Broaden Your Genealogy Horizons With DNA Testing
Sarah Hoggatt
Have you been wondering where your ancestors are from? You’ve probably heard family stories of why people migrated from one country to another. Perhaps they sailed to America from Ireland during the potato famine, escaped Poland on foot during the Jewish pogroms, or moved to Pennsylvania from England to help with the colony. Still, you’d like more information. Personally, I know I’m part English, Scottish, and Native American; I’ve also heard we have family from France, Germany, and Denmark, but I would love to have certainty.
The DNA test kit I got from Ancestry.com
To find out, I’ve been considering having a DNA test done. Due to technological advances in recent years, this kind of test is simple and relatively inexpensive. Most people go through one of three main companies - FamilyTree.com, Ancestry.com, and 23andMe.com, all costing $99. The one you have test your DNA depends on what you’re looking for: medical information, cousin matches, or country of origin information. Opinions vary widely about which one is best and the information changes as the companies develop their databases. I decided to go with Ancestry.com as my main interests are countries of origin and possible family matches. 23andMe.com would also have been a good choice for this. Some people eventually test with all three companies.
Having your DNA tested is a simple process. You order the kit and when it comes, you fill a tube with your saliva and mix it with a DNA stabilizer held in the cap. You then register the kit online and drop it in the mail to be analyzed. A few weeks later, they send you your results. I’m looking forward to getting the information and finally finding out where my family comes from.
If you’ve also been thinking of having your DNA tested, wanting to know where your family is from, here are the websites to order the kit:
There may just be something that surprises you. I’m hoping for something that surprises me.