Has anyone used a DNA kit and was it worth it?

[wowwhataday]

Thinking of doing one as curious of my ancestry but would like to know someone’s experience of this if possible???

I used one about eight years ago, turns out I’m 97.7% Irish, 1.4% Eastern European and 0.9% Iberian peninsula.

I did one with Ancestry about 8 years ago too. I found it really interesting! It does link you up with your family tree/family members etc. Just so you know!

It was for me as I have very little family and I was curious as to where my origins are.

not what I thought and I was quite surprised at some of the results. Turns out I’m a mix of Welsh, English, Germanic and Danish but started researching my tree only to discover I have deep ancestral routes in the south east, Norfolk, Yorkshire, Devon and Wales.

I would be very wary of handing your genetic information to these companies, particularly given what’s happening with 23andme

23andme? Eh?

I've used one and have had great fun using it to help sort out my family tree.
A friend exposed a family secret by using one, luckily it turned out OK.

It’s one of the dna testing companies. Recently went bust. Now all their data is up for sale as part of the bankruptcy.

Yes, I did Ancestry a few years ago and it was fun! One side of my family is originally from Russia so it was interesting to see it all in writing. I also connected with two cousins I didn’t know I had and I also got chatting to a great cousin who sent me some really interesting info about my grandmother. I think it’s well worth it.

I did quite a few years ago, then my two adult DC wanted theirs done too. It shows I am their DM, and that they are siblings, but our results are all quite different, with only a small overlap. It's really interesting! As more advances are made in DNA, our results expand accordingly.

I also had my health DNA done. It showed I was at increased risk of breast cancer which I have actually had, but it said I had a significantly reduced risk of Age- related Macular Degeneration which I was diagnosed with at the age of 58 (younger than normal). I can only assume my AMD was caused by sun damage, as opposed to genetics.

I did one a few years ago as no relationship with my family really and I was half hoping for some surprises or something interesting to come out of it.

Nope 😂 I am very Northern European as expected and unfortunately all my family are, in fact, my family. I didn’t suddenly gain any nice new sane ones. But it did help a bit with building my family tree, which was useful.

I’m studying for my Masters in Genealogy and I’ll share some knowledge with you!

1. read the testing companies privacy statements, they’re all a bit different. 23&me had a data breach and mishandled it. They’re up for sale, the CEO quit and it’s assumed she will try to buy it back. It’s still running in the meantime
2. be prepared for potentially difficult outcomes. You may discover a half sibling, close cousin that no one knew about. You may also connect with new cousins all around the world! But it is important to think about whether you’re happy uncovering potential skeletons in the closet.
3. the ethnicity isn’t a 100% science, it’s still relatively new and all providers change their estimates each year. That said, some regional estimates can be quite accurate. Take it with a pinch of salt.
4. ancestry has by far the biggest database. Almost all experts recommend testing with them and uploading your raw file to other providers (but inform yourself on this first) it means you can potentially find new matches who have tested with other companies (except 23&me, they don’t allow data uploads)

feel free to ask any more questions!

I'm going againat the grain here and saying I'm not a fan. They can bring about a lot of unnecessary upset and sometimes things in the past need to stay in the past. I've heard some families being torn apart by information revealed for the sake of someone's curiosity and a bit of fun.

My DS was talking about doing one so I had to tell him something I didn't want to, that I possibly should have kept a secret but if i hadn't and he had done the test he would have told everyone and caused a drama. It put me in a difficult position.

I want to get the dog done first!

Has pp have said - there’s more at play than potentially discovering interesting history and information. The 23&me data breach was alarming, there are plenty of stories of relatives coming out of the woodwork, people finding out past buried family secrets… plus there’s a huge question about what happens to your genetic data once it’s out there, held by private companies. It might be secure now, but it’s radically different to it being held by the NHS. I think there are plenty of real world present and future scenarios that aren’t necessarily considered.

There’s an interesting BBC sounds documentary called The Gift. I’d give it a listen before doing anything. Obviously plenty of people have a mundane experience but not everyone does, and you don’t know which side you’ll come out on until it’s done and you no longer have privacy with your genetic data.

I did 23andMe health and ancestry, no family tracing. No surprises in ancestry, health information was useful and interesting. I enjoyed the experience.
BUT as a PP noted, they are up for sale, so I downloaded and then deleted all my data and closed my account.

I’m tempted to get one for my adult child as their father was adopted- and it would be good for them to know if there was any blood relatives out there… but then that is a can of worms opened that is their genetic heritage to know about but kind of stepping on their dads toes when he hasn’t wanted to explore his birth family stuff at all..:

With 23andMe the relative tracing feature was optional, and I opted out.

I’m 92% English 2% Scottish 6% Germanic (I know my great grandad was Dutch). I’m disappointed I’m not more exotic.

Made contact with a wonderful man who turns out is my great grandmothers great nephew. He’s done an amazing job of researching that branch of our family which goes back to Rutland 400yrs.

DH is 98% English and 2% Scottish.

Our families haven’t exactly gone far!

No need matches have ever come up for DH just very distant people

I did an ancestry one because I was really keen to discover more about my ancestral DNA and find out where my ancestors come from. It was exciting to get the results and learn what percentage of where I come from.
This was about 8 years ago I think. Over the years since they have emailed me a number of times to say my ancestral DNA has changed - as more people participate in testing the results are “adjusted for accuracy”. However to me, this makes the results completely pointless. At first 50% of my DNA came from one country, that country is now down to 5%. At first I had little English and majority a European country above, now I am 40% English and another 30% Scottish.
If it change change so much and so often, it’s pointless.

I found relatives and lot of drama. Think evolution works the way it does because it works. That is, we lose contact with family over time, we make our own

Which kit did you use?

Yes all of us have been interesting to see the common matches although weirdly I came out as 0% English

my mum however found a whole lot of cousins turns out after her grandfather left he had 5 more children! She was briefly in touch but the stopped as was all too much

I know someone who found his now-adult daughter on it. He’d no idea he’d fathered a child, and was delighted to find her. She had been searching for her unknown father, hence the match. They did a lot of media together. I couldn’t help but wonder if the mother was rolling her eyes going ‘where the hell were you for the last 21 years?’ It was a ONS on an international rugby weekend (per the newspaper interview), and my guess is she found herself pregnant a few weeks later, and proceeded with the pregnancy solo. From the dad’s press interview, it sounded like a fleeting, anonymous encounter. Unprotected sex takes two willing partners, but I felt myself thinking (projecting) how for him it was nothing and he was blissfully unaware until - tada! - you’ve a gorgeous 20yo daughter, and you’re going to be a grandad, let’s ring The Daily Mail, whereas for her it might have been a bit FFS.