Have you ever thought of doing an ancestry DNA testing? Are you confused about the whole thing? Maybe you want to know how it will go, if it is right for you, or if it’s not. All this can be perplexing, but we are here to help.
In this article, we will be discussing the major pros and cons of ancestry DNA testing. Let’s start right away.
The Advantages
- Helps to confirm the family tree
Have you ever felt that you are related to someone, and word around has it that you are, but then you don’t have enough information to prove this? In most cases, it can be difficult to verify if this is true or not because you don’t have anything to back your facts.
But when you take a DNA test, you will stand a better chance to know if that person is your relative or not. When you get your results back, you can check the DNA matches and the family tree to be sure of all your relatives. Maybe you want to prove you are related to someone famous? You also get to know who your biological father was and even solve an old family mystery that has lasted for over 100 years.
With a DNA test, you can have answers to all these questions and mysteries. Always ensure that you find a good DNA testing kit https://www.thetop10sites.com/dna-testing/23andme/ to give you accurate results.
- You get to know where your ancestors lived/originated from
An ancestry DNA testing company will usually offer something known as an ethnicity estimate. This is also called an ancestry composition. Generally, it is a basic estimate of where your ancestors might have lived. This would go back even several hundred years. But the best part of all is that you will know where your ancestors lived and where they came from.
These estimates help you know what percentage you are in all your ancestors. As the general rule of thumb, you will inherit 50% of DNA from your father, and 50% from your mother. This testing is beneficial because it gives you information about your ancestors, which can give you some sense of ownership.
- You can find your living relatives
Through DNA testing, you can easily find all your blood relatives that are alive. It is always a nice feeling to know that you have a family member out there, who is alive and kicking. The only problem is that you cannot just walk out and point them in the field. Even if you find a look-alike, it doesn’t always mean that you are related. The only way to know if you are related to someone is through a DNA testing kit.
When you do the test, the DNA testing company will then match your results with another person. This way, you can easily know if you have any cousins out there or even siblings. Either way, DNA testing can help people find parents, siblings, children, aunts, nephews, nieces, uncles, and cousins that you never knew you had.
- You will have some knowledge about your family
Not only does the DNA testing help you to find your family and even know about your ancestors. Rather, they also help you to learn something about your family. You will know your ancestry and see what you share in common with other people out there. Through DNA testing, you will even know if there was a specific talent in your family.
For instance, you can find out that some of your ancestors were sportspeople or they were into music. This way, it can help you to rediscover your talent and even continue something that you feel should go on from where your ancestors left.
DNA testing goes beyond ancestral trivia and connects you to vital health information. It is also possible to learn about any hereditary genetic conditions with this DNA test, which could prove essential for preventative health measures or lifestyle adjustments. Early detection of genetic predispositions can lead to better management of potential health risks.
- It is cheaper than hiring a genealogist
If you were thinking of hiring a genealogist to dig up your generation and find out about your ancestors or other living relatives, you’d end up paying anything between $2000 and $5000 for that. Unfortunately, you might not get enough information or who you thought was your relative is not. This can be painful especially after spending that much money. But with a DNA testing kit, you can pay as low as $100, and you will have every detail that you might need. If things don’t turn out as you expected, you won’t have lost much.
You can also find reliable providers offering DNA testing in Nashville and other cities at a fraction of the cost. Just make sure to research and compare different companies before making a decision.
The Disadvantages
- Some family secrets can be unbearable
Even though it is good to know about your ancestors and where they came from, it might be uncomfortable and unbearable to find out about some family secrets. Whether it is the good, the bad, or the ugly, the family DNA testing will give you everything. Even if your ancestor was a most-wanted criminal or he murdered hundreds of people, you can’t change that fact. However, living with such information can be unsettling.
- It might be too advanced for some people
The truth of the matter is that DNA testing technology is relatively new. It hasn’t been around for too long. As a result, not everyone is accustomed to the new technology. This means that some people are finding it challenging to use these testing kits. Factually, there is a lot to learn about DNA kit testing. Plus, the DNA testing companies release updates to their estimates and platforms occasionally. This becomes more challenging to those that are still learning something.
But really, it is never too difficult to use a DNA testing kit. It is easy to use the DNA testing kit because the company doesn’t require too much information from you.
- It can be ‘expensive’ to some people
Some people deem DNA testing kits luxury and not a necessity. For that, they think it is too costly to learn about their past through the DNA testing companies. Unfortunately, this service is not available for free. You have to pay some fee for you to get the results of your DNA. However, you can also look at the cost as a contribution to science, as once you do get your ancestry results from one company, there are also places where you can upload raw DNA data in order for researchers to use it in the pursuit of cures to diseases.
So, it seems like the DNA testing kits do have some limitations. But if you take a good look, you will notice that they are very beneficial. Even if you may not like the history of your ancestors, the fact remains that they are part of your family. Also, they are cheaper than hiring a professional genealogist.
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