Genetic DNA testing is steadily growing in popularity. It seems like every day there’s a new company offering the service, and more and more people looking into their ancestral background. So what exactly is genetic DNA testing, and why do people want to do it?
What Is Genetic DNA Testing?
Genetic DNA testing gives you a profile of your ancestral background. There are a few different types and each one can give you a different part of the puzzle of your genetic make up. However, this also means that you might want to shop around and look at a few companies before choosing one. Hot5.com has a list of the best companies in the genetic DNA testing field. They comprise their list using expert reviews and interviews, so any recommendation from their website is among the best in their field. They also look at the exact types of genetic testing offered, which is immensely helpful when you’re looking for a reputable company.
Types Of Genetic Testing
Autosomal DNA Testing – You have 23 pairs of chromosomes, and 22 of them are the same for both men and women. You inherit your chromosomes from both parents. Your chromosomes are unique to you, and your results will be different to your sibling’s results. Autosomal DNA testing looks at these 22 pairs, as well as your X chromosome, and gives you a profile of your overall ethnicity.
Y Chromosome Testing – Only men have the Y chromosome, and it’s inherited from the paternal line. This testing can be used to explore the father’s ancestry.
Mitochondrial Testing – Mitochondrial DNA is passed from the mother to the child. This testing explores the mother’s ancestral line. This can be very valuable to many people wanting to explore their family tree, as records on women are often lost, or misplaced. Also women tended to change their surnames upon marriage, which can mean that female ancestors are harder to trace.
Why People Want Genetic Testing?
Everyone has their own reasons for wanting to see a clear picture of their ancestral DNA. For some people, it’s just the curiosity of the ethnicity of their ancestors. For others, it’s a way to connect with distant cousins, and relations. For others, it’s a helpful starting point to trace their family tree, or a good way to restart a search that has hit a brick wall. It’s a useful way to see where you come from and find out what makes you, you.
Questions To Think About
Before you take a genetic DNA test, you do need to ask yourself a few questions.
You should think about why you want your test results, and what you would do with them when you have them. Would you want to be contacted by potential relations? Would you want to know of any potential health problems and health history?
You also need to consider that the results may not be as you expected. Some people have found out that their beloved family stories aren’t true, or that there is a criminal in the family or an illegitimate child in the family tree. Other shocking instances include finding out that their parents are not their biological parents. You need to be sure that you are prepared to discover something that you weren’t expecting.
Genetic DNA testing is possibly the best way to discover your true origins, ethnicity, and genetic blend. In fact, it’s the only way to gain definitive answers.
