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Original poster

Home dna family history test kits

48 replies

Skye85 · 25/10/2022 22:18

Apologies for posting in AIBU, posting for traffic and don't know where else to put it
.

Can anyone recommend a at home DNA kit to help search your family tree ?

It's a gift for a family member to try help find lost family.

I keep coming across ancestry dna and my heritage but not sure which (of any) is best.

Anyone ever used any and found long lost family?

OP posts:
Friday123 · 25/10/2022 22:36

I've not done one but I'd go for ancestry if looking to find family as it's a popular site in the UK so even if no immediate relatives have done a test or agreed to be contacted by relatives, it's likely someone in the family tree will have. It connects to people's family trees on their account (if they choose to).

BooksAndHooks · 25/10/2022 22:40

Ancestry. Not only does it have the largest database but you can then upload to My Heritage, FTDNA, Living DNA and Gedmatch and also access those databases.

You cannot upload to Ancestry so if you test at My heritage you would have to buy an Ancestry test to use their database.

BooksAndHooks · 25/10/2022 22:41

If it’s not urgent I would recommend waiting for Black Friday which is the lowest price Ancestry drop their prices to all year.

Catinabeanbag · 25/10/2022 22:45

I've done 23andme. You have to spit (a lot) into a tube and then send the tube off. Interesting results - and a couple of my cousins in canada (who I've never met) are on it. It brings up relations, and how they're related to you (second, third cousin and so on) and starts a family tree diagram for you.

cestlavielife · 25/10/2022 22:46

23and me found first cousin and a child of a cousin

FlippertyGibberts · 25/10/2022 22:48

I work in healthcare, and I wouldn't do this in a million years - they're not sequencing your DNA cheaply for your benefit, they're doing it for theirs.

WhoopItUp · 25/10/2022 22:49

FlippertyGibberts · 25/10/2022 22:48

I work in healthcare, and I wouldn't do this in a million years - they're not sequencing your DNA cheaply for your benefit, they're doing it for theirs.

To what end?

shinynewapple22 · 25/10/2022 22:50

Just beware that you may discover things you wish you hadn't -
There was a thread yesterday as a good example with the poster having uncovered an unknown child of her brother which caused various problems within the family . Actually I'm not sure that particular thread was real - but you get the idea .

Original poster
Skye85 · 25/10/2022 22:51

BooksAndHooks · 25/10/2022 22:40

Ancestry. Not only does it have the largest database but you can then upload to My Heritage, FTDNA, Living DNA and Gedmatch and also access those databases.

You cannot upload to Ancestry so if you test at My heritage you would have to buy an Ancestry test to use their database.

Thank you for this. Do you have to make your own myheritage account or does ancestry do it for you ?

OP posts:
WhiteCatmas · 25/10/2022 22:52

Do not do this.
Do not provide your DNA to a private company. You have no idea what they will do with it.

Original poster
Skye85 · 25/10/2022 22:53

BooksAndHooks · 25/10/2022 22:41

If it’s not urgent I would recommend waiting for Black Friday which is the lowest price Ancestry drop their prices to all year.

I can do. Birthday isn't till December. It's currently at £69 with 3 months access to their database ? Is it likely to go lower ?

OP posts:
Middlespoon · 25/10/2022 22:54

Definitely ancestry. And then yes, you can upload your DNA to other sites for free

LizzieSiddal · 25/10/2022 22:55

I work in healthcare, and I wouldn't do this in a million years - they're not sequencing your DNA cheaply for your benefit, they're doing it for theirs.

What are they doing with it??

Original poster
Skye85 · 25/10/2022 22:56

shinynewapple22 · 25/10/2022 22:50

Just beware that you may discover things you wish you hadn't -
There was a thread yesterday as a good example with the poster having uncovered an unknown child of her brother which caused various problems within the family . Actually I'm not sure that particular thread was real - but you get the idea .

Yeah, I bet it can open a can of worms.

It's for my dad. Basically his little brother was adopted out when he was little, baby/toddler i think. Would be lovely If he were to find some info but its a long shot.

OP posts:
JM2012a · 25/10/2022 22:58

I gave one to my sister who was looking for her long lost Dad and any possible children he might have had. She connected with a first cousin who was adopted out and through her we found her Dad, and a brother. All in the US (we are UK based but born in Africa).

QuebecBagnet · 25/10/2022 23:00

I’ve done 23andme, found lots of very distant relatives.

a friend found a half sister she knew nothing about.

QuebecBagnet · 25/10/2022 23:02

WhiteCatmas · 25/10/2022 22:52

Do not do this.
Do not provide your DNA to a private company. You have no idea what they will do with it.

I’m not that bothered. I’m not a criminal, don’t think they’re going to clone me. Saying that I do think I ticked the box asking for my sample to be destroyed after processing.

WhiteCatmas · 25/10/2022 23:19

If the service they are selling is cheap or free, then you are the product.

FlippertyGibberts · 25/10/2022 23:22

WhiteCatmas · 25/10/2022 23:19

If the service they are selling is cheap or free, then you are the product.

Yes, I nearly said this too. Your genomic data is the product, but the companies are clever enough to make it look like they're selling you something.

Original poster
Skye85 · 25/10/2022 23:25

Probably true, but what could they do with it really ?

OP posts:
FlippertyGibberts · 25/10/2022 23:26

OK, so these companies want your genomic data, and they're more than happy to sell you a sequencing service at a ridiculously low price to get it. They'll then sell this data to other companies, and it will be used for various things.

There is nothing more identifiably you than your genomic data. No amount of anonymisation of data etc. will ever make this data not clearly yours. And there isn't yet sufficient legislation in place in this area to protect you now or in the future.

Original poster
Skye85 · 25/10/2022 23:36

But what do they then do with it ? How would that be an issue ? Sorry just no idea how that would work

OP posts:
RiftGibbon · 25/10/2022 23:41

I've used Ancestry. It has confirmed links I had put in via my own research (some people I was already in contact with), and thrown up some new and interesting suggestions of related people. One of whom I have just messaged as they may help solve a mystery link that I am aware of but cannot pin down.

FlippertyGibberts · 25/10/2022 23:49

I think lots of companies could potentially be interested in your genomic data in the future - life assurance companies, employers, mortgage lenders etc.

BlueQuiltedViolets · 25/10/2022 23:52

I would love to do one of these tests, it would be so interesting!

Unfortunately, I live in a country where the law doesn't prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against people based on any genetic testing they have ever had done for any reason. Insurers can refuse to cover you, or refuse to pay out if you didn't disclose the test.