DOWNLOAD THE FREE LiSTNR APP
Should I Spit

Should you take that DNA test? ‘Should I Spit?’ covers dark side of genetic testing

A simple DNA test kit might seem like a fun way to trace your family history, but new LiSTNR Original podcast reveals there’s far more at stake than discovering your great-grandmother’s origins.

Award-winning journalist Claire Aird spent four years investigating the complex world of DNA data for the latest season of the award-winning Secrets We Keep podcast, Should I Spit?.

Listen to Secrets We Keep: Should I Spit? exclusively on LiSTNR.

The podcast uncovers some startling revelations: the Mormon Church’s unexpected involvement in DNA data collection, a multibillion-dollar industry profiting from genetic profiles, and how Australian police are using new DNA technologies that could transform criminal investigations.

“Our DNA holds information about what we look like, where we come from, family relatedness, our propensity for disease and even mental illness,” Aird explains. “What concerns me is this gradual integration of advanced DNA capabilities and search methods into our criminal justice system is occurring without a public conversation.”

RELATED:   Abbie Chatfield’s HUGE MAFS News!

The investigation takes listeners from Salt Lake City – home to both the Mormon Church and the heart of the global DNA industry – to rural New South Wales, where a mass DNA screening operation took place. Along the way, Aird discovers how innocent people can get caught up in murder investigations simply because a distant relative wanted to explore their family tree.

LiSTNR Head of Factual, Clair Weaver, says the series comes at a crucial time: “Both here in Australia and around the world, we’ve reached a point where you can’t afford to ignore the value and potential consequences of giving up your DNA.”

For anyone who’s ever considered taking a DNA test – or has family members who have – “Should I Spit?” promises to be an eye-opening exploration of privacy, security, and the unexpected places our genetic information might end up.

Secrets We Keep: Should I Spit? is a nine-part podcast series, available on LiSTNR from February 4. Download the LiSTNR app and sign-up to listen for free.