A few months ago I started getting this urge to find out about my genetics and my heritage. I really wanted to be able to share a confident answer about my lineage when asked and know about any possible health risks I am susceptible to.
So I decided to bite the bullet and sign up for 23andMe. If you are unfamiliar, 23andMe is a DNA genetic testing company that analyzes 23 pairs of chromosomes that show data from your physical traits and your genetic ancestry.
For the most part, I found out a lot of things I already knew like eye color, but it was interesting to find what my DNA said about me based on the sample I provided.
The reason why I am really glad I went through with it is because it ruled out over 35 genetic diseases that humans are able to carry, and I was not genetically prone to any of them. Besides peace of mind, I now have access to my ancestry breakdown by country, in addition to being a member of their database (which means if people who share strands of my DNA sign up for 2andMe I will get a notification).
It’s an expensive investment, but the information was priceless.
Not having my parents to explain gave me a bit of anxiety since they are gone, and signing up allowed me to confidently share this information.
Signing up is a decision only you can make, but I think that if you have any desire to know where you came from or what is going on in your body based on your DNA, it is definitely for you.
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