fact that once something is collected, it rarely stays lost. Join Debbie and Megan in this ad-lib riddled science comedy podcast. Don’t forget to use the Lab Libs, and create your own answers! Lab Libs A percentage to one decimal, between 90%-100% A step required before publishing a scientific study A type of family member A type of insurance A reason for couples to break up A number between 1 and 1000 A continent A type of legal process for a company A number between 1 and 10 A common government employee A type of survey https://www.nist.gov/how-do-you-measure-it/how-do-companies-measure-dna-discover-your-ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/c/dna-learning-hub/ancestrydna-test-accuracy https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/dtcgenetictesting/dtcrisksbenefits/ https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2017/07/06/535767665/why-you-should-think-twice-about-those-dna-by-mail-results https://www.reddit.com/r/MyHeritage/comments/18hjz68/palestinian_results/ https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2019/1/28/18194560/ancestry-dna-23-me-myheritage-science-explainer https://nulawreview.org/forum-posts/2022/8/23/law-enforcements-use-of-dna-ancestry-websites-and-why-your-consent-may-not-matter https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2021/05/ancestry-tests-affect-race-self-identification https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00118-y.epdf?no_publisher_access=1&r3_referer=nature https://www.medicalrepublic.com.au/commercial-dna-tests-are-unreliable-and-risky/8569 https://www.npr.org/2025/06/30/nx-s1-5451398/23andme-sale-approved-dna-data