Shocking DNA Results Leave Doctor Wary Over Info Databases

NEBRASKA CITY - Dr. James Billups gave Nebraska City Rotarians a startling report Wednesday about the potential for the world’s DNA knowledge base to disrupt lives. Prompted by ethnic curiosity, Billups registered at Ancestory.Com and sent in a saliva tube. As expected, he received a map of his ancestors concentrated in three circles near eastern Europe. He thought his delving into his DNA history was over, but said he was in for a shock. [audio mp3="http://media3.floodradio.com/columbus/2017/12/Billups-DNA-ancestory.mp3"][/audio] Billups: “I found out that DNA, all of sudden, is a lot more than whether you are going to wear lederhosen or a kilt.” Billups received an e-mail from a young man that said as strange as this sounds, you are my father. Billups told Rotarians he was a young man in college when he received an invitation to help infertile parents with a sperm donation. He said the fertility project was anonymous, so he struggled to process what this e-mail was revealing. [audio mp3="http://media3.floodradio.com/columbus/2017/12/Billups-not-know-.mp3"][/audio] Billups: “I knew what I had done in my life, but I didn’t know he existed nor did I, in the agreement I had 40 years ago, I didn’t want to know this. So, it was a shock.” It was also a surprise to the younger man, who learned his father had been found, although he was not aware his father’s identity was unknown. He went to his mother and relayed to Billups information that confirmed her role in the infertility project. Billups said he has continued contact with the young man, but feels compelled to warn Americans that DNA information can have far-reaching impact on lives, including those seeking jobs and considering marriage. [audio mp3="http://media3.floodradio.com/columbus/2017/12/Billups-genetic-disorders.mp3"][/audio] Billups: “Right now we have 6,000 known genetic disorders that are known to be passed on by genetics and who knows where that is going to go in the future.” Billups said the 17-page disclaimer and 22-page regulation form provided by Ancestory.com appear to say that the information will not be shared, but yet the young man was alerted about a close relative and was able to find Billups. Billups said it may only be a matter of time before people’s DNA becomes available at the click of a mouse. Hackers recently broke into the national Equifax database and stole identifying information, including date of births and Social Security numbers, for over 160 million people. A 2013 Yahoo breach resulted in schemes to gain password information for as many as three billion people. Forbes.com says the ultimate goal of these cyberattacks is the take over of financial accounts, but Billups said the addition of DNA information could lead to even more sinister schemes. [audio mp3="http://media3.floodradio.com/columbus/2017/12/Billups-DNA-take-away.mp3"][/audio] Billups: “I hope the people’s take away is that there is some danger in this information that will affect us all in the future.”