Ever wondered what your ancestry truly is or if you might be carrying an extremely rare gene? If so, you might want to get your DNA sequenced.
If you are indeed interested in learning more about your genes and having your DNA tested, there are many different options available for you that will even ship direct-to-customer. Getting your DNA tested not only gives you valuable information about your health, it will also reveal things about your ancestry that you didn’t know before.
Keep in mind that direct-to-consumer personal genetics services is against the law in New York and Maryland, so your test results will not be able to be shipped to those states. Here are some of the top DNA testing services you can find. Though whether you decide to get your DNA tested or not, it’s recommended that you consult a genetic counselor or a physician before making any medical decisions.
1. 23andMe
23andMeis one of the most well-known DNA testing services out there and it starts by getting you to order a spit kit for $99. The Personal Genome Service is then sent to your home, and once you receive it, you spit into the container that’s included. You then mail back your saliva, and the results take about six to eight weeks to be processed. After you have completed the whole test, you can check the company’s relative finder as well as knowing about your disease or other health risks.
2. deCODE Genetics
Interestingly, deCODE Genetics is based out of Iceland and more than half a million people’s genetic information is stored in its database. This company isn’t cheap — it charges $1,100 to sequence about 1 million single-nucleotide plymorphisms (SNPs).
3. Gene by Gene
Gene-by-Gene offers a variety of different tests that range quite dramatically in price depending on which test you take. There’s the non-legal DNA profile which is $195 and the forensic-infidelity test that costs $950. The company offers tests for different circumstances, like the “Twin-Zygosity”, “Paternity Peace of Mind” and “Complex Family Reconstruction.”
4. Gene Planet
Gene Planet recommends people to use its services to people with family histories of certain diseases, people who take medication regularly and those who want to change their diets. The €499, UK-based company wishes to spread the knowledge of preventable diseases.
5. DNA Ancestry
A new service from the famous lineage website Ancestry.com, the $99 DNA test focuses on your family’s heritage. While other sites focus on health and potential genetic diseases, DNA Ancestry focuses on family origin. And it’s popular, too as the database boasts about 10 billion entries and 34 million family trees!
Featured Image: DepositPhotos/nenovbrothers
Posted on May 22, 2023