DNA Testing Kits Overview

Today, we’re looking at three of the most popular kits and letting you know what to expect.

21:33 20 April 2020

With so many options to pick from, it’s hard to determine which one is the best dna testing kit for you.

These tests are gaining popularity but there are also more choices now than ever before.

How It Works

Most DNA Tests work through a process known as autosomal testing. Autosomal testing looks at a number of pairs of chromosomes to come up with distant relative matching as well as your “ethnic mix” seen in the fancy-looking graphics that have percentages for each of your country of origins.

Some tests also use mtDNA which tracks the lineage on your mother’s side and Y-DNA is based on the Y chromosome which is related to the father’s lineage. Y-DNA can only be used if you are a male, although females can sometimes submit their family’s data to use Y-DNA. These tests are quite strong and can go more than 20 generations back into the past.

23andMe

Starting off with 23andMe, one of the most popular DNA testing kits out there. It’s for good reason because they offer probably the most comprehensive tests on the marketplace. They are able to offer a health and wellness screening that many other companies can’t offer. The health and wellness aspect has been approved by the FDA so it’s a legit test that could be beneficial for you if you are already interested in your DNA. The health test gives you great info about different kind of health risks or traits that may run in your family.

23andMe is available in a lot of different places and can even be found in Target or on Amazon online. It’s a great choice for those looking for a comprehensive test that can give them tons of information and keep your info secure.

AncestryDNA

AncestryDNA is a well-known DNA kit due to their pie chart results and because of their great work at delving into people’s family trees.

To use AncestryDNA, you fill a tube with spit and will then have to wait anywhere from 6-8 weeks.

AncestryDNA has a huge DNA database that means that your results are going to be accurate no matter who you are. Unfortunately, many of their features are behind a subscription which is inconvenient.

tellmeGen

tellmeGen is another DNA testing kit that focuses on the health and medical condition aspect of testing. They’re very transparent about what they tell you and do a thorough job of telling you about the medical problems you may have based on your DNA. There’s no way to connect with your relatives with tellmeGen which is a let down for some.

When using tellmeGen, you get a health map that has 4 parts including inherited conditions, traits, and how your body reacts to certain medicines.

For those looking for less of the “ancestry” aspect and more of the medical, this is probably your best shot at taking a deep dive and truly understanding the results you get back.