Wendy D. Roth|?ule Yaylac?|Kaitlyn Jaffe|Lindsey Richardson
Do genetic ancestry tests increase racial essentialism? Findings from a randomized controlled trial
University of British Columbia|University of Pennsylvania|University of British Columbia|University of Pennsylvania|University of British Columbia|University of British Columbia|British Columbia Centre on Substance Use
genetic ancestry testing billiondollar industry 26 million tests sold 2018 raises concerns might influence testtakers understandings race social scientists argue genetic ancestry tests may promote essentialist view race fixed determining innate abilities others suggest could reduce essentialist views reinforcing view race socially constructed essentialist views concern association racism particularly extreme forms report first randomized controlled trial genetic ancestry testing conducted examine potential causal relationships taking tests essentialist views race nativeborn white americans randomly assigned receive admixture mtdna tests tests find significant average effect genetic ancestry testing essentialism secondary analyses reveal impact tests racial essentialism varies type genetic knowledge within treatment arm essentialist beliefs significantly declined testing among individuals high genetic knowledge increased among least genetic knowledge additional secondary analysis show essentialist beliefs change based specific ancestries reported testtakers results results indicate individuals interpretations genetic ancestry testing results links genes race may depend understanding genetics