Community Chat

[Yardlie]

I did my ancestry through 23andme. The ethnicity is pretty much what I expected.

Another fascinating part of it is the DNA relatives. They tell you who you share strands of chromosomes with and the percentage that you share with those people. (That only includes people in their database.) That way they can predict if the person is a sibling, first cousin, second cousin, third, fourth...etc. People can choose to release their name or be anonymous. Most people release their name.

I found two second cousins who I never knew. My mother was one of their mother's maid of honor at her wedding 76 years ago. We talked on the phone. Our mothers also reconnected. Then we found that we had another first-second cousin who neither she nor I knew. We contacted him and could not come up with any relatives in common. Turns out he lived in a small town where our great uncle lived 65 years ago. My other cousin figured it out, but we did not press him on it. Would you want to find out that your father was not your real father after 65 years? No doubt, he is smart enough to figure out that something is haywire himself. Ahem...sometimes you find out things you didn't necessarily want to know.  

[Patriot3]

I had mine done and was pleasantly surprised.  My Dad's side didn't surprise me/100% Italian and I'm 60%.  We always thought our Mom was German and turns out Scandanavian.  Wish she was still here so I could tell her!

I'm glad I did it and am thinking about getting my kids/grandkids a kit for Christmas.

[SeaMaiden]

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@kitcat51 wrote:

I haven't had the testing done, it doesn't matter to me. Did the company explain what happens to your DNA sample when they are done testing it? Always wonder about that when I see the ads.

There are always conspiracy theory's out there  on everything.  I guess if you want to run your life by those and do nothing that is your choice.  All of our information out there is there for everyone to see  today anyway.....  Facebook is probably  worse than a DNA tests as far as having others follow us and know all about us.  

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[Susan Louise]

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@Yardlie wrote:

I did my ancestry through 23andme. The ethnicity is pretty much what I expected.

Another fascinating part of it is the DNA relatives. They tell you who you share strands of chromosomes with and the percentage that you share with those people. (That only includes people in their database.) That way they can predict if the person is a sibling, first cousin, second cousin, third, fourth...etc. People can choose to release their name or be anonymous. Most people release their name.

I found two second cousins who I never knew. My mother was one of their mother's maid of honor at her wedding 76 years ago. We talked on the phone. Our mothers also reconnected. Then we found that we had another first-second cousin who neither she nor I knew. We contacted him and could not come up with any relatives in common. Turns out he lived in a small town where our great uncle lived 65 years ago. My other cousin figured it out, but we did not press him on it. Would you want to find out that your father was not your real father after 65 years? No doubt, he is smart enough to figure out that something is haywire himself. Ahem...sometimes you find out things you didn't necessarily want to know.  

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@Yardlie  Yes, I can relate to what you said...

But for me, I would rather find out things I don't necessarily want to know, then not know anything  

[SeaMaiden]

My question to those female posters who had this done by 23 and Me is:

 Did you get the background of your fathers side of the family as well as your Mothers side ?  I thought I read that  they could not give females that side of their history through their DNA..

That is really what I am interested in.. My fathers side.

[Yardlie]

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@SeaMaiden wrote:

My question to those female posters who had this done by 23 and Me is:

 Did you get the background of your fathers side of the family as well as your Mothers side ?  I thought I read that  they could not give females that side of their history through their DNA..

That is really what I am interested in.. My fathers side.

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@Sea Maiden ... Yes, from what I understand is that you get your father's information (ethnicity background) only, but it can't dig much further back than that.

[sgraham30]

I ordered the Vitagene DNA test kit. I mailed the cheek swabs with my DNA to them before the Memorial Day weekend, they received them after the Memorial Day weekend. It will take 4-6 weeks to get my results.

[Catty2]

I have no desire to do this.  After 60+ years I don't want to find out that my background might be different than I thought.  I'll stick with what my parents told me.  IMO

[Ceci]

My daughter did 23 and me on herself, husband and two kids. It showed risks for certain diseases such as heart, cancer, allergies, etc.

That bothered me as her mother and I decided I didn't need to know about my possible demise! I'm 68 and would rather not know what is going to kill me.

I did the Ancestery DNA to better know my background. I just mailed it in and haven't gotten the results yet. I was born to Irish parents, but I always had a suspicion that my grandfather might have been English. Irish tend to cover up things like that or any other skeltons in the closet. LOL

So I am waiting the results.

[Drythe]

My 90 year old Dad and I have our kits & are swabbing tomorrow night!  123

As for the DNA info it can be accessed by legal subpoena.

My DH is going to wash through my gene results because there is medical reason to look at a particular one.

I'm only interested in the geographical info.