DNA sites selling your used genes, Schu warns

Sen. Charles Schumer wants federal regulation over companies that market home DNA testing kits.

Schumer said it’s unclear what companies like AncestryDNA do with the data they collect from hair or saliva samples that clients — eager to know their complete genealogy — send in.

“Many don’t realize that their sensitive information may end up in the hands of many other third-party companies,” Schumer said at a press conference in Manhattan Sunday.

“There is no point in learning about your family tree if your privacy gets chopped down at the same time,” he said.

Schumer said he is calling on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate, especially since the makers of the kits have ramped up their marketing for the holidays. Some companies are now running Black Friday and Cyber Monday specials.

Schumer points out that AncestryDNA’s fine print tells customers it reserves the right to “communicate your genetic information for the purposes of providing products and services.”

Schumer called DNA data mining and selling “troubling.”

AncestryDNA said in a statement it doesn’t sell data without customer consent, hence the fine print.

“We respect and agree with Sen. Schumer’s concern for customer privacy and believe any regulation should match the commitments we make to our customers,” the company said.