Whether you are looking for information about your genetic predisposition for diseases, information about your family history, or even a breakdown of your ethnicity, DNA tests can offer exactly what you need to find all of this out. However, not all DNA tests are created equal. Because of this, we are here to discuss the pros and cons of several of the top DNA testing kits offered by various companies.
How Do DNA Kits Work?
Most of the DNA kits that are currently available to purchase work in an extremely similar fashion. First you order the kit on the company website, then you must register whichever kit you buy, you send your sample in, and then you wait for the results.
The differences in DNA kits will usually be between the method of collection, the price, and the cost of shipping. However, you may notice that some kits provide testing for specific aspects of your DNA that other kits do not provide.
Types of Results
There are three basic types of results that could be included in your kit. Most of the major kits you can order from websites online will offer a package that includes all of the results. We will talk a little bit more about that in a bit.
You should get an email from the company when they have finished processing your sample. Most people do not have the kind of dramatic experience that you see on television, but it is still fun to see your results.
An important piece of information that you may not know: genetic testing is different for men and women. Men can actually receive a more fulfilled family history than women. This is due to the presence of a Y chromosome which allows DNA to trace their paternal history. Women cannot access a paternal history unless a male family member agrees to do testing for her or link it to her.
The top contenders for DNA testing all provide you with details about your ethnic background, visual maps of where your ancestors may have lived and moved, and information about each of the countries you may have DNA from. You can see what’s offered in this My Heritage DNA review.
You may be surprised to learn where all of your DNA could be coming from. However, it is important to note that there may be a degree of falsity that could be presented through these results. These are not 100% accurate all the time, but are the best guess at where your DNA comes from.
All of the main competitors in the DNA market allow you to search for possible relatives based on your DNA results. This is one of the many reasons that people love using these services. The major platform that can be built using DNA testing is truly amazing.
If you are interested in building your family tree, then this feature is especially useful. However, many people who are looking for birth parents, missing family members, or history are also able to find it useful. These services are considered secure and do not share information with anyone else. This is crucial when choosing which platform you use.
Other results will talk about your genetic disposition for developing certain diseases. On the flip side, these results can also tell you how likely you are to excel at certain sports or games. The results seem endless and are truly fascinating at times.
Plenty of people have been able to use their DNA results to improve their overall picture of health and maintain a healthier lifestyle. Your genetics can clue you into factors that could be prohibiting weight loss. This information alone can give you the knowledge to overcome that particular obstacle.
Final Thoughts
There are a lot of factors to consider when you are choosing which DNA kit is the best one for your situation. Your first step should probably be to determine which type of results are most interesting to you and that will help to guide your choice on which DNA kit is best. There are a lot of good features for each of the possibilities on the market.
