Millions of people have taken DNA tests. Amazon reported that the
AncestryDNA test was one of its five most popular products on Black
Friday the past two years. The prices of these tests continue to drop,
making it even easier to spit into a tube and wait for results.
 |
| DREAMSTREAM |
But, before you test, you need to ask yourself one question--what are you hoping to learn?
Here are some of the most common answers to this question:
I’d like to learn about my ethnic heritage
This may be the most common reason that people test. Keep in mind
that estimates of your ethnic heritage are just that—estimates. Don’t
take these results as being 100% accurate. The science of this is
constantly evolving. Also, keep in mind that ethnicity is not the same
as nationality. Our ancestors moved around a great deal, from country to
country, and from region to region.
I’d like to find family
You may have been adopted, or have other reasons for wanting to track
down biological family. DNA testing may enable you to find one or both
birthparents, or other family members. You may envision emotional
reunions with the people you are searching for. Keep in mind, you may
track down people who prefer to remain hidden, or you may uncover sad or
even traumatic stories. On the positive side, you may find closure in learning your true origins, and positive reunions do happen—just know that you can’t control the story.
I want to know more about my genetics for medical reasons
When you go to see a new doctor, they always have you fill out a form
listing your family’s medical history. Why? Because many illnesses have
a genetic component, and your family’s medical history may give the
doctor clues of things to look for. But, what if for some reason you
don’t know much about your family’s history? What if you weren’t raised
by your biological parents, or what if the information you need is from two or three generations ago?
DNA testing may give you some of the information that you need, and
for a relatively small price. However, the amount of information will be
limited, and may or may not be relevant to your particular need.
So, why do you need to know what you are looking for?
Your answer to this question helps determine what options you have.
If you are looking for your ethnic heritage,
you can choose from any of the most popular tests. Users (and experts)
debate which test is most accurate in determining your heritage. The top
selling tests are AncestryDNA and 23andMe (in North America), and
MyHeritage is very popular in Europe. Other popular brands include
Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) and Living DNA.
If you are looking for biological family,
the two most popular tests are AncestryDNA (which has the largest
database of other testers) and 23andMe. If you purchase a membership
with Ancestry, you can see family trees (if they’ve been posted) of your
biological relatives, and this may help you figure out what your own
biological family tree could be. 23andMe does not have family trees (at
the time this is being written), but it is possible that the relative
you are looking for tested to learn more about their medical genetics—so there is a chance you would find them by testing with 23andMe.
23andMe made its name with offering genetic testing that could provide health
information, and many people have found this information helpful. As a
word of caution, though, the testing is limited. For example, don’t
assume that this test will provide you all you need to know about your
risk of breast cancer or other diseases.
If you are seeking medical information,
23andMe is not your only option. If you test with one of the other
companies, you can download your genetic information and then upload
that file to other websites that provide detailed medical information
for free or for a low fee.
Conclusion
All of this can be overwhelming when you are first considering DNA testing. Fortunately, there are a number of Facebook
groups and other websites available to help. Two very helpful Facebook
groups are DNA Detectives (where other members help you learn what your
DNA results mean) and DD Social (which focuses less on the DNA testing).
These two Facebook groups are also great places to learn about other
internet sites that may be helpful in your DNA journey.
ABOUT AUTHOR
Barbara Markway, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience. She is the author of four psychology books and has been featured in media nationwide.
No comments:
Post a Comment