Ever wondered about your roots? Risk of disease? etc.. cheap DNA test

[Knut]

Bump.

A new feature was added to 23andme today. It gives you a detailed breakdown of your ancestry based on certain phenotypes present across the general population. Below I included a sample of mine. They actually have 3 sets (conservative, standard, and speculative), meaning there is some margin of error. Cool none the less. The one here is a Standard one.

Apparently one of my phenotypes has some origins in Northern India (as do many people of Norwegian decent that came from a certain part of Norway).

[Codes]

This is very cool.

If I ever get a sequencer at work, I'll let you guys know and cut a CP deal!

I'm actually really interested in doing this myself. I've been asking my grandparents a lot lately about our family history, but genetics is easily the best way to really sort things out.

[prarieboy]

Just looked at the 23andMe website and it is $99

[TurnedTheCorner]

I was adopted, and I've never once wondered about my roots. I like having a blank slate. One less thing to worry about.

[Buzzard]

Wooaaa...Norwegians are related to Indians?? How does that add up?

Anyhow this looks pretty cool.

Anyone know how this compares to the National Geographic DNA thing? If I'm not mistaken it was quite a bit more $$ than this one.

[Regulator75]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

I was adopted, and I've never once wondered about my roots. I like having a blank slate. One less thing to worry about.

Ignorance is bliss?

[TurnedTheCorner]

Yep. Pretty much.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Is this the one where everyone turns out to be Jewish?

I am a direct descendant of Genghis Khan

[Raekwon]

Its good to know your results came back 100% Aaron Hesla, that could have been awkward.

[Rudee]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

I was adopted, and I've never once wondered about my roots. I like having a blank slate. One less thing to worry about.

Keep telling yourself that.

[Morozee]

Originally Posted by Hesla

Bump.

A new feature was added to 23andme today. It gives you a detailed breakdown of your ancestry based on certain phenotypes present across the general population. Below I included a sample of mine. They actually have 3 sets (conservative, standard, and speculative), meaning there is some margin of error. Cool none the less. The one here is a Standard one.

Apparently one of my phenotypes has some origins in Northern India (as do many people of Norwegian decent that came from a certain part of Norway).

Cool, thanks for sharing. I like how it adds up to "100.0% Aaron Hesla".

[bluejays]

I was really interested until I added to cart and seen a $60 shipping charge. At risk of falling into PIMking stereotype, American "retailers" really screw over anyone outside the US when it comes to these shipping charges ($10 shipping for the States). I think it's a pretty cool idea, but the fact that the shipping is that much for Canadians, really isn't justified, so I'm out for now.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by fleury

I was really interested until I added to cart and seen a $60 shipping charge. At risk of falling into PIMking stereotype, American "retailers" really screw over anyone outside the US when it comes to these shipping charges ($10 shipping for the States). I think it's a pretty cool idea, but the fact that the shipping is that much for Canadians, really isn't justified, so I'm out for now.

It does include shipping both ways. The samples have to be shipped back in a biohazard bag, as they contain biological samples, so it's not your standard shipping either.

The process involves filling a tub with saliva....gross I know. Then shipping the tube back to them.

Also, the ancestry composition thing is really cool, and pretty much bang on to what I was expecting and totall uninteresting. A branch of my family goes back into Canada like 10 generations, so I was kind of hoping to have some Aboriginal ancestry I didn't know about. They were pure whitey though. Came up .3% middle eastern, which was the only interesting thing in there.

[BlackArcher101]

Almost ordered a kit, but then I started thinking if I really wanted to know the info it would give me. I unfortunately tend to overanalyze things and I think the cons of the health report(s) would probably outweight the pros. In this case curiosity will kill the cat and I will probably break down and get it anyways. I just have to restrain myself to not take the reports as fact.

Anyone else struggling with the same dilemna?

[Finny61]

The lineage/ancestry is interesting. Must resist.

[GP_Matt]

Is there any concern that the results could bite you in the ass in the future when getting life insurance or travel medical?
Some of the medical questionnaires have questions like, Have you ever been tested for?

What if the test looks for something, now your insurance can be voided if you ever make a claim.

[Knut]

^ It is an interesting ethical dilemna there. i doubt you getting a test like this done is going to have any impact, however I can see insurance companies in the future mandating genetic testing once the costs come down. Something like this is not nearly accurate enough and is more something interesting to look at.

[First Lady]

Thought I would share this, not DNA, but similar.

http://www.hofsteegenealogy.com/carm.htm

My family tree on my father's (Greydanus) side - dating back to 1425.

I've known this record existed for some time, but only recently discovered it online.

Most interesting (and disturbing) thing I've found so far....

"from second marriage
c) Bartelt, c. Voorthuizen 22-2-1685, illegitimate child of Jan Lubberts and Aalbertje Aalts, created (gewonnen) from a shameful blood relationship"

Our name has several variations on spelling; Greydanus, Greidanus, Greijanus.

Oddly the 'anus' has been consistent and seems to have originated in the mid-1600's.

[Shin Pad]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

I was adopted, and I've never once wondered about my roots. I like having a blank slate. One less thing to worry about.

I too was adopted. When I was in my late 30s, I decided to find my birth parents - mostly for health reasons. My adopted father had lots of health issues, and I wanted to know what I might have to look forward to. Anyway, I found both of my birth parents. My adopted parents have passed away since, but my birth parents are both still alive and healthy. My birth father is 91 years old and still living on his own. Anyway, it was a bitter sweet experience to find them. On one hand, I have a great relationship with my Father - I see him once a week. I speak to my mother by phone once or twice a month. The bitter part is, that I have a couple of 1/2 brothers that weren't too keen on me showing up - but, that's their problem - not mine.

[JohnnyB]

I want so very, very much to do this, but I must say I'm not a big fan of my genetic information being paired with my personal identity out in the hands of a private entity.

Who knows, pair it with my browsing history and perhaps some day it will be found that spending hours on CP each day involved in pointless internet arguments is linked to some genetic deficiency. I'd hate to feel that I had no choice in how I waste my own time.

Truth be told though, I'd like to have some real assurance that all records of my info would be destroyed by them or that the test could be performed without that info being collected. It's really the kind of thing I would prefer to do in a cash transaction without my name or identity being involved.