Chinese parents test DNA to check if kids will become prodigies

While gaining in popularity across the globe, consumer genetic testing is booming in China. — AFP

Months after his daughter’s birth in 2017, Chris Jung dropped off a test-tube of her saliva to his company’s genetic testing lab in Hong Kong. He had grand ambitions for the baby, and was seeking clues to the future in her DNA. She might become a prominent professional, he thought, possibly even a doctor.

But Jung’s plans shifted after analysis by his firm, Gene Discovery, suggested his daughter had strong abilities in music, math and sports – though a lesser aptitude for memorising details. As the little girl grows up, Jung said he will pour resources into developing those talents, while steering her away from professions that require a lot of memorisation.