Make the Most of Your DNA Test
In recent years, a cultural phenomenon around unlocking the secrets held within our DNA has taken the world by storm - and many people regard the findings of DNA results with an almost religious enthusiasm.
This ardour most likely lies in the fact that our DNA provides people with the means for answering questions about where we come from.
The more that technology and science advance, the more we can find out about ourselves from the comfort of our own homes. We no longer need to go to a lab or have the equivalent set up in our kitchens to analyse our DNA - personalised medicine does the work for us.
This ease of access means that anybody can experience the exhilaration of getting their DNA results; we all have the equal opportunity to learn information about ourselves that we may not have the chance to otherwise; whether we may have unknown family connections, interesting ancestral lineage, or even inherited risk factors to our health.
Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the wealth of potential information that they have in their hands - as well as what they can do with it. Instead, they may let their results sit and gather dust instead of pursuing further analysis. However, taking one more step with your DNA results can truly unlock the secret to who you are and where you come from.
What can you find out through an initial DNA test?
Genetic testing studies your DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) - the hereditary material that we all carry in our cells. Most of our DNA can be found in the nucleus of the cells, but more can be located in the mitochondria. Essentially, DNA is the chemical structure that provides your body with instructions on how to function.
Over thirty million people have gotten their DNA tested. The majority of DNA testing companies tailor their services to people’s curiosities around ancestry, relatedness, and medical concerns, but there has also been a recent surge of interest in the area of health and fitness.
However, there are also a number of other reasons why someone might decide to get an initial DNA test; for example, understanding how to get the most out of your genetics for health purposes, finding out the best foods for our genetic makeup, what form of exercise to do based on our genetics, and how to help your sleep patterns.
We’re such strong believers in the power of our genetics that a recent study conducted at Stanford University found that when researchers simply informed people of certain genetic predispositions for specific characteristics (regardless of whether the individual had the predisposition or not), that this actually caused these individuals to act accordingly to their newfound traits. Because they believed that their genetics predetermined their behaviour, they altered their actions accordingly. This effect isn’t to suggest that our genetics don’t have a significant impact on our traits - of course, they do - but it also demonstrates our vested interest in understanding our specific history and characteristics beyond what we can find out through personal or familial means.
However, surprisingly, once people get their DNA results, most of them just stop there - they don’t realise that there is a wealth of information available at their fingerprints: their raw DNA data.
Why it’s Important to Take Your Results One Step Further
It’s possible to purchase ancestry DNA kits from a wide range of different testing companies. The results of such tests provide people with knowledge regarding their heritage. However, such findings tend to oversimplify people’s rich and varied histories as most modern populations are diverse mixes of more ancient civilisations.
Therefore, although most companies that offer DNA testing permit their users to download their raw DNA data, many people stop at this point as they believe that further analysis of these intricate data sets can only be done by genetic experts or else would require a lot of money. Thankfully, this is no longer the case.
With My True Ancestry, you can learn more about your unlocked potential and family history from your raw data set and even discover information about your ancient ancestors. For example, you may find out that you’re related to the Ancient Egyptians, a Viking warrior, the gladiators of ancient Rome, or another ancient and influential civilisation.
What My True Ancestry Can Offer
Although modern DNA analysis can be instrumental in helping you to understand your genetics and how it may link you to certain modern populations, or in figuring out how to make the most out of your health and fitness, My True Ancestry permits a deeper dive into your history by allowing you to compare yourself against ancient DNA. This form of analysis enables you a more rich, comprehensive, and layered representation of who you are as a person - it’s your personal link to the past.
Our genome might not be the answer to everything about who we are as individuals, but it certainly can help us to build a deeper understanding of our genetic blueprint and how it can influence our actions and behaviours.
If you would like My True Ancestry’s support when further analysing your raw DNA, then our techniques are compatible with Nebula Genomics, Date Labs, Ancestry, 23andMe, My Heritage, Family Tree DNA, and LivingDNA. Our basic analysis is free, so there’s nothing stopping you from delving deeper into who you are. After all, how thrilling would it be to discover that you’re distantly related to a fearsome and influential historical civilisation from many centuries ago?
Start your free journey now.
