DNA genealogy testing is a great way to learn about yourself and your family. It can tell you where in the world your ancestors were from, how long ago they may have lived there, how many generations back it goes, who their siblings were, and more.
DNA testing is an advantage because it helps you discover lost relatives who might not even know each other exist.
You can also discover living relatives that you have never met before, (such as grandparents or great-aunts, uncles, and cousins as well).
Please read on as I discuss these advantages and more behind DNA testing.
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1. Uncover genetic medical issues
DNA genealogy testing is a great way to learn more about your genetic history. This can be a real advantage when it comes to medical concerns such as hereditary diseases or conditions like celiac disease or heart disease.
Diabetes is a disease that can run in the family too. It may or may not be genetic, but it is always best to consult a diabetes specialist doctor if you are suffering from it.
2. Can help uncover your ethnic origins
One of the biggest advantages of DNA genealogy testing is that it helps you uncover your ethnic origins.
Not only can you discover where your ancestors originated from, but you can also uncover the migration patterns of your ancestors.
When people think about their family history, they often focus on where they were born and raised.
But it is also important to remember that each generation prior to them has a story as well.
It may not be as exciting or dramatic as yours, but each ancestor will have had a different life experience than you did growing up, (even if they once lived in the same city or town as you do now.
DNA testing can help fill in those gaps by telling you where certain ancestors came from before emigrating, and even which other countries they might have visited along the way.
3. Less expensive than traditional genealogical research
The most common type of DNA test, autosomal DNA testing, costs around $100-$200 per person.
This price will include the cost of shipping your sample to a lab and receiving your results back, (typically about 6-8 weeks), but can be as little as two weeks.
You can also purchase kits that include both an ancestry report and health information for around $299 per kit, (though you may need additional tests if you want more detailed results).
If you are interested in finding out more about your family history through DNA, but don’t want all the details about yourself that are included in these types of reports, there are other options available at lower prices too.
It is believed that being overweight is genetic, and this may be why two siblings, or cousins can be obese at the same time.
So, it is worth considering spending a little more money on getting the best diet plan for weight loss.
Following such a plan will prevent you from suffering from many health issues.
4. More accurate than old-fashioned paper documents
DNA tests are usually more accurate than old-fashioned paper documents and family stories when it comes to proving kinship or someone’s legitimacy as an heir.
The reason for this is that DNA testing can be performed on both sides of the family tree.
Traditional genealogical records, (birth, marriage, and death certificates for example), may only kept by one side of the family.
If you want to prove that you are related to someone then there’s no better way than matching up your DNA with theirs, (or at least part of it).
5. It’s easier to test your DNA online
DNA testing is easier than ever. In the past, you had to send in a sample of your saliva, or blood, and wait for results. This process could take months to complete.
Now you can test your DNA online and get your results back in less than two weeks.
If you don’t want to wait for a kit from 23andMe, or AncestryDNA, (or if they don’t offer one for your ancestry), there are other options for testing at home:
- Family Tree DNA offers a variety of tests ranging from $79-$199 depending on which one you choose. They also offer free kits if you purchase one of their premium-level subscriptions ($49/month). This gives you access to more features and information about how certain populations are related–and it unlocks access to their database where customers can search others with similar ethnic backgrounds who have tested themselves through FTDNA as well
- MyHeritage recently launched its own DNA test service called MyHeritage DNA Pro ($79) which includes both mtDNA and Y-chromosome tests along with autosomal markers like 23andMe’s Ancestry Composition Report
And you know what else is easier to get online?
Your daily dose of multivitamins from any online supplement store. Don’t ever forget about your health, in the chaos of everyday life.
6. Help you discover lost relatives
Your DNA results will be entered into a database, along with many, many other people, (even millions of people).
Of course, this means that they must have purchased their DNA testing kit from the same company, (i.e. Ancestry).
You will therefore be able to search for relatives who have also tested their DNA and uploaded it into the same database.
There are many different companies that offer these services, (some of which I have discussed above), but they all principally work basically the same way.
- You sign up with a company and give them permission to use your genetic information in their databases.
- Then when other people who have also signed up with that company upload their own genetic information, their results will show up on your family tree as possible matches, if there is enough overlap between each other’s family trees.
If connecting with long-lost relatives appeals to you then there are two factors that you must consider:
- How much does it cost?
- What kind of results should I expect?
7. Helps identify the remains and relatives of missing persons
DNA testing can also be used to identify the remains and relatives of missing persons or victims of a disaster or accident.
A prime example of this is the identification of World War II servicemen who were buried as unknowns in American cemeteries across Europe.
Many remains have now been identified thanks to using DNA samples from their surviving family members.
DNA genealogy tests are also being used in criminal investigations across the globe, including cases involving murders and sexual assaults.
In 2017, a man named Joseph James DeAngelo was arrested for being suspected of committing 12 homicides and 50 rapes over four decades.
His arrest was due to his DNA being matched with a sample found at one crime scene. All because he was interested in his heritage and thus supplied Ancestry DNA with a sample of his DNA.
8. Test multiple family members at once and compare results
One of the most exciting aspects of DNA genealogy testing is that you can test multiple family members at once and then compare results.
This can make it easier to determine if two people are related, how closely they are related, and in what way (such as first cousins or second cousins).
Although such testing can uncover revelations as well. Such as your family member not actually being family at all.
9. Saves endangered species by tracing their lineage back to original founders
Genetic genealogy allows for better conservation of endangered species by tracing their lineage back to original founders through their genes, (if those genes are available).
Of course, we are talking about the animal kingdom here.
In the case of tigers, genetic testing has allowed scientists to determine that there are four subspecies: Siberian and Amur tigers, South China tigers, Bengal tigers, and Indochinese tigers.
The goal is to bring back all these populations from near extinction using advanced reproductive technology.
10. Save having to hire someone
DNA genealogy testing has a lot of advantages as we have learned so far.
The ultimate advantage though is that conducting DNA genealogy testing yourself will mean that you can save money, a lot of money in fact.
Rather than hire a professional genealogist you can uncover the following by yourself:
- Your ancestors’ birthplace, and the path of their migration.
- Find living relatives who share a common ancestor with you, which is called DNA matching.
DNA testing is therefore a very powerful tool for a family historian. It can help anyone who has encountered a brick wall in their family history journey.
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I hope you enjoyed this guide discussing ten advantages of DNA genealogy testing. If you have any questions or comments please leave a comment below.
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