This is the second post in a series about my getting my DNA tested through 23andMe. Read Part 1 here.
I got the first part of my DNA results earlier this week. As soon as the email of “Your Results Are Ready” popped into my inbox, I started screaming with excitement! I rushed over to 23andMe, logged in, and began exploring.
I decided to go through the menu on the left one-by-one. I started with the health section. My overview showed a preview of each of the four subsections of health: Disease Risks, Carrier Status, Traits, and Drug Response. I was surprised to learn that I have an elevated risk of four different diseases. One of those diseases was lung cancer – which is interesting because no one that I know of has ever gotten lung cancer in my family. But then again, since my mom was adopted by her biological aunt and I have no clue who the biological father is, perhaps the lung cancer risk is something I got from his side? Hmm. The good news is that my risk for coronary heart disease is decreased – by about 10% than the average risk.
Looking at the Carrier Status section, I was pleased to learn that I am not a carrier for all 47 diseases and disorders that they test for. Whew!
The traits section was really cool. Little things like my earwax type (wet – in case you were wondering) and my hair curl (curlier than usual) were things that I already knew. One thing that really caught my eye was Smoking Behavior – the result was that if I was a smoker, I’d be more likely to smoke. [On a side note, when I shared this particular result with my dad, he chuckled a bit and then, in his most serious tone, told me he’d kick my butt all the way to China if I ever touch a cigarette.] Other cool listings in this section include things like Photic Sneeze Reflex (which I have a higher odds of having), Resistance for HIV/AIDS, Tooth Development, Odor Detection, and Asparagus Metabolite Detection (I have a higher odds of detecting).
Finally, I started to explore the drug response section. This section shows various prescription drugs and the status of your sensitivity to those drugs. For example, it shows that I have a reduced risk to responding to Hepatitis C treatment [note to self: don’t get Hepatitis C]. It also showed that I have a higher sensitivity to the blood thinner Warafin. I also learned that I have a higher risk of heroin dependence. [Side note: When I shared that information with my dad, he started going off about how if I even *think* about using heroin, he’ll kick my butt much farther than China.]
When I went to explore the Relative Finder section, I was disappointed to find that those results were not yet ready but would be ready in about a week. This was a huge disappointment because the email that indicated my results were ready did not mention that only half of my results were there. As a genealogist, this was what I was looking forward to most. I know that 23andMe isn’t a company that works exclusively with genealogists, but it should be a bit more clear in the email that only half of the results are in.
In the next post, I will discuss my Maternal Haplogroup (which is visible in this first batch of results) and what I find in the Relative Finder. Stay tuned for Part 3!
[Disclosure: I received a complimentary 23andMe DNA test in exchange for a review of my experiences on my blog. My opinions, however, are truthful and not swayed at all by the fact that the test was complimentary.]