Have You Considered DNA Testing?
Have you been seeing the commercials on TV about different DNA testing companies? Or how about the show “Finding Your Roots” starring the famous genealogist, Henry Louis Gates Jr.? The marketing skills of these companies are stellar, and make you want to spit or swab immediately! There is so much to discover about ourselves when we have our DNA analyzed. DNA analysis helps us gain a more complete story of our genetic makeup and testing our DNA has become easier and more affordable than ever before.
Analyzing Our DNA Tells Our Story
DNA tells a story that is unique to each person. Humans are about 99% the same genetically. Our differences come only from that tiny 1% difference in our DNA. That 1% accounts for our personality and appearances that make us distinguishable from each other. Very small genetic variances result in very significant differences.
DNA Analysis Helps Discover Our Origins
With DNA testing we can discover our genetic origins. It makes possible the discovery of places, cultures, and histories that shape us. DNA testing also allows us to connect with living relatives who share our DNA. Testing companies compare your test to other people in their databases who have also taken the test.
DNA for Ancestry
I did my testing through AncestryDNA and as with the other major testing sites, they report what is relevant to their genealogical customer base.
My first reason for testing was to establish ethnicity and to assist in knocking down brick walls in my family history research. I have over 1000 DNA matches and have connected to many of them. We have shared family trees with each other and I’ve gained new information about my family connections. I am a genealogist, and having my DNA analyzed was very exciting and was well worth the price of the test.
DNA Testing Companies
There are 4 major testing companies that offer affordable testing, they are AncestryDNA, 23 & Me, Family Tree DNA, and My Heritage. These companies analyze DNA and report information relevant to their customer bases.
How is DNA done?
DNA samples can be obtained by cheek swabs, or by spitting in a cup. The sample is then returned to the company supplying the test. After a short wait, (anywhere from 4-6 weeks) the testing company will email your results and the fun begins.
But there is more….
The more I learn about DNA the more interested I become about my own story. Do I have traits that are genetically suggested? Do I have genetic propensities for certain physical or emotional characteristics? Our DNA analysis can reveal more than just our ancestry. It can help us discover whether or not we are genetically predisposed to any medical conditions.
Genome Link
There are a few companies that can further analyze your raw DNA. One of my favorite sites for further analyzing is Genome Link. I discovered Genome Link in a Facebook Post.
Genome Link‘s tagline “Your Personal DNA Cloud” and “It’s like having a digital map of yourself” was intriguing and I was excited to sign up!
“Genome Link allows you to visualize your DNA and
get insights from the latest global research”
With Genome Link, you can get reports on personality traits, Intelligence, Food & Nutrition, and Sports Ability. The scope of its reporting is on tendencies and traits for which you have genetic markers.
I signed up for a free account and began the process. The first step was to download my raw DNA from AncestryDNA and upload it to Genome Link. That took about 15 minutes. The company analyzed my DNA and started reporting on different traits.
My Genome Link Results
My results were astounding and I found it very interesting that I do have genetic markers for certain traits. For instance, I have markers for a stronger tendency to be agreeable. Hmmm, I wonder if my hubby agrees with that report? (of course, he does!)
Check this report…Under the Intelligence tab, the Reading & Spelling Ability report shows a “Poor” result at 50%. No wonder I had such a hard time in College! Reading does not come naturally to me!
For people interested in learning about personal traits that are impacted by genes, Genome Link is a great website. It’s informative and fun!
So go ahead and see what your DNA reveals about you!
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