The Cultural Phenomenon of Home DNA Testing

This presentation will explore the extraordinary cultural sensation of home DNA testing, which is redefining family history. It will draw on Libby Copeland’s years of research for her latest book, The Lost Family: How DNA Testing is Upending Who We Are (Abrams 2020), which The Wall Street Journal calls “a fascinating account of lives dramatically affected by genetic sleuthing.” With more than 35 million people having been tested, a tipping point has been reached. Virtually all Americans are affected whether they have been tested or not, and millions have been impacted by significant revelations in their immediate families.

This program will be presented on Zoom. You will receive an e-mail with the participation weblink one day before the program. If you are unable to attend or do not have an e-mail address, please contact the Special Collections Division by phone at 330.643.9030 or by e-mail at speccollections@akronlibrary.org.

Libby Copeland is an award-winning journalist and author, who writes from New York about culture, science, and human behavior. As a freelance journalist, she writes for such media outlets as The Atlantic, Slate, New York, Smithsonian, The New York Times, The New Republic, Esquire.com, and The Wall Street Journal.

Curious about DNA genealogy research and its impact on science, history and human behavior? You might want to check these out from the Library, too:

DNA: The Story of the Genetic Revolution by James D. Watson, Andrew Berry and Kevin Davies.

DNA is Not Destiny: The Remarkable Completely Misunderstood Relationship Between You and Your Genes by Steven J. Heine.

DNA Demystified: Unraveling the Double Helix by Alan McHughen