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When scientists first mapped the human genome in 2000, public figures celebrated the milestone in the language of human unity. “In genetic terms, all human beings, regardless of race, are more than 99.9% the same,” announced President Bill Clinton at a press conference.
If the rise of commercial genetic testing since then is any indicator, the other 0.1% has appeal, too. Personalized genetic testing services are now a large, and growing, industry. For around $200, these companies will take a dab of your saliva and render a detailed report on your unique genetic fingerprint. They sometimes offer information about health. They also offer information about ancestry. In a sense, they quantify heritage.
In many ways, DNA is a perfect addition to the search for an authentic, unique identity—a search that is both a mode of consumption and of spiritual exploration for many Americans. Unless you have an identical twin, your DNA is one-of-a-kind. It permeates your physical self. It seems to dictate your life in potent ways. It cannot be forged. And it situates you in the past.
When...