When I used to attend history class, I always used to think about what happened to my ancestors. Due to this, I started looking for different ways to satisfy my thirst for ancestral knowledge. I came across genetic testing, which helps determine my ancestry. As it is a complex process, I wanted to know about the pros and cons, before going ahead with my decision.
What Pros And Cons Should I Consider Before Having A Genetic Test To Determine My Ancestry?
Everybody wants to trace back their roots to their ancestors, as the past has answers to numerous questions about their current lives. As genetic testing is a complex and personal choice, it comes with a variety of advantages and disadvantages.
Prerequisite
Before asking the licensed medical practitioner to conduct a genetic test, you should be aware of what you want to achieve with its results. For example, you want to know which area your ancestors came from, understand the likeliness and risks of getting various diseases or determining the truth about your paternity, are some of the reasons to get a genetic test.
The next question is to find out if the company’s results meet your requirements. In other words, the test results should give you adequate amounts of information to satisfy all your doubts. If the results of the test are negative, who will get in touch with you to relay this information. Also, you should have a game plan on how to deal with the situation, if the results are negative.
Pros
As you get clues about the origins of your ancestors, it gives you the opportunity to live life with authenticity.
If you find distant relatives after taking the test, the company allows you to contact them. With effective communication, you can find out the truth about your relationship, along with common ancestors.
It allows you to build your family tree, with resources from Ancestry, 23andMe.
Cons
One disadvantage of getting a genetic test is that you may have to deal with a variety of personal problems. For instance, you may find out that you have different biological parent/parents. As a result of this, you can feel delusional, as you can’t believe people withheld the truth. Also, you may find out that you have another sibling, which can cause strains in your existing relationships.
You won’t get complete information about your great-grandparents, such as the color of their eyes or their occupation as it only gives you clues. In this case, you will have to opt for genealogical research with various companies.
Sometimes, the test results tend to be inaccurate, as the company don’t have a large database. Due to this reason, you will have more questions at the end of the test, than the ones you had in the start.
Depersonalized Genetic Information
The medical industry is resorting to depersonalized genetic information so that they can determine the risk of hereditary diseases. If you are given the opportunity to be a participant in the bio bank, it is better to accept the offer, as it is beneficial for your community and family members. Also, when you are part of such a programme, they will anonymize your results, before combing it with other outcomes.