Is that AncestryDNA Test Really Worth Purchasing? (Final Draft of Expert Article)

Is that AncestryDNA Test Really Worth Purchasing?

The implications of handing over your DNA to a database

Imagine a scenario in which you’re 22 years old, its Christmas day, and your parents still insist on giving you a stocking stuffed with goodies. Sure, you might find some candy, an ornament, or some gift cards. But did you ever think you would find an AncestryDNA testing kit demanding you to spit into a cup? This company must take me for a fool if it thinks I’m going to leave the comfort of my home and furnish them with some of my saliva. And yeah, you bet I played the role of that fool – I definitely sent the company some of my DNA.

In all seriousness, I have always wanted to try one of these tests out. I wanted to learn more about my family heritage and settle the family debate about whether I have more Swedish or Norwegian roots. And I wondered about other things like how my DNA will be tested and how I can get in touch with some of my DNA matches. These are the questions that I can now successfully answer after using my stocking stuffer from “Santa”.

So, What Does The Entire Process Entail?

I have mapped out the process into four stages:

• Stage one - DNA Collection
• Stage two - DNA Extraction
• Stage three - DNA Analysis
• Stage four - DNA Results

I briefly described stage one in the first paragraph. AncestryDNA sends the testing kit, which includes an instruction manual, an activation code, a DNA collection tube, and a return package. Stage one requires you to activate your unique code online and spit your saliva into the test tube. Then you seal the test tube, place it in the return package, and send it to Ancestry’s testing lab (your purchase even comes with free express shipping, taking about two days to reach the lab.) Also, AncestryDNA allows customers to opt-in for free text messaging and email updates throughout the process. After AncestryDNA receives your DNA, stage two begins. Your sample waits in line behind the other samples that are waiting to be processed. Once the sample reaches the front of the line, your saliva is extracted. Stage three begins and the lab technicians analyze your saliva. Your DNA is measured throughout 700,000 locations of your sample, matching this data to population data from over 350 regions in the word to produce an ethnicity estimate (Ancestry). Finally, once the lab technicians finish analyzing the results, stage four begins. AncestyDNA sends you your ethnicity estimate, and any DNA matches found with other users in the company’s database. AncestryDNA is known for its DNA matching technology, identifying more than 15 million cousin relationships between the years 2012 and 2014 (“AncestryDNA Database Exceeds…”) I will describe these services in more detail in the following section. Here is a screenshot of my ethnicity estimate (I guess I am more Norwegian than I am Swedish – wow)! I Guess It’s Pretty Cool – But How Much Does It Cost And Why Would I Want This Information? Here is a list of various companies’ offerings, with their product names and their prices to give you an idea (not all included): AncestryDNA The AncestryDNA Testing Kit: $99.00 ("How Much Does...") 23andME Ancestry Service Kit: $99.00 Health + Ancestry Service Kit: $199.00 (23andMe) MyHertiageDNA MyHertiageDNA Kit: $79.00 (MyHeritageDNA) Vitagene Health + Ancestry Report: $99.00 Premium Report: $119.00 Vitality Bundle: $199.00 (Vitagene) As you can see, there are many companies and services to choose from. This may be from the recent increased consumer demand and interest. The market is expected to grow from $117 million in 2017 to $611 million by 2026, and Ancestry sold a record number of test kit this past November (Schencker). Also, another firm named Mapmygenome, says that it could have 100 million clients by 2030 (Gray). Some tests also tell a user if he or she has genes that are associated with certain genetic health risks. Other tests give diet reports and fitness information (Schencker, 23andMe, Vitagene). In terms of what AncestryDNA offers, there are three interesting reports and services that you receive: DNA Stories DNA Matches DNA Circles The DNA Stories give you an ethnicity estimate and a timeline of events that your ancestors may have experienced. This section includes migration patterns that your ancestors may have followed, any relevant wars your ancestors may have experienced, and even professions that your ancestors may have had. The DNA Matches section allows you to see which other users share some of your DNA. For example, AncestryDNA found 304 matches using my DNA with people that are my potential first, second, third, or fourth cousins. Once you find these matches, you can take it a step further by messaging them, making a family tree with them, or making a DNA circle with them. Below are two screenshots, the left one showing a second cousin relationship and the right one showing an example of how I have begun to put together my family tree (age crossed out since my parents would be slightly mad for showing). There Have To Be Some Privacy Concerns With This… Right? Of course, there are some risks associated with sharing your DNA. AncestryDNA and 23andMe do business with third-party companies, like R&D departments of pharmaceutical corporations (Gray, Augenstein). The pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline invested $300 million in 23andMe in order to use 23andMe's data to develop new medications (Schencker). Even worse, in 2017 a U.S. Senator advised that these types of companies should be investigated. This is because these companies may not be making it clear to customers that their DNA is being sold to these third-parties (Augenstein). Also, the police put the Golden State Killer’s DNA on a similar website and found a match to his relative. This led to actually identifying the criminal (Schencker). The Big Question: Is It Really Worth It? Everyone has their own boundaries and comfort zones. Your DNA is unique to you and only you. And if you choose not to share this with others, that is perfectly acceptable. But if you’re like me and are curious about where your ancestors came from or you would like to connect with a possible relative, I would highly recommend trying out one of these services. I concur with the majority of people that I have talked to who have recommended and enjoyed this service, and I personally don't mind if my DNA is sold to a third-party (especially if it is for the purpose of advancing the medical field).                                                                       Works Cited 23andMe. "Our Services." 23andMe, https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry/ Ancestry. "How Does An AncestryDNA Test Work?" AncestryDNA, DNA Science, 30 Nov. 2016, https://blogs.ancestry.com/cm/how-does-an-ancestrydna-test-work/ "AncestryDNA Database Exceeds 400,000 Genotyped Members: Leading DNA Service For Family History Evolves Service for Growing Customer Base." NASDAQ OMX'S News Release Distribution Channel, ProQuest, 30 Apr. 2014. Augenstein, Seth. "Senator Calls on FTC to Investigate DNA Ancestry Companies." Bioscience Technology; Rockaway, ProQuest, 27 Nov. 2017. Gray, Kathleen. "Like, Comment, Share: Should You Share Your Genetic Data Online?" Australasian Science; Hawksburn, ProQuest, July/Aug. 2016. “How Much Does An AncestryDNA Test Cost?” AncestryDNA, https://www.ancestry.com/dna/lp/ancestry-dna-cost MyHeritageDNA. “DNA.” MyHeritageDNA, https://www.myheritage.com/dna/ Schencker, Lisa. "Planning to give 23andMe or AncestryDNA kits this Christmas? Read this first." TCA Regional News; Chicago, ProQuest, 14 Sec. 2018. Vitagene. "Shop." Vitagene, https://vitagene.com/shop/