DNA Betrays Heritage
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The United States has treated its indigenous people poorly for much of its history, yet today thousands of people are anxious to show their Native American heritage and are turning to DNA testing for help.This may well be the start of a National Racial Registry List (I realize we already have the Social Security System), where you must disclose your heritage for federal funding, getting membership into certain associations, etc. Is this a good thing?
Some white Americans have long claimed distant ties to Cherokee princesses or other legendary figures among those explorer Christopher Columbus mistakenly called Indians when he thought he had arrived in South Asia. More at Reuters ->
I am all for racial pride, but this practice can easily get abused. Didn't Hitler try to create a "Master Race" with pureness of backward science to back him up?
Links of interest:
- Human Genome Project - funded by the US Department of Energy
- Milestones in DNA History - a timeline
tags: blog.news.science.technology
another point of view ...
It's good for American Indians to get their DNA analysted. That way, Federal dollars go to those who can actually prove it; as it is, there are way too many scammers out there.
This is a good solution in my book.
- jt
Well, at least now I know I'll be easier for me to collect my Federal paycheck. God Bless America!
- Scott W
I wish Native Americans would just stop complaining. What happened was in the past, they just need to get over it and move on. They have a victim mentality.
- ryan
I just don't see what the big deal is, and who's paying for the DNA tests? taxpayers, I bet.
- Robert Allen
This is pretty amusing. Future generations will think it's so absurd that we don't want to choose the sex of our children.
- Chuck S
speak up!
It's good for American Indians to get their DNA analysted. That way, Federal dollars go to those who can actually prove it; as it is, there are way too many scammers out there.
This is a good solution in my book.
- jt
Well, at least now I know I'll be easier for me to collect my Federal paycheck. God Bless America!
- Scott W
I wish Native Americans would just stop complaining. What happened was in the past, they just need to get over it and move on. They have a victim mentality.
- ryan
I just don't see what the big deal is, and who's paying for the DNA tests? taxpayers, I bet.
- Robert Allen
This is pretty amusing. Future generations will think it's so absurd that we don't want to choose the sex of our children.
- Chuck S
speak up!
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