Science has come so far over the years. It’s so fascinating what we can learn from our DNA with a simple swap test. HomeDNA offers easy at-home genetic testing. There are several different tests available. After you place your order you’ll receive your kit in the mail. It looks like this:
It comes with 4 sterile swabs, a DNA sample envelope and directions. First you’ll register your kit by entering the barcode and creating your account. Next, you’ll collect your sample.
Collecting your DNA is easy. You just rub the swab firmly back and forth and up and down on the inside of your cheek for 30 seconds. You’ll repeat this step with the remaining swabs, place them in the DNA sample envelope and mail them using the prepaid business reply envelope.
I had the opportunity to try out the GPS Origins kit. This test is the most sophisticated test for ancestry. It analyzes over 800,000 markers, 36 gene pools, and 862 reference populations. It goes back 1,000 years or more and provides specifics on where you came from by pinpointing geographical information with longitude and latitude, sometimes within a 20 mile radius! With this kit you’ll get a personalized report and a unique online experience using the analysis of your genetic signature. Here are some more details on what is included with your GPS Origins Kit:
• Dynamic online experience featuring an interactive map, allowing you to zoom into your GPS pinpoints—revealing towns and cities
• Downloadable PDF report that can be shared with family and friends
• Your online and printable results feature:
-Maps of your top three ancestral origins (the gene pools or ancestral communities that contributed to significant portions of your genetic makeup) along with the percentages of DNA you inherited from each
-A comprehensive gene pool profile with DNA percentages that goes well beyond basic ethnicity tests
-A detailed map illustrating your maternal and paternal migration journeys with descriptions on how your ancestors circumstances changed as they crossed territories and continents to find better lives
These were my top 3 gene pools. I was also provided with detailed information on the history of these which was so fascinating. It was like reading a history book about my very own ancestors!
This map shows the migration routes of my ancestors and I was able to read the migration stories of each of them along with the corresponding history from those areas. This was such a interesting and unique experience. It would make a great gift, unlike any other! Check out the benefits of GPS Origins:
• The only DNA test with bio-geographical targeting capability to the town or village level
• Identifies when and where your DNA formed by matching the populations that came together to create a genetic line leading to you
• Traces the migration route of both your maternal and paternal lineages back to their origins and dates the age of your DNA signature
• Provides detailed stories helping to explain DNA mixture events such as wars, famines, and migrations
• Developed by a leading population geneticist from the University of Sheffield in England
You can find out more about HomeDNA at www.homedna.com.