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I didn’t take the 23andMe test because of curiosity or trend. I took it because I had questions that only truth could answer.
I grew up without my biological father. I didn’t know my medical history. I didn’t know what genetic cards I’d been dealt or what I might pass down to my children. For me, 23andMe wasn’t a novelty, it was a way to prepare.
If there were health markers or hereditary conditions buried in my DNA, I wanted to know. I wanted to protect my family from surprises I never saw coming.
When my wife and I talked about it, we agreed, truth is always better than blindness, even if it’s hard to face. But there was another layer: what if I found out who my father was?
At that time, my mother said she didn’t know. But “I don’t know” isn’t always ignorance, it can be avoidance. Sometimes people hide from truth because it forces them to face pain, shame, or past sin. For decades, that silence left a hole.
But God has a way of bringing truth to light.
A few years ago, my 23andMe results came back showing an immediate match to a half-sister I’d never met. That connection led me to my biological father. When we met, it was undeniable, we were the same man, separated by 17 years and a lifetime of questions.
I got answers. I got peace. And for the first time in my life, I saw the full picture of where I came from.
That’s why what’s happening with 23andMe today isn’t just a business headline to me, it’s personal.
What’s Happening at 23andMe
In early 2025, 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. That means everything it owned, its offices, intellectual property, and yes, the DNA of millions of people, became assets to be sold.
Two bidders stepped forward.
- Regeneron, a major biotech corporation, offered around $256 million.
- Anne Wojcicki, the company’s co-founder, formed a new nonprofit called the 23andMe Research Institute and outbid Regeneron at $305 million.
A bankruptcy judge approved Wojcicki’s purchase, handing her full control of the company’s genetic database under a new nonprofit structure.
Sounds noble, right? “A nonprofit will protect the research!” That’s the narrative. But dig deeper and you’ll see this isn’t about charity, it’s about control.
Why This Feels Wrong
1. DNA Isn’t Just Data — It’s Identity
Your DNA is the most personal information you possess. It’s not a credit score or a social media profile. It’s the map of your body and lineage. It carries your ancestry, your health predispositions, and even the genetic code your children will inherit.
Once that data leaves your hands, you don’t get it back. You can delete an account, but you can’t delete the copy that’s already stored, analyzed, and shared.
That’s what makes the 23andMe sale so dangerous.
2. Bankruptcy Law Treats DNA Like Property
Under current U.S. bankruptcy law, genetic data isn’t treated as “sensitive personal information.” It’s an asset. When 23andMe went under, that data was considered fair game for creditors or buyers.
Your biological identity became a line item on a spreadsheet.
3. Consent Was Never Designed for This
Most people who spit into a tube never imagined their DNA could be auctioned off. Those consent forms used vague phrases like “for research and product development.” Now, those same forms are being used to justify handing your genetic code to a new entity, without your permission.
4. Nonprofit Doesn’t Mean Non-Profit Motives
Anne Wojcicki’s new “23andMe Research Institute” is technically nonprofit, but that doesn’t mean it’s beyond profit influence. Nonprofits can form partnerships, license data, or collaborate with pharmaceutical companies. They can also shift their mission through board votes.
The nonprofit label gives cover, it doesn’t guarantee integrity.
5. History of Breaches
23andMe’s 2023 data breach exposed genetic information and ancestry details for millions. Hackers even targeted ethnic groups to build identity maps. That breach was a warning that once this data leaves your control, it’s vulnerable forever.
The Legal and Ethical Battle
Over 30 state attorneys general objected to the sale, arguing it violated privacy and consent laws. California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta cited the Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA), which requires explicit, renewed consent for data transfer.
But the bankruptcy court disagreed, claiming the “same systems, same policies” rule meant user consent still applied. That loophole gave the green light to transfer DNA from one entity to another, without new approval from you.
States like California, Texas, and New York are still fighting. The FTC has also warned that any successor company must honor all prior privacy commitments. But unless the courts enforce it, those promises are only as strong as the paper they’re printed on.
Why This Matters to Every Family
Even if you never took a DNA test, someone in your family probably did. And that means your genetic identity, your shared bloodline—is indirectly part of that database.
DNA is a network. One person’s data can reveal entire family connections, ethnic background, and health risks. That’s how I found my father. But it’s also how strangers could someday find you, or your children, through data mining, AI analysis, or government subpoenas.
Here’s what’s on the table:
- Health discrimination — Insurance companies could eventually use genetic trends to predict “risk” and set premiums.
- Employment screening — AI tools might one day analyze traits linked to performance or health.
- Data exploitation — Pharma and tech companies can use this genetic goldmine to train algorithms for profit, without sharing the benefit.
Once your DNA is out there, the toothpaste isn’t going back in the tube.
My Personal Takeaway
I’m not angry that I took the test. It gave me truth, and that truth brought healing. But I am angry at how easily that same truth can now be handled like merchandise.
When I took that test, it was an act of stewardship. I wanted to protect my family by knowing what we might face. Now, stewardship looks like something different, it means protecting what that data became.
I trusted a company to guard my identity. They broke that trust. Now it’s on me, and on you, to take that responsibility back.
What You Can Do Right Now
1. Delete Your Data
Log into your 23andMe account and permanently delete your data and sample.
Under settings, select:
Settings → 23andMe Data → Permanently Delete Data
Then choose Destroy My Sample to remove any physical specimens.
This doesn’t guarantee complete removal, but it cuts off future access and inclusion in new datasets.
2. Document It
Take screenshots and save email confirmations. Keep proof that you requested deletion. If laws or lawsuits change later, documentation will matter.
3. Talk to Your Family
If any family members took the test, encourage them to delete their data too. One person’s participation affects everyone’s genetic privacy.
4. Support State Efforts
Follow what’s happening in California and New York, these states are leading the fight for stronger genetic privacy laws. Write your representatives. Demand protection for DNA data under bankruptcy and privacy law.
5. Watch for Policy Changes
After the sale, the 23andMe Research Institute may release new terms. Look for vague phrases like “data partnerships,” “research collaborations,” or “open access.” Those are red flags for monetization.
6. Guard Your Health Data Elsewhere
DNA isn’t the only vulnerability. Health apps, wearables, and ancestry sites all collect biometric information. Tighten your privacy settings and delete unused accounts.
Faith, Stewardship, and Legacy
Scripture reminds us that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” That includes the code written into our very DNA. God didn’t design that to be monetized or auctioned off.
Your DNA carries more than biology, it carries legacy. Generations of faith, endurance, and story flow through it. Stewardship means protecting that inheritance, not just financially or spiritually, but biologically.
This is about dominion, not control. Dominion means ruling over what God gave you, not surrendering it to systems that profit from your creation.
Final Word
23andMe was supposed to empower people, to give clarity about health, ancestry, and family. For me, it did. It reunited me with my father and filled in the blanks of a story I’d been living without the ending.
But the same tool that gave me truth is now being used to trade the truth of millions for profit under a new name. That’s not progress, it’s a warning.
In an age where identity is currency, ownership matters more than ever. Protect yours. Guard your family’s. And never forget this truth:
You are not a product.
You are not property.
You are a creation of purpose, value, and legacy.
It’s your DNA. Keep it that way.