Learning More About My Genetics With AncestryDNA

I am learning more about my genetics thanks to receiving a free kit from AncestryDNA. I am sharing thoughts about my experience.

I’ve always wanted to know about my family history and background. On both my mom and dad’s side, there is three children each. Each of them have one or two children, so there isn’t many of us. Our family is quite small, but from what I’ve heard, our generations run deep. Both sides of my family came to St. Louis from Mississippi and New Orleans many years ago, and the older I get, the more I want to know more about them.

When I was at BlogHer earlier this year, I was given a free AncestryDNA kit to use so that I could find out more about my genetics and background. For some reason, I’ve been putting off doing the test. The instructions are very easy, but procrastination is getting the best of me.

In order to promote action on my part, I am writing this post to encourage myself to actually do the test. I also plan on being totally transparent and sharing what the results are when I get them back, by sharing them here.

The AncestryDNA kit is quite easy to administer. First, you register and activate the kit online with the specific 15-digit activation code located in the box. Once that is complete, you can do the actual test and mail it in for the results.

The gathering of the DNA is done using your saliva and stabilizing fluid, the last of which is given to you in the kit.

Then its off to be mailed to the AncestryDNA facility, and you receive your DNA results back within 6-8 weeks via email according to the packaging.

Once more, if you want to build your family tree and get more information about them, you can use your AncestryDNA account to begin the research, as it also works with Ancestry.com. Here’s how your profile looks once registered.