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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

A hunt for heritage

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Danni Zhu & Elizabeth Law -


Chinese executive Miao Qing spits into a specially designed container, destined for a lab where her saliva will be analysed and sequenced, offering an insight into her genetic make-up and — more importantly — her ancestry.


A combination of factors — a lack of formal records or destruction during China’s wars and the Cultural Revolution — have meant there are few ways for Chinese to trace their genealogy in the ethnically diverse country.


But with a growing middle-class, an increasing number are now keen on tracing their roots, and DNA testing companies are cashing in. China’s DNA sequencing market was worth about 7.2 billion yuan ($1.05 billion) last year and is forecast to grow to 18.3 billion yuan in 2022, according to estimates by Beijing-based CCID Consulting.


Over-the-counter genetic testing kits are not new — users simply buy the kit, spit into the provided container and mail the sample back. Their growing popularity in China has meant tests now cost as little as 199 yuan ($29) and can be easily purchased on e-commerce apps like Taobao and JD.com.


But the success of a test is very dependent on the data pool of the company offering the service, which allows a basis for comparison.


While firms like 23andMe and Ancestry DNA are popular globally, they have a relatively small Asian pool that lumps all Chinese into a single category, according to Chen Gang, the chief technology officer of Shenzhen-based WeGene.


“There’s a difference in the genetic makeup of Caucasians and Asians. For example people who get flushed easily after drinking alcohol,” Chen said.


“This gene has a higher mutation rate in Chinese people, but it is not as obvious in Caucasians.” DNA tests tailored to the Chinese market are able to discern different ethnicities, right down to whether one is a northern or southern Han Chinese.


And while people are freely giving their DNA for the genealogy kits, human rights groups have voiced concern about China’s use of a national DNA database — which authorities say is especially aimed at helping people find missing children — and the collection of samples in Xinjiang, a region dominated by the Muslim Uighur ethnic group. — AFP


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