The science is fascinating.
Did the relationship affect Jefferson’s views? Perhaps...
In what way?
Jefferson was opposed to slavery. But he loved his estate more than he hated slavery. As a member of the House of Burghesses he twice voted to abolish slavery in the Virginia Colony but Fat George vetoed it. If slavery had been abolished he would have to free his slaves. Even though he was deeply in debt. And they could remain free. But if he is in debt he *can’t* free his slaves without his creditors suing to take his slaves as payment. So unless he wanted his slaves to go to other masters, which he didn’t, he was forced to give up his estate.
He worked hard to reduce his number of slaves, which even exacerbated his debt, then his father-in-law having no idea why he had so few slaves ‘gifted’ Jefferson with some of his own to ‘help’ Tom out. Which made Jefferson’s goal even harder.
But Jefferson was against slavery and worked to free as many of his slaves as he could his whole life. But he died in debt so never accomplished his goal.