4 Interesting Revelations From DNA Testing

Whether you are actively researching your heritage or just want to know about it, the process of putting together an accurate profile of your family background can be a daunting task. Even with the rise of technology, the World Wide Web can be of little value if you do not have the right details to point you in the right direction.

Yet this rise has also lead to the development of accurate and affordable DNA tests that provide results pertaining to one’s family background. Below are 5 things such a test can tell you.

1. Area of origin

For as long as you can remember, your family has resided in one area and has for generations. However, this does not mean you originated there and it would definitely be fun and interesting to determine where your family originated from.

An ancestry DNA test can provide you with details regarding the areas of the world where your family came from. This is done by taking your DNA and comparing it samples of those all over the world. A profile is then completed with similarities between your sample and others in the database, giving you a breakdown of countries where your relatives came from. This can be interesting and educational as you discover that you have certain ethnicities that you did not think were present or possible.

2. Ethnicity percentages

Just because you identify as one certain nationality does not mean you are 100 percent composed of this identify. The truth is, people are composed of many different ethnicities and it is interesting and enjoyable to determine which ones compose our DNA.

Ancestry DNA tests are able to develop snapshots of all ethnicities found in our DNA and even break them down by percentages. For example, a given DNA sample can determine that a participant DNA is largely composed of British ethnicity but with percentages that also reflect Australian and Eastern European heritage. These percentages are based on DNA profiles of hundreds of thousands of other people that submitted their tests from hundreds of regions around the world.

3. Medical conditions

DNA ancestry tests can do a lot more than tell a participant their potential places of origin and possible ethnicities. They also allow for significant health benefits that can drive decisions that you make later on in life.

If you are worried about being diagnosed with a genetic condition, taking an ancestry DNA test can determine if any family members in the past had an ailment. As a result, you can determine if you are at risk of meeting the same fate. DNA testing can also benefit those who have been adopted or adopted a child. By developing DNA profiles, adopted children can fill in gaps regarding family backgrounds and parents of adopted children can help him/her locate lost relatives.

4. Names of living relatives

Imagine how happy you would be to determine that, after years of thinking you had little to no family, you actually had quite a few relatives and they are alive and well.

When you order your DNA ancestry kit, you are asked by the company whether you want your results made public. If you give consent, people are able to compare their results to yours and can contact you to meet in person. This also gives you the opportunity to match your profile to others listed in the database. You can then reach out in attempt to connect with relatives you did not even know existed. This opportunity is especially helpful for those creating family trees and people with few to no known living relatives.