DNA, the molecule that dictates every individual's genetic makeup, is big business. It has migrated from forensic science - first used to convict a murderer just 30 years ago - to paternity testing to ancestry research. A test that used to require expensive laboratories is now commonplace, with online services giving price lists for purposes ranging from relationships to immigration. Within categories such as paternity, options range from basic "peace of mind" tests to those that will stand up in court. Ancestry is the fastest growing of these businesses, with global family tree site MyHeritage recently bringing the cost of a test down from $99 (R1300) to $69. "Locked inside your DNA is your unique ethnic makeup, the history of your ancestors, and a web of close and distant relatives waiting to be found," says the company. "With a quick swab of your cheek, the test determines your ethnic origins and finds your relatives." Such uses have focused on the individual's relationship with ...
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