Wednesday Words & Whimsy
Posted on by Debbie

Getting my DNA tested and finding a few surprises #WWWhimsy

Why would you get your DNA tested?

In my recent post Tell us About…Family History, I wrote that I had taken a DNA test, as requested by my mother, and was awaiting results.

Well I received the results last week and have had a lovely time dissecting the graphs and trying to make sense of the many matches that have shown up, plus corresponding with newly found relatives who have found me on the site.

As I said in that first post my husband and my mother have been doing our family history for over 40 years and have a good handle on most of it. They have both taken in my results and have been trying to use the new family trees we have access to from my new cousins!

These contacts in themselves have been beneficial in confirming information gleaned from records and have made the ‘investment’ worth it. It’s given my family members a great distraction and a new impetus to keep going on the family research.

What’s involved?

I signed up to Ancestry.com online and purchased a kit which included some access to the Ancestry site for several months. At the time it cost A$130 plus almost A$30 postage (to Ireland). Of course the next week I saw it advertised at a much reduced rate due to it being St Patrick’s Day so I would suggest you keep an eye out for sales before rushing in.

I received the kit about a week later and followed the easy instructions by registering the kit’s number online, spitting into a tube, completing information required and then I simply posted it off. You can’t eat or drink for about 30 minutes prior to taking the test.

Along the way I was kept updated with my sample’s progress by emails every time my sample moved along in the process. It was clearly indicated that it would take 4-6 weeks to get results and email updates were welcomed during that time. The email with the results was well worth the wait!

My husband, the Mathematician, was in his element as he explained the mathematical concept that we inherit roughly 50% of our DNA from each parent, about 25% from each of our four grandparents, 12.5% from each of our eight great-grandparents and so on. You can only imagine his delight in telling me and even drawing pictures for me 🙂

I found an interesting article in Descent (the magazine of the Society of Australian Genealogists) written by Christine Hingerty DNA Testing: Why Would I? Using genetic genealogy (DNA) in your genealogy

Since we are talking about DNA inheritance, I need to mention the concept of random recombination. You inherit a random 50% of DNA from each of your parents. Your sibling (unless you are identical twins) would inherit a slightly different random 50% from your parents, So even your sister will not have exactly the same DNA as you.

Christine Hingerty

Christine goes on to explain that by the time you go beyond second cousins it could be that you randomly didn’t inherit any of the same DNA from your common ancestor. You could be related to your third cousin but you don’t actually ‘match’ due to this randomness.

It’s all so interesting!!

What did my results show?

It showed that my mother was right, my father’s heritage was much more ‘interesting’ than hers! It’s the main reason she wanted me to be tested, and not her, as mine would show the mix of her and dad’s ancestry.

Mum was born in England and came to Australia as a 16 year old in April 1955, so it’s not a great surprise to see her side of the circle is made up of three areas: England, Scotland and Wales. She still has lots of relatives and connections in Birmingham UK so the green England part of the graph is expected. Dad was born in Australia but has many more connections.

DNA inheritance overview
DNA inheritance overview

Dad on the other hand is made up a fabulous mix, and so too am I, as a combination of both of them!

We knew we had French in our makeup but the detail that it was from the Basque area was a bonus. That could be Spanish or French! I know it’s only 2% but together with the Aboriginal 2% it has given me some added colour in my life – skin, eyes, hair…and we all know how much I love colour. To be honest I would have expected the Aboriginal to be more than 2% but I’m happy it’s there.

It’s funny over the years I’ve often been asked where I come from due to my colouring and features – Italy, Spain, France and a myriad of other European countries have been suggested.

None of us knows where the Swedish/Danish comes from so that 4% was a massive surprise! Given we’ve hosted Danish and Swedish exchange students in the past and have great friendships gave me an added thrill to know I’m connected like this.

Dad’s Scottish connections are huge and together with Mum’s give me a massive 32% of ancestry from Scotland. Another big surprise.

Debbie - AncestryDNA Ethnicity Estimate

The level of detail has been a bit overwhelming in a way, the graphs, the matches with others, the connections and I haven’t explored all there is to find yet.

I must admit I like the chromosome painter which shows the ethnicity of each of the 22 chromosomes tested for both paternal and maternal sides of me. I’ve spared you the colourful bar graph, just know that it’s been fun to extrapolate and explore.

I like this chart, showing the percentages from both parents that make me who I am today!

DNA inheritance details graph
DNA inheritance details graph

Traits

Another interesting section is all about traits – how your genes influence heart rate recovery to why you sneeze in bright sunlight, your DNA can tell you many things you didn’t know about yourself, or if you did know, why they are the way they are!

Did you know: Originally, all humans had brown eyes. But about 6,000 to 10,000 years ago, a genetic mutation developed that led to the variations in eye color we have today. Source Ancestry.com

So to look at a few traits – and how correct they are:

  • Eye colour – my DNA suggests I have dark eyes from my paternal side ✔️
  • Hair colour – my DNA suggests I have dark hair from my maternal side – I do have dark hair but my mother is blonde and my father was dark so this surprised me. Apparently the maternal side has more influence when it comes to hair colour. ✔️
  • Hair strand thickness and hair type – my DNA suggests I have thin hair and I’m more likely to have straight hair from my paternal side and yes I do have fine, straight hair ✔️
  • Hangryness (a combination of hungry and angry) – my DNA suggests I am most likely to get hangry and this is from my paternal side – and yes I do get hangry!! ✔️
  • Introvert or Extrovert? – my DNA suggests I’m an extrovert which comes from my maternal side. Again this is a surprise, I feel I am an extrovert but not sure which side it came from, apparently the maternal side has more influence. ✔️
  • Risk taker -apparently my genetics suggest that I’m more likely to take risks than 60% of the population and again the most influence comes from the maternal side. I’m undecided on this one! ??
  • Sprinter or endurance runner? – my results suggest I’m more of an endurance runner than a sprinter. The maternal side has more influence on this one too, but this one is wrong as I was known as a sprinter at school and my father trained me for 100 and 200 metre events. I have since run (at a slower rate) but don’t think I am an endurance runner material. I have never known my mother to run! This is based on the fast and slow switch muscles fibres in our bodies ✖️
  • Tolerating dairy – my results show that I’m unlikely to tolerate dairy which comes from my paternal side. I do tolerate dairy but my husband doesn’t! ✖️
  • Heart rate recovery – my results suggest that my heart rate recovers from exercise at an average rate which is probably true. This one comes from both sides of equal influence.✔️

There are many more traits covered and some are more fun than others – like an aversion to coriander, sun sneezing and caffeine intake – all based on our DNA!!

So many things I didn’t know 🙂

In conclusion

The whole exercise has been fabulous. I wouldn’t hesitate to encourage others to go looking for their ancestry, and DNA research is one way to start the process.

Let me know if you’ve had your DNA tested and how you found the whole process. If you haven’t had it tested would you consider doing it now?

Wishing you a lovely week ahead!

Debbie signature

Info on Wednesday Words and Whimsy #WWWhimsy linkup

Min at Write of the Middle, runs this linkup, Wednesday Words & Whimsy, on her blog each week. Everyone is invited to join in with a post – just go to Min’s blog for the linkup – here.

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The linkup opens at 5am (Australian Eastern Standard Time) Wednesday mornings and closes at 6am on Friday mornings, and is open to everyone wherever you are in the world! Anything goes – new posts, old posts, only one post per blogger and if you can try to visit some of the others who have linked up that would be great!

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Debbie - mother of a 40 year old

Deb is a young-at-heart & active 60+ blogger/retiree, after being made redundant from her 22-year career managing education programs in a men’s correctional centre (jail). She now spends her time reading, blogging, riding her ebike and travelling. Deb was awarded a Bravery Award from the Queen when she was 17 after a tragic accident – a definite life changing moment! She is married with 3 grown-up daughters & has 4 grandchildren. You can read more of Deb’s story here

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48 Replies to “Getting my DNA tested and finding a few surprises #WWWhimsy”

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  4. I had no idea they had detailed traits and personality profiles. I just thought it was where your ancestors were from. Genealogy itself uses SO much time. I always mean to do more but it sucks up time and doesn’t always give results.

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    1. Hi Bernie, my husband and mother have spent ages doing serious research and I just sail on in with my DNA results and pass them on! I hear you on the time it takes 🙂

      Some of the information was really interesting and unexpected.

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    1. Thanks Lisa, it’s really interesting especially as my mother and my husband have been looking into it all for years. They’re quite happy with my results and how they fit into our story.

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  6. I find this post absolutely fascinating. Both my older and younger brothers have done research into our family history and discovered some interesting facts about our ancestry. Your post has encouraged me to do the test too.

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  7. Thanks for sharing your results, Debbie. I did my DNA testing through 23 and Me, and it looks like they both provide much the same information. I found this statement very interesting: “Your sibling (unless you are identical twins) would inherit a slightly different random 50% from your parents, So even your sister will not have exactly the same DNA as you.” My sister said she didn’t need to do hers, since I had done mine, but she may want to reconsider once I tell her this. It would be fun to see where we are the same and where we differ.

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  8. Now, you have me very curious! I’ve just been having so much fun discovering my ancestors through Ancestry. I still haven’t found the thread leading to a US President, but it’s still a fun puzzle. 

    How interesting the maternal side has so much influence, right? I am my mom’s twin in so many ways!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

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    1. It’s so fascinating Sue and I highly recommend taking a test if you’re keen to find out more. The traits are quite general but do give an idea from our DNA.

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  10. I find it all fascinating and you shared lots of info and facts I didn’t know. The Scandinavian DNA is probably via the Vikings, that’s what we’re all told. I have 2 %. Some people will have Neanderthal DNA. Haven’t met any yet. Thanks for linking.

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  12. They will update your profile from time to time. Mine made perfect sense and there were no surprises, but the ‘Celtic’ bit keeps changing percentages. You only have to look at me to see I have my father’s eyes and my mother’s chin line!

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  13. It’s so exciting to get your DNA tested Deb. As you’ve seen it gives so much insight into your family and now with traits, into yourself. Mine solved an issue I’ve had for years that annoys most people I know. I only eat bland food, and don’t really care how bland it is. My DNA traits confirmed this is just me. My Dad was the same. So now I don’t care, where I used to get a bit upset about it. i was interested to read that you had to send your DNA to Ireland. I had mine done many years ago when it first was available and only had to send it to Sydney. It was interesting to read about your results.

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    1. Yes Jen it’s been very interesting finding all these traits and working out where they come from. I’ve enjoyed going through the results and still have much to learn. How interesting to know your bland food is a part of your DNA. I’m not sure why Ireland! I’m glad you enjoyed my post and understand your interest given your love of genealogy.

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  14. I did my DNA on Ancestry in 2017 and it is amazing how much more detailed the data has become since the original results. Ancestry updates the estimates though not on a schedule. Check back every few months to see if you estimates have changed as they changed.

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  16. We did ours a few years ago – mainly because we were searching for Grant’s birth family. It was fascinating. Like you, my mother had done a lot of work so there were no surprises from my side. Grant’s however, was another story.

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  17. Hi Debbie, wow that is all so fascinating! It’s good stuff to know! I got right into the family tree thing some years ago. I started a family tree online via MyHeritage.com I never did the DNA thing though and I stopped working on it eventually as it was a rabbits warren that would suck me in and I’d be lost there for hours upon hours. I needed my time back. I might get back into it again one day when time permits! Getting DNA results and understanding percentages of heritage would be amazing! Thanks again for linking up with #WWWhimsy – enjoy the rest of your week! xo

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    1. Thanks Min, it’s been an eye-opener that’s for sure! It certainly does take a lot of time to do the family research and I acknowledge the years of work of my mother and my husband. It certainly does take time!

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  18. Hi Deb – I’ve never been interested in researching my ancestory – it all sounds pretty boring (English and Scottish) but your trip down the rabbit hole sounded fascinating – probably helped by the interesting mix your Dad passed onto you. Glad it was fun and I think you got your money’s worth (even without the sale). x

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    1. Thanks Leanne, it is interesting seeing things fit in and the puzzle come together. Getting my DNA results is just one part of it all and I’ve enjoyed the process.

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  20. Deb, this is a fun rabit hole to enter. I tested 79% English and 16% Scottish/Irish, which was not a huge surprise since Florida was occupied by the English who ‘imported’ Scottish and Irish settelers to develop communities along the Georgia/Carolina coast. I haven’t bothered to take it further than the initial report. Maybe one day.

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      1. Deb, Florida was occoupied by both Spain and England at periods in our history. Even France had a turn with us for a brief time. But, it was England who had the grand colonization idea to import Scottish and Irish migrants. I’m grateful for that experiment, even though it failed miserably. I had hoped for traces of DNA from one of the many indigenous tribes that originally inhabited Florida, but nope, not a trace.

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  22. My son and I are reading/studying genetics for his high school science credit this year and we just got to the chapter that talks all about these ancestry tests and what the different tests can tell you about your DNA (and what it can’t).

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