What makes you, you? The complications behind race and DNA ancestry tests

You spend $99 on a ancestry kit, from which you learn that you're 78% Irish, 13% West Asian, and 9% Polynesian'. What does that mean for you? And what are some social-ideological dangers that could emerge from incorrect interpretations of ancestry kits?

Here, Yan-Yi Lee discusses scientific literacy and the concept of 'race' when interpreting DNA ancestry test results. This is the first piece in the 'language, but not quite language' series, where we talk about race and identity - issues relevant to the heart of language and our place in the world. Read all about it here. 

This is one of the editor's old articles in Varsity, another journalistic outlet.