When DNA Becomes Data
What 23 and Me’s Collapse Teaches Us About Ethics, Identity, and the Soul
It started with a tube of saliva and a promise: find out who you are.
23andMe launched with a mission that felt almost magical—giving everyday people access to the secrets written in their DNA. Ancestry, health risks, even personality traits… all revealed through a few drops. For many, it was empowering. Enlightening. Even healing.
But now, the very company that offered us those answers has collapsed under the weight of something bigger than science—trust.
In 2024, 23andMe filed for bankruptcy after years of public scrutiny, a massive data breach, and growing concerns over how personal information was being handled. Millions who once trusted the company with their most sacred biological blueprint were left wondering: What happens to my data now?
And while the headlines focused on the tech and the fallout, I believe there’s a deeper layer here—one that touches not just the body, but the soul.
When Curiosity Crosses into Control
Let’s be honest: humanity has always had a hunger to understand itself. That’s not new. But with genetic testing, the temptation is different. We're no longer just asking, "Where am I from?" We're starting to ask, "What defines me?"
And that’s where the line gets blurry.
Science can reveal a lot, yes. But when we begin to hand over our identity to algorithms… when we reduce our value to risks, probabilities, and inherited traits… we start to forget the truth:
You are more than your DNA.
You are not just a code -You are a calling.
The Ethical Red Flag: When Data Becomes Currency
One of the biggest concerns with 23andMe wasn’t just what they offered—it was what they did afterward. Quietly, over time, our DNA became something to be packaged, studied, and in some cases, sold.
And let’s pause right here.
That’s not just a data breach. That’s a trust breach.
Because DNA isn’t like a social security number—it’s not something you can change if it gets compromised. It connects to your children. Your siblings. Your parents. Your future.
Ethically, that raises a hard question:
Should any company have the right to trade in something so sacred?
Spiritually, it raises an even deeper one:
When did we start letting corporations tell us who we are?
The Sacredness of Identity
As a faith-driven leader, I can’t help but view this moment through a biblical lens. And here’s what I see:
Psalm 139:14 says “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Genesis 1:27 reminds us we are created in the image of God.
That means our identity was never meant to be decoded by a company. It was designed by a Creator. Before any lab ever told you who you are, God already knew.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to learn your ancestry.
But we have to be careful when curiosity leads to captivity—especially when it comes at the cost of our dignity.
What This Moment Demands From Us
We can’t undo what’s been done. But we can move forward with wisdom. Here's what I believe this moment is asking from us:
Discernment — Before giving away personal data, ask what it costs in more than dollars.
Spiritual anchoring — Know who you are in God before you go looking for answers elsewhere.
Accountability — Hold companies and systems responsible when they mishandle sacred things.
Hope — Even in betrayal or breach, your identity is secure in something far deeper than data.
Final Thought
23andMe’s collapse isn’t just a business story. It’s a wake-up call.
It reminds us that not everything curious is wise.
That not everything insightful is ethical.
And that the deepest answers about who we are… don’t come from a test tube.
They come from truth.
Your DNA may tell a story.
But it’s not the whole story.
The Author of your life still holds the pen.
—
Clergy Mary
Mental-Physical-Spiritual Wellness