Good Morning America anchor Whit Johnson dropped a bombshell on air over the weekend whereas the panel mentioned the DNA testing service 23andMe and the corporate’s current submitting for chapter.
Johnson revealed he and his household took the 23andMe take a look at in 2014, which led to a surprising discovery. His father, Steve, was adopted, one thing nobody in his household, together with Steve, was conscious of.
He additionally shared that his DNA take a look at was the “lacking hyperlink” in discovering his father’s long-lost organic brother. The household continued to make use of the service over time to find extra about their household historical past and different unknown kinfolk.
“That discovery led to a different brother and a attainable sister on my grandmother’s aspect and two extra brothers on my grandfather’s aspect,” Johnson revealed.
23andMe filed for chapter final week, which means the private information of its 15 million clients may probably be bought. In mild of this, California Lawyer Common Rob Bonta has urged customers to “delete their information and destroy any samples of genetic materials held by the corporate.”
Johnson confirmed he has wiped his information from the web site; nevertheless, his father has determined to not.
“It does make me unhappy,” Steve stated, talking to his son for the Good Morning America section. “As a result of it implies that lots of people who may have the expertise I had received’t have it, as a result of folks simply received’t join these items.”
“I’m not deleting my information,” he added. “For the handful of individuals searching for data, that is the one manner you’re gonna get it.”
Whereas Johnson stated he selected to delete his information for “peace of thoughts,” he revealed his dad “is simply not prepared to shut the chapter on this lovely household story.”
23andMe was based in 2006 by Linda Avey, Paul Cusenza, and Anne Wojcicki and is greatest identified for offering a direct-to-consumer genetic testing service by which clients give a saliva pattern that’s laboratory analyzed and used to generate reviews referring to the shopper’s ancestry and genetic predispositions to health-related subjects.
Wojcicki introduced her resignation on X final week and revealed her plans to grow to be an impartial bidder for the corporate.
Good Morning America, 7am/6am c, ABC