From my perspective, on the spiritual side we most certainly have a "soul memory" of past lives, etc., but I don't feel that precludes our connections with our current physical bodies. In other words, I feel
we inherit both soul memories (perhaps through our Akashic Record or subtle bodies)
and cellular memories (through our physical body and its genetic lineage). I've also considered the possibility that we may actually BE our own ancestors. For example, I don't rule out the possibility that I am not only physically connected through my current genetics to a great-great grandmother or grandfather, I may actually BE him or her, reincarnated--and still working on challenges or karma that he or she (or I) may have not resolved in that particular life.
Where strictly the physical body and DNA are concerned, I also consider the possibility (or in my feeling, the great likelihood) that we chose our current parents and this particular physical body because they would best contribute to the lessons and growth we wished to experience in this life. If, for example, my soul wished to experience the challenges of or simply experience being a person of a certain race or culture, part of it might choose to incarnate in that type of family. After all, what better way is there to experience all the different possibilities?
Finally, I know this may be waaaay out there for some, but I've also considered the idea that we may be born into a particular genetic line to help CLEAR some karmic or other blockages that may exist in that particular family. For example, if I'm born into a particular family, perhaps a part of my "soul mission" is to inherit cellular memories of something that my ancestors dealt with so that perhaps I can "clear" that in this life. The 3D equivalent to this would be like if I harmed someone in this life and died, then my son helped them heal and make things right on my behalf. I really feel this is what's going on with
many so-called "Light Workers" today (including myself). We're working to clear out a lot of the negative "muck" that we
and others have created in the past, so we can hopefully serve as a positive example for others. In this way, humanity can begin to heal itself and move forward.
By investigating our genetic, physical roots (either through family records or DNA testing) we may be able to gain greater insights into the experiences we and our ancestors may have had, and see how these factors may be affecting us in our current "now".
In the end, to gain the most from this earthly experience we're having, I strongly feel that we need to pay attention to
both our spiritual and physical heritages--for in this expression of 3D-ness we are both
spiritual and physical beings.