23andMe Review
If you want to explore the very roots of your genealogy, this 23andMe review is more than an adequate place to start. Genetic ancestry testing is a veritable time machine, carrying you far beyond any information your relatives and documentation can provide.
23andMe is a private biotechnology and personal genomics company located in California (Mountain View). It was founded in 2006 by Paul Cusenza, Anne Wojcicki, and Linda Avey. The company’s business model, which focuses on sending tests directly to consumers, was titled invention of the year in 2008 by Time Magazine.
The initial concept was financially backed by giants like Google, New Enterprise Associates, Genentech, and Mohr Davidow Ventures. Keep reading this comprehensive 23andMe review to discover more about this fascinating DNA testing provider.
How 23andMe Works
With 23andMe, the whole procedure is relatively simple. Just visit the 23andMe online shop and order your personal DNA testing kit, which will also contain a unique barcode number. You need to register the number on the website so that your results can be processed and connected to you. You also need to create an account on the 23andMe website. Note that providing your e-mail during the ordering process and registering the code does not constitute an account.
The kit will encompass all the instructions required for a saliva sample collection. Once you’ve collected your DNA sample, you should send it back in the included pre-paid packaging. This basically means the shipment comes in the same box it must be returned in, so do not throw it away. When your results are ready, you will receive an email to inspect them online, through your personal account.
Each DNA testing kit contains:
- 1 plastic shell packaging
- 1 comprehensive instruction manual
- 1 plastic bag for infectious waste disposal
- 1 tube cap
- 1 sample collection tube with a funnel cap attached
Why Choose 23andMe
There are plenty of benefits from using 23andMe. We will focus on the results primarily in order to establish the value offered for the price. Further examination of the test results is reserved for the Results section of this 23andMe review.
Your results will include: obrisati tacke iz bullet points
- Your ancestry composition info, determining the geographic region most closely aligned with your genes.
- Haplogroups, which is a genetic population having a common ancestor. You will discover yours.
- Neanderthal ancestry.
- You will also be granted access to the in-house DNA Relatives Tool, which will show you any potential relatives in their system.
- Detailed reports concerning your health. This part will reveal more about your physical traits from the genetic point of view. This result includes risks for developing certain diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
- Carrier status for genetic mutations.
The short list reported here is just the tip of the iceberg. The complete test holds more than 74 different reports.
The service offered is an extraordinary feat of modern science, yet 23andMe makes it look rather simple from the consumer’s point of view. All the work that ever lands on the consumer comes down to ordering the kit, registering at the website, providing the sample, sending it back, and creating a personal account. This amazing look in the past is made simple like ordering a new pair of shoes.
Tests
There are two separate levels of testing with 23andMe:
- Ancestry Service (99$) – This test is two-pronged. It comprises DNA matches and genetic heritage.
DNA relatives are established in the former part. It’s done by comparing your sample against other testers and revealing matching DNA. For each of the matches, you will receive a probable relation report, alongside the amount of shared DNA. The other primary test determines your genetic heritage. This term shouldn’t be confused with genealogical heritage. The main task of the test is pinpointing where your genes come from.
The test will indicate your ancestry composition by covering more than 150 regions worldwide. Some of the regions included in the percentages are Irish and British, German and French, Western/Southern European, Iberian, Italian, Sardinian, Balkan, Native Americans, Korean, Japanese, and many others. It’ll also take into account 31 genetic populations.
- Health + Ancestry Service (199$) – This option is basically the test above plus health-related genetic health add-ons.
Here, your DNA is thoroughly checked for genes that are known for increasing the chances of certain traits and conditions. It should be noted that having a genetic predisposition for something doesn’t guarantee its actual presentation.
Trait reports are focused on your genetically predisposed physical characteristics. None of these are overly relevant to any of us, but it is nice to see how many of our physical traits are written in our genes, including freckles, eye color, and finger length ratio, bitter taste perception, and earwax type, to name a few.
Keep in mind that these tests are available to people in the US whereas there may be some differences in the company’s offer for other countries.
Understanding The Results
Here is what your test results will feature:
DNA relatives – The matches “excavated” by the DNA relatives part of the basic test can be sorted and searched using relationships, including father’s or mother’s side of the family, surname, number of grandparents with a shared birthplace, and more. These small criteria proved to be quite helpful in quickly determining probable genetic lines.
Every match can be clicked separately, offering information in more detail. You will see common ancestors, common surnames, genetic heritage, and haplogroups. The results depend on how much you have in common with the chosen match. You can also contact the matches through this sheet or choose to share additional information. 23andMe doesn’t feature family tree matches, which would definitely be a welcome addition to this otherwise impressive report count.
The genetic heritage results – These reports are incredibly detailed. The results can be viewed at 4 different levels:
- 90/80/70% conservative
- 50% speculative
Each of the levels will take a guess based on DNA samples collected in certain regions. The match will select your geographical region and compare your DNA with all the samples collected there. A full genome percentage from each area will be built for you after that. To talk in simplified terms, a “painting” of your genes will be made for you. The painting will change as you alternate the viewing level of the results.
If you want a bit clearer picture on the percentages, you can test with your parents and see exactly how much genes come from both of them. That can be your reference point for “translating” other numbers into layman’s terms.
- Ancestry timeline – This report will go a layer deeper and show you where exactly, within your newly discovered ancestry, certain genes come from.
Each ancestry is represented via differently colored bars, which show a pop-up once you hover over them.
- Haplogroups – Female users will receive their maternal haplogroup (male get a paternal one as well).
They are bodies of genes believed to come from a specific ancestor. This should uncover (in theory) the origin point of the first humans that carried your genetic line (paternal and maternal).
- Neanderthal DNA – The ultimate segment of the heritage section offers insight into the neanderthal variations of your gene pool. For a better grasp of that number, you’re also privy to comparative information of all the 23andMe testers.
You’ll see your genetic predispositions for having straight hair, as well as factors influencing height, sneeze reflex at dark chocolate, and the possibility of back hair.
Genetic health results (a 100$ bonus) – It specifies your genetic “exposure” to 41 carriers of health conditions, 7 wellness, and 19 trait results.
Research
23andMe actively contributes to the acceleration of science. It does that by beckoning its users to share their results in the interest of science. By participating in the research, you are fueling various genetic studies being done at universities.
Every instance of the research efforts is governed by the IRB (Institutional Review Board), which makes sure everything goes according to ethical norms and government regulations. Everything about user-participation is conducted online, so being part of an important research such as this has never been easier.
Privacy And Security
In this section, our 23andMe review will answer some of the most burning questions regarding the safety of your sensitive information:
- Anonymous genotyping – You can use a pseudonym up until the point of registration, when you will have to provide your real name. However, your personal information is stored independently from your genetic material
- Protection – 23andMe uses SSL technology encryption in accordance with modern industry and technological standards.
- Sharing with third parties – 23andMe will never disclose any self-reported or individual genetic information unless it receives your consent. However, it will use your data as a part of aggregated information.
Shipping And Handling
The site features a list of countries eligible for receiving shipments from 23andMe. If your country is not on the list, there is nothing you can do to incur their services. Single test kits can be shipped with both standard and express methods. Multiple orders are shipped automatically by express international courier.
Return shipping includes meticulous FedEx instructions, packaging, export documentation, and a pre-paid bill for air transport. International shipping fee includes customs duties, unless you live in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Belarus or Moldova, in which case the recipient handles the customs duties.
Bottom Line
“Stirring up” the past in this manner might seem inconsequential, but we hope this 23andMe review put some important things into perspective.
Reliable genetic heritage info will show your eligibility for some of the conditions mentioned above. You’ll uncover unknown relatives and the geographical roots of your genes. Additionally, you will be in the unique position of helping modern medicine grow even further. Times long gone still hold the keys of our advancement as a species. One would dare say we can only build our future by looking into the past.
The Family Tree algorithm is broken. I have been hung up on several times when calling, or left on hold for hours when asking to speak to a supervisor. When I ask for a refund I have been immediately hung up on. The customer service is terrible. The only reason I bought the product was for the Family Tree. It crashed and was down for weeks, and when it came back it was wrong.
I first found this through the one and only Dr. Ben Lynch who specializes and is the pioneer in the study of our Methylation system. I got a wealth of information regarding my MTRR mutation and explains why my B12 was always so incredibly low.
Also, I found a mutation in which 60% of Vitamin A can not be absorbed which answers the question of “why my eyes are deteriorating” and my skin doesn’t heal very well.
Lastly, I received an email letting me know that they added a new gene test called the APOE mutation which detects and rates Alzheimer’s disease and its alleles. My mother passed from Alzheimer’s and it’s still alarming to me that I have APOE 4 and APOE3 alleles. YIKES! Time to be super Proactive in my diet and lifestyle.
23andme also couples with Ben Lynch with Stratagene, an amazingly easy to read break down of all your problematic SNPs.
Thank you so very much for everything, I got everything I needed to know and more.
After my stepfather passed away as he was the only father who I knew growing up I did the 23andme DNA to see if I had family or cousins on my real fathers side. I was shocked to learn I had so many people related to me. Everyone was so excited at first but then that faded very fast. Then I found 1st cousins and was great but then they did not bother to talk with me and realized I was not welcomed on my real fathers side. I am all by myself now since no one cares about me.
It’s a shame that people just don’t care if they hurt a person. All I can say is you may be hurt by others but doing the 23andme DNA sure was great.
You’re never alone. And I bet you someone does and will care about you, no matter what. Blood doesn’t make them family. Chin up
So sorry to hear of your experience. I want you to know that sadly, I know exactly how you feel and have seen this with most people everywhere. It’s a people thing! I know how much it hurts but trust me it’s not you!! Learn to love yourself.
Listen, going into a fragile situation like that is hard to navigate and handle. My boy friend is adopted and I want him to do a test so we are researching what to do. He is no desire to interact with his family of origin but we are having a baby in April and I want to know his health background so we can help the baby the most we can and I’m hoping to at some point we can get in touch with his family of origin too. But who knows! You would think he would want to since his adopted family completely acts like he doesn’t exist they don’t call or talk at all. Kinda fucked up of them! Don’t adopt if you don’t want to raise a child with love and acceptance.
I did the 23andme test and I found it simple to perform and easy to read the results.
After submitting my saliva, it took about 4 weeks to process. I did this around the Christmas holiday, so they were perhaps running a little slower than they would during the summer.
I didn’t expect to see any “family secrets” revealed, so that wasn’t a reason for me to take the test. However, my results DID reveal a family secret: my Aunt is my half-aunt. Whoops! So even if you don’t expect to see family secrets, remember that you might reveal one.
I wish the 23andme web site would pool “matching relatives” into groups so I can more easily determine which side of the family all the relative matches are from. Sure, it’d be easy if I had my entire family take the test, but many are deceased. And with a surprise half-aunt in the picture, I don’t want to ask anyone.
My daughter bought me this test and I was amazed (to say the least) to learn of my origins! It looks like I’m mostly from Europe. Fascinating!
23 and me is the best DNA testing company there is. I love researching my ancestry and did a couple of tests with other famous companies – my experience with 23 and me has been the best so far. Apart from learning a lot about my heritage, I also received a health report – this is something only 23 and me provides. The test gives great value for the money spent and I plan on buying it as a Christmas gift to my family.
This has been an amazing experience. I learned so much and had a lot of fun along the way. Thank you!