How do DNA testing kits work? How accurate are they?

Not so long ago, genetic testing technology available today was only a science fiction dream. Now, they have become a household novelty. The search for our identity and where we come from is a fascinating discovery. With so many DNA testing kits available in the market; you can unlock your genetic secrets for the price of a dinner. The interest around these genetic testing kits has fuelled a booming industry which is expected to grow substantially in the next few years.

These direct-to-consumer DNA testing kits cost about $100 and up. These consumer DNA testing kits that help you unwind the secrets of your heredity and health were not even a possibility up until a few years ago. But are these DNA kits legit? Do they really give you accurate results? If yes, how?

How do the kits work?

The direct-to-consumer DNA testing kits offer you a collection of features that give you a comprehensive look into your ancestry, from the Neanderthals up to the recent past. The basic process of it all is quite simple for the consumer. You can buy a DNA testing kit in a store or you can order one online. The kit comes with a swab that you can use to collect your spit sample from your inner cheeks or a tube in which you can spit. You can then mail the kit back to the company and check your results on their website in a few weeks. There are multiple DNA testing kits available in the market and choosing the right one can be difficult sometimes. Here’s a list of the best DNA testing kits available today.

The DNA samples are sent to a lab where the DNA molecules are extracted and genomes are read for the tiny fraction of variants that essentially encoded you as different from every other person. Companies like 23andMe use multiple algorithms to get the test results. These companies keep the details of their algorithms somewhat secret. But these are techniques that scientists have known about for a very long time.

How accurate are they?

Ancestral DNA testing uses various patterns and variants from its database and compares your DNA against it. Larger the database, more reliable the results are likely to be. There are some incredible stories of DNA kits providing answers to people. The story of 3 identical triplets became famous after they used three different DNA kits to test their accuracy. They were filmed sending saliva and cheek swab samples to – 23andMe, AncestryDNA, and MyHeritageDNA. People were shocked when the results from all three companies turned out identical predicting the same ancestry for all three sisters and even stating a 100% relationship match to the other two sisters. This shows the extreme accuracy of these DNA testing kits. If you look at DNA testing kits like 23andMe, they promote a full transparency policy from the point you order the kit till the time you receive the results and educate you on their website about how the 23andMe DNA testing kits work.

DNA tests really reveal the nuanced information about ancestry and health that many of us seek. The proliferation of these DNA kits has completely changed the way we process our genetic information and its relation to our heritage. There have been multiple articles about the science behind the DNA testing kits and their limits. Although skepticism around these DNA kits has been a reasonable approach to take, there are still legitimate reasons to try out the best DNA ancestry kits.

Here are a few reasons why you should use these personal DNA testing kits:

• Find your background

The fact that you may not know about your background is a big reason to take one of these tests. Critics might say that finding out your DNA result is not the same as learning about your culture, the traditions you grew up with and, how you should identify. But if you are adopted, or one of your parents were adopted, finding your clear background through paternity testing can be really helpful. DNA testing can give you a clear idea of where you fit in the chain of history.

• Health information

DNA testing kits can reveal your health information. The result from these kits can give you the information about your health issues, inabilities, and other disabilities from the genetic variants from your DNA. These kits can also help you find out whether you contain genetic variants associated with diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer or whether you are at risk of those diseases in the future.

• Find your relatives

DNA testing companies can use their huge database to find relatives you don’t even know exist. Some people grow up with dozens of aunts, uncles, and cousins around them. But some of us either have few known relatives or have parents who isolated themselves from family. If this sounds like you, ancestry testing may be quite exciting.