To think this is an odd birthday request off DD?

[etonclean]

DD's birthday is in 2 weeks, she has asked for one of those DNA tests. She will be 19. Just in case someone asks I'd like to clarify it's not a "who's the daddy" test. You spit in a cup, send it off to the lab and then they get back to you telling you which areas of the world your ancestors are from and what diseases you have a genetic predisposition to.

I've said I'll get her one but I think it's a bit odd. There's no family secrets, me and DH are both definitely her biological parents (!) and both families are very healthy. We also both have family tracing back to Ireland.

AIBU in worrying she thinks there is some secret we are keeping from her about who she is? Or am I just being paranoid? She usually asks for makeup. DH got upset when I told him what she had asked for as he thought she must think he's not her dad, managed to reassure him though.

@etonclean , your DD needs to be aware can she is waiving her rights over her DNA for life and this can affect her and her family members for this and the next generations. Police has access to these ancestry service and have used it in the past to catch criminals by tracking them through DNA tests taken by family members. One day, maybe one of her child will leave DNA somewhere and she would have contribute to his/her capture or her own capture.
Even future employers or insurers ( think mortgage, health insurance, ...) could discriminate against her in 20 years time.

I would only do it if it could be done anonymously or under a false name, false address.
TO do so, follow these instructions here. venturebeat.com/2013/09/20/how-to-use-23andme-without-giving-up-your-genetic-privacy/

I'd love someone to buy me one of those kits. I'd be fascinated to find out where my ancestors were from.

How do you mean, @StoorieHoose - "harvest" ?

I’ve heard the % splits they give you as to your background are not that accurate. You can ask not to go on the general data base if you don’t what to find unknown relatives (half siblings could pop up).

I know a family friend whose daughter was conceived via donor egg from her aunt, she doesn’t know. If she and her 3 cousins all did the test as a Christmas gift they’d find they were half siblings.

Did she watch the Ant and Dec DNA programme?
That might be where she got the idea...

I would be happy she is interested in her family history

I think it's a great idea, go for it!🙂

How cool! I'd be really interested to know all about my ancestry!

I will not willingly hand over my DNA to a for profit company when I have no control over what happens to it in the future. It is surely the most personal of your personal data. I would also be very wary of any that claim to tell you about your medical risks. There is a reason why DNA testing in the NHS is done by experts and that is because interpreting the results is very difficult. Very few genes are directly predictive, I.e you have this gene you get this disease. Most that are used for this kind of nonsense depend upon the interaction of several genes and your environment (lifestyle essentially). The people sending you this will certainly not be competent in this interpretation. What if she is told she is at risk of certain cancers based upon those findings? What level of ongoing anxiety is that likely to cause?

I think it’s a cool idea. Nothing untoward at all 😊

My son bought me one and his brother. It’s a great gift 123dna is currently half price at £75

If you are into ancestry these are great fun. As more people do them the information gets stronger. Mine said that I'm part Scandinavian, so obviously somebody many years ago visited from a longboat with horns sticking from their head. More than likely an old Mother in Law. The trouble is, when you get into it, it's like a drug and consumes your time and interest.

I will not willingly hand over my DNA to a for profit company when I have no control over what happens to it in the future. It is surely the most personal of your personal data.

Do you take the hair home with you from the hairdresser? .

Great that she's interested in her ancestry. But I got mine done for my birthday present recently, and it told me less than I could have learnt by looking in the mirror!

As a typical (as far as I know) indigenous Englishwoman, I hoped to learn what percentages of Angle, Saxon, Jute, Dane, Norman (=Norwegian+French), Irish, Scottish, and Welsh (=Brython+Roman) I am. Maybe even which Brythonic tribe.

In fact it just told me I'm 85% Western European and 15% Scottish or Irish!

FGS, I'd guessed that much! (And how do Scots and Irish not count as Western European?)

@YeOldeTrout How exactly did you come across the unexpected uncle? Had he also taken the test and so was on the database?

Blame Ant and Dec

Loads of people do these just because they are interested in their genetic make up, where they come from. It's totally normal!

Shame they don’t realise that that isn’t how it works.

I think it’s a really cool idea! I’d be so interested to see what my results would be.

It doesn’t tell you your ancestry. It compares your DNA with the other peoples’ DNA held in their database. So it’s limited by who else has been gullible enough to pay to have their DNA held by a private company. And the effectiveness of their advertising in different countries.

Do you take the hair home with you from the hairdresser?

ArgumentativeAardvaark

All of the paranoid people in this thread are making me They sound like the ones on facebook who don't vaccinate their children!! Bloody hell - it's just a DNA test. Well done to your daughter. She sounds like an intelligent young woman with interests in her heritage

DSD is the same age and asked for one last year.

I've just had mine done as a Christmas gift I requested and paid for by our 2nd son. You dont need to do get unexpected surprises.

I found out I had 2 half brothers I knew nothing about when I was 36, 20 years ago. That was a hell of a shock. I have a great relationship with them today. They are alot older than me.

One shock like that for a lifetime should be enough. I'm as prepared as I can be for anymore surprises. Just interested. I don't think it's an unusual gift. Though likely is cos of the Ant and Dec show..

It's a great, and interesting, present.

My son has had both the Ancestry one and the 23&Me.

And we have discovered a family member we didn't know existed!

I've done them, it's so interesting to see where in the world you have cousins and build a family tree etc. Sure you will find out some interesting stuff and want to do one yourself too! I've done both Ancestry and 23andme...you get lots more 'fun' info from 23andme.