topic Re: Ancestory vs 23andMe in Community Chat

Ancestry vs 23andMe

Stevie Nix — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 16:28:11 GMT

I'm thinking of giving one of these as Christmas gifts. For those of you who have used one or both, how do you rate them? Is one giving better information than the other? Any opinions appreciated.

Re: Ancestory vs 23andMe

phoenixbrd — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 14:37:27 GMT

Thanks for asking this question. I've finally gotten over the compulsion to not make my private life public regarding this process. My husband is purchasing as a gift and ask me who he should use. I was surprised by his suggestion, but think it might be fun to explore the past! I'm looking forward to the posts.

Re: Ancestory vs 23andMe

Sunshine Kate — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 14:40:22 GMT

Just remember sometimes people from the past you have no idea who they are can surface.

It's like opening a whole can of worms.

Re: Ancestory vs 23andMe

GiantsLover — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 14:46:31 GMT

Not a great idea to do any DNA testing because these type of tests will advise everyone including you what medical conditions you may have in your DNA, which you never knew about as they have not surfaced as of yet.

Also you are at risk of not being able to continue to renew your medical insurance if they also learn of your DNA at risk findings.

You may become uninsurance and that is frightening!

Also it is said on the Internet that all medical DNA information is sold by many of the same companies who do offer these DNA tests, so weigh the pro's and con's extremely well before putting your medical DNA out there, which may be just ripe for the picking.

Re: Ancestory vs 23andMe

Sooner — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 14:44:58 GMT

Be sure the person you are gifting these to wants to use them. I sure wouldn't!

Re: Ancestory vs 23andMe

phoenixbrd — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 14:48:57 GMT

@GiantsLover This is why I've never considered it before. Do you think these concerns are documented as valid or hearsay?

@GiantsLover wrote:
Not a great idea to do any DNA testing because these type of tests will advise everyone including you what medical contitions you may have, which you never knew about, and then you are at risk of not being able to continue to keep your medical insurance if they also learn of your DNA findings.

You may become uninsurance and that is frightening!

Also it is said on the net that all medical DNA information is sold by many of the companies who do offer these DNA tests, so weigh the pro's and con's well before putting your medical DNA out there, which may be just ripe for the picking.

Re: Ancestory vs 23andMe

GiantsLover — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 14:56:16 GMT

Re: Ancestory vs 23andMe

MoJoV — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 14:55:59 GMT

DH and I did 23 and me. We opted not to include the health part. We got alot of surprises. It was fun. Also found I'm related to Otzi the Iceman...how cool is that? Also that I'm a little Jewish,that made me happy! I recommend it.

Re: Ancestory vs 23andMe

Allegheny — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 15:10:23 GMT

I really can't give you an opinion. My husband used Ancestry. It didn't tell him much more then he already was aware of.

I just ordered 23 and me Health and Ancestry. I am not really that interested in genealogy, but I have reasons to be more knowledeable in my family's genetic DNA. Hopefully, I will be able to get information which may lead me to decide whether I need to get further genetic testing. (Which is quite costly and usually not covered by insurance.)

Re: Ancestory vs 23andMe

Trinity11 — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 15:18:12 GMT

@Allegheny wrote:
I really can't give you an opinion. My husband used Ancestry. It didn't tell him much more then he already was aware of.

I just ordered 23 and me Health and Ancestry. I am not really that interested in genealogy, but I have reasons to be more knowledeable in my family's genetic DNA. Hopefully, I will be able to get information which may lead me to decide whether I need to get further genetic testing. (Which is quite costly and usually not covered by insurance.)

@Allegheny...I do know that Ancestory has the opportunity to plug in your results to the genetic testing lab Prometheus and you can get back a printout of your genes and how they affect your profile for illnesses. I had the gene for Type 1 diabetes which I did get in my teens. Other information definitely matched up. Just a thought....

Re: Ancestory vs 23andMe

Allegheny — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 15:19:37 GMT

@Trinity11 Thank you for the information.

Re: Ancestory vs 23andMe

henderson — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 15:21:23 GMT

I also did 23 and me. There was a special last year (around Thanksgiving time I think) for $50 so I told our son and fiancee that was what we wanted for Christmas. My husband had no surprizes, but I thought I had some American Indian, but no. That was a shock. Also did not do the health portion.

Re: Ancestory vs 23andMe

Trinity11 — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 15:23:24 GMT

@Allegheny wrote:
@Trinity11 Thank you for the information.

You are welcome @Allegheny. Also wanted to mention it was less than $10.00 a few years ago when I did it ..so it is inexpensive. I showed the results to my physician. Apparently, I have a gene that affects how some medications would work regarding heart disease. It was very helpful.

Good luck!

Re: Ancestory vs 23andMe

SeaMaiden — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 16:10:16 GMT

I believe in the future your DNA will become a part of your medical history and be kept on file as illness and disease will be cured using DNA. BUT until that time.... right now the DNA business is like the WILD WEST. No rules, no regulations.... and your information is for anyone to use or buy on the open market... no matter what you sign or stipulate when you sign up for having it done.

I had it done a while back and now wish I really had not as I wonder where my information will end up......

Re: Ancestory vs 23andMe

sunshine45 — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 15:30:41 GMT

my mom used ancestry and she was pleased with the process. she did get a few surprises with her test results. she purchased one for me for my birthday when they went on sale. i have not sent it in yet. will do that AND maybe also get a 23andME test to compare.

Re: Ancestory vs 23andMe

World Traveler — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 15:39:58 GMT

@Stevie Nix What a wonderful idea for a Christmas gift!

It was one year ago when I purchased Ancestry, 23 and Me, and also National Geographic's version. I was curious to know if there would be any variance. I chose those three because Ancestry seemed to be the most known and widely used by the people I know; 23 and Me had the medical add-on which intrigued me (a relative told me about his medical results using this company); and National Geographic because it is a reputable and trustworthy company.

I found all three said basically the same thing; however, I usually recommend 23 and Me because it gives you the option of adding (for more money) medical information based upon your DNA. That was very interesting to me.

My relative had given the medical details from his DNA results to his doctor, and it was helpful to the doctor with a particular puzzling "find" that the doctor was not sure of. The DNA/medical results helped him zero in on the final diagnosis, turning them in a completely different direction for further tests! Hooray!

Ancestry was the cheapest...usually around $99, but has specials in the $65 range; National Geographic was the most expensive. Think that was around $150-175.

NG also asked if I would participate in a more extensive focus group, which involved lots more questions. I started to do it, but after about one hour, without them showing how many questions were left, I bowed out. Plus, the questions were so very, very personal, that I was uncomfortable in going further.

Again, what a wonderful gift to give! I too gave it to someone for Christmas last year; someone who had questions about his parentage. Tears came down his cheeks because it was something he had been wanting to do, but couldn't afford to do. He shared the results with me and was pleased to find out more about his ancestry, which he was never quite sure. His comment was "now everything makes sense to me."

All three of these DNA companies offer you further research to go deeper into your background, if you want to do that.

Re: Ancestory vs 23andMe

World Traveler — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 15:45:50 GMT

@Sunshine Kate wrote:
Just remember sometimes people from the past you have no idea who they are can surface.

It's like opening a whole can of worms.

@Sunshine Kate You are given the option of making it known that you are available for contact. At least the three companies I used allowed for that.

They ask if you want them to allow your information (name, address, etc., ) available to others who have tested and with whom you share the same name or "regional" area. I said "no" and have not been contacted by anyone, even though I personally know relatives who used the same companies I used. I asked them,, and they said my name did not show. However, I was able to see their name and some basic "share" information they had given permission to be seen.

Re: Ancestory vs 23andMe

Dragonflyveb — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 16:12:17 GMT

@Trinity11

How did you plug your results into Prometheus? Are there instructions on the 23 and me site?

thanks!

dragonfly

Re: Ancestory vs 23andMe

Trinity11 — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 16:22:15 GMT

@Dragonflyveb wrote:
@Trinity11

How did you plug your results into Prometheus? Are there instructions on the 23 and me site?

thanks!
dragonfly

I received an email with instructions after I received my results from Ancestory @Dragonflyveb. It was easy and I think it took a day or 2 to receive the results. Hope that helps.

Re: Ancestory vs 23andMe

gmabee38 — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 16:26:52 GMT

Not really, unless you into worms. Order if you curious about your dna, and share it only with people you want to know about the results. Easy peesy.