23andMe DNA Test Home Kit + Exciting Ancestry & Health Results

Have you ever wondered about your family history? I have always been curious about my DNA and what it would reveal. Do I have a high probability of getting some rare disorder when I am older? Do I have Native American ancestry like my grandfather always claimed? Here’s what I found out with the 23andMe DNA Test Home Kit, and how you can learn about your genetics makeup too!

DNA Test Home Kit

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Single Edition Media.

DNA Testing at Home

The process was surprisingly simple. You order a 23andMe DNA test home kit, it arrives in the mail, you fill a tube up with your saliva, close the tube, shake it, then send it back to the company in the pre-labeled box provided. Next, the company will analyze the DNA at their CLIA-certified lab and send you 65+ online reports about your genetics. The company says it takes 6-8 weeks to get results, but it only took roughly 3 weeks for me to get an email saying my results were in. I like that I could track the progress online through their website.

About My Results

We eagerly awaited my results, so once I got the email my wife and I went through the results. There are 4 report categories:  Ancestry, Carrier Status, Traits, and Wellness. My main interest in trying this kit was to determine my ancestry. In the reports section you not only get that information, but you also get your Haplogroups, and Neanderthal Ancestry. I found that I have 0% Native American blood, which was surprising to me because of my grandfather’s claims. I am 99.7% European. The majority of my ancestry comes from Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, and Scandinavia. I also found that I am .1% Yakut, which makes a lot of sense to me because my one of my uncle’s shares some of their unique features, so much so that the other siblings teased him for being the “milk man’s son.” 😉 One thing that I found fascinating is that I have more Neanderthal variants than 98% of 23andMe customers.

The carrier status report can also help you determine if you are a carrier for specific rare diseases. These diseases might not be impacting you because you are a carrier, but they could be passed down to your children, so this could be a very eye-opening report for those of us that are carriers to diseases such as, Cystic Fibrosis, Hereditary Fructose Intolerance, Salla Disease, Sick Cell Anemia, or Usher Syndrome types 1F and 3A.  According to my report, I was not a carrier for the 41 potential health risks tested by the 23andME DNA test.

The traits report shows you how specific genetic variants can influence you characteristics and attributes. For example, if you are more likely to prefer salty or savory snacks. I never knew my genetics played a role in that decision. You can also learn about your facial features, whether you are likely to have hair loss, or a bald spot. The majority of the men on my dad’s side are bald, so I am very thankful that this test said I have an 87% probability to not develop a bald spot. I will take those odds.

The final report is wellness, which discusses your sleep habits, muscle composition, lactose intolerance, caffeine consumption, deep sleep, and sleep movement among other items. Before I had this test done I knew I moved a lot in my sleep because my wife is always telling me to stay still, but now I can just say it’s not me it’s my genetics. 😉

It’s more than just a DNA test

One of the coolest parts about becoming a member of 23andMe is that you can actually find relatives based on your results. *Your information remains private unless you choose to share. Based on my results it shows that I have 1,433 people who share a particular DNA segment with me. Reading the reviews, this program has helped some to find half brothers and sisters among other relatives. I also like the fact that you can go on their forum and discuss your results with other enthusiasts.

I do want to mention that Jen also took the test, but unfortunately after two attempts to collect DNA from her saliva, it was unsuccessful. Some people just don’t have enough DNA in their saliva. Pretty strange, right? If that does happen, 23andMe offers a full refund after two attempts. You can read more about why some samples fail here.

Want to know what your DNA says about you?

If you are interested in learning more information about your genetics, then 23andMe will provide that and more! I have found my DNA test home kit results not only surprising, but also very helpful in determining why I am who I am and where I come from.