I have a technical question: In the group... - My MSAA Community

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I have a technical question

RoyceNewton profile image
21 Replies

In the group, it asks for your ethnicity on the left-hand side of my page. I wonder white, black, brown is not an ethnicity. It is the pigment of your skin. If we are asking ethnicity why are we not more specific. We are a disease-oriented forum, why do we not try to be more exact.

I am mixed, Northern English and I assume African, where I do not know. I think this is more helpful to say than just mixed.

Royce

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RoyceNewton profile image
RoyceNewton
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21 Replies

I personally think 🤔

We are all “mixed “

We are all “original “

All lives matter to me!

(Unless you are a spider 🕷 or mouse 🐁 )

Inside my house 🏠!

ahrogers profile image
ahrogers

I saw a show once where people thought they knew their ancestry but when they did DNA testing a lot of them were wrong. Turned out of the 50 or so people involved they found some who were related and didn't know. My mom was adopted and we found out after my paternal grandfather died that he wasn't my biologic grandfather after all.

I plan to do 23 and me one of these days but it doesn't really matter to me what my ethnicity is but am curious about the medical stuff they test for.

goatgal profile image
goatgal

Skin pigment as ethnicity? Since there are some disease vulnerabilities due to ethnicity (e.g. Tay-Sachs, Sickle Cell Anemia), I can understand a question of that sort but it wouldn't be answered by naming a skin tone. My sister and I had our genes analyzed (her daughter wanted to know): with the same biological parents, we had different mixes of genes. Just as an example, my %age of Neanderthal was higher than hers, she had some genes from Africa and I some from Asia. As Redhead4377 writes, we are all mixed (and isn't that wonderful to contemplate!)

mrsmike9 profile image
mrsmike9 in reply to goatgal

And who wants a box of crayons all the same color???

CrazyCatWom profile image
CrazyCatWom

My Mom used to say we were "Heinz 57". I did a 23 & Me DNA test. Momma was right! I'm Heinz 57!

mrsmike9 profile image
mrsmike9

I wonder what difference it makes? We all bleed the same!

RoyceNewton profile image
RoyceNewton in reply to mrsmike9

true, I was just wondering because of ms prevalence

mrsmike9 profile image
mrsmike9 in reply to RoyceNewton

But skin color and not ethic background??

RoyceNewton profile image
RoyceNewton in reply to mrsmike9

hmm, I thoughtethnic background not skin colour was th3e determing factor. 20+ years ago I always heard that darker skinned people were less likely to get ms

CrazyCatWom profile image
CrazyCatWom in reply to mrsmike9

I did mine, in part because 23 & Me did a health DNA test, and I was curious as to where my MS did come from, my brother has Parkinson's--so we're kinda like Ozzy Osbourne and his son. But also, I'm a history geek. So seeing how humans moved around the world is fascinating to me. And since there are billions of people on this planet, best to start with what my blood can reveal.

mrsmike9 profile image
mrsmike9 in reply to CrazyCatWom

I did Ancestry. 23 and Me was probably just starting to go when I did mine. Did it really say much about DNA and possible health issues? I have 3 adopted (from overseas) kids and think that might be good for them. I was more interested in learning about my genealogy than health issues. I think I'm afraid to see if there's more!

CrazyCatWom profile image
CrazyCatWom in reply to mrsmike9

The health part is a recent (as of Jan 2020) addition, and it does cost extra. It said nothing about my MS, but it did say I was a CARRIER of Cistic Fibrosis

mrsmike9 profile image
mrsmike9 in reply to CrazyCatWom

Huh. That certainly is good to know. I bet that surprised you.

CrazyCatWom profile image
CrazyCatWom in reply to mrsmike9

It was interesting, but in my case, not useful in any way. It can't be passed on to kittens or puppies. :)

carolek572 profile image
carolek572CommunityAmbassador

Ethnic : of or relating to large groups of people classed according to common racial, national, tribal, religious, linguistic, or cultural origin or background.

This definition is from Merriam-Webster, tenth edition, 1998. I had to dust it off to look up the definition.

I am still not sure what I am other than alive!

Good post, Royce and thank you for making me wonder. :-D

RoyceNewton profile image
RoyceNewton in reply to carolek572

Yes, my friend you most certainly are alive. Makes ethnic issues rather fuzzy, bears more thinking than just labelling somebody based on skin pigmtnt.

carolek572 profile image
carolek572CommunityAmbassador in reply to RoyceNewton

I agree with you, however most people do not want to 'think' anymore and would rather just go with the easiest answer, whether it makes sense or not. :-D

RoyceNewton profile image
RoyceNewton in reply to carolek572

oh that is so true my friend

rjoneslaw profile image
rjoneslaw

I just dont answer and when I'm forced to I saw other and leave it at that

RoyceNewton profile image
RoyceNewton in reply to rjoneslaw

Good move, I was just think about where ms is these days

falalalala profile image
falalalala

My husband and I did the ancestry.com thing a few years ago.

Once in awhile they refine your results based on more data they're collecting.

It was interesting to find out what we are compared to what we thought.

As for medical warnings? I'll pass as I like a good surprise.🤣

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