Why are Americans obsessed with ancestry tests?
REPORT
21 Aug 2019
Why are Americans obsessed with ancestry tests?

Thanks to companies such as Ancestry.com and 23andMe, DNA testing has never been easier, with convenient at-home kits enabling Americans to explore their genetic make-up without spending much time or money. Beyond simple curiosity, what drives so many people to dig into their biological roots?

Dr. Jack Jedwab

Dr. Jack Jedwab is the president of the Canadian Institute for Identities and Migration and the Association of Canadian Studies. He holds a PhD in Canadian History from Concordia University and has taught at the Université du Québec à Montréal and McGill University, specializing in immigration and ethnic minorities.

Dr. Tom Stubbs

Dr. Tom Stubbs is the CEO and founder of Chronomics, an epigenetics testing company. He holds a master’s degree in molecular and cellular biochemistry from the University of Oxford and a PhD from Cambridge University.

Dr. Nathan Lents

Dr. Nathan Lents is a professor of biology at John Jay College in New York, specializing in genome evolution and forensic science. He is the founder of The Human Evolution blog and is a regular contributor to platforms including Psychology Today.

George Church

Professor George Church is a geneticist, molecular engineer and chemist. He is the Robert Winthrop Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and a professor of health sciences and technology at Harvard and MIT. He is the founder of Nebula Genomics.

Charlotte Brohier

Charlotte Brohier is a creative strategist, journalist, and editor-in-chief of Hedonist magazine, where she regularly commissions Gen Z contributors. She works with brands to better understand Gen Z behaviours and find imaginative routes of engagement. She examines cultural theory, technology, and emerging trends for Refinery29, The Times, and the Just Opened Group.