How much do you know about your family tree? Could you name every branch going back for generations, or do you only know the names of a few leaves hanging close to you? Thankfully, whether your ancestors kept meticulous records or you were adopted and relocated halfway across the world as an infant, DNA technology has become incredibly advanced, and we all have access to our backgrounds through simply submitting a mouthful of saliva.
Unfortunately, however, the results of a DNA test are not always what curious participants had hoped for. After optimistically submitting their samples hoping to find out precisely which Eastern European cuisine they should be preparing on holidays, some people receive their results and are left questioning everything they know about their family members. We’ve gathered some of the most amusing, shocking and upsetting discoveries made from taking DNA tests, that have been shared on the 23andMe subreddit, and listed them below for you to read. I sincerely hope you don’t have any devastating stories of your own from having tests like this done, but if you do, know that you’re not alone.
Keep reading to also find an interview with host of the DNA Surprises Podcast, Alexis Hourselt, and then if you’re interested in reading even more stories about DNA tests revealing scandalous family secrets, we recommend checking out this Bored Panda article next.
A Happy Ending!
23andMe has taken the world by storm with its innovative approach to educating consumers about their history. The company, which was launched in 2006, has sold over 12 million kits and has inspired the popular subreddit which has over 85k members. On the subreddit, users commonly discuss family problems and discoveries, ask questions and seek help, discuss their health reports, share PSAs and converse about their test results. And while some users have fun sharing their new-found knowledge, others use the page to seek comfort when they learn upsetting information.
Scrolling through the community, you can find many stories posted by users who suddenly are wondering why one parent’s test came back so differently from theirs or why the story they have been told their entire life about their origin does not seem to add up anymore. And while human error is always a possibility, for the most part, DNA tests don’t lie. I would not recommend taking one if you are scared of what family secrets might be revealed.
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The creator of 23andMe, Anne Wojcicki, sat down with CNBC in 2018 to provide some insight on the background of the company and what her goals were. She explained that in 2006, she abandoned her career in biotech investing to focus on the dream she had of putting individuals’ personal health data in the palm of their hands, all from a small saliva sample.
“I was always impressed by the eagerness of individuals to learn about their health and take action,” Wojcicki said. “They just needed the opportunity and time to learn and absorb.” In 2013, however, she encountered some issues with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration demanding she stop selling her kids until they were approved by the FDA. Finally, in 2018, 23andMe earned their seal of approval from the FDA, and Wojcicki was able to start marketing her kids to the general public yet again.
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23andMe can provide life-saving health information to consumers, as it was the first company to be approved to inform women of their breast cancer risk based on gene mutations, without requiring a doctor’s opinion. “Since our earliest days, we wanted to pioneer a path where people can get their genetic information directly and do not have to go through a physician or genetic counselor for access or interpretation,” Wojcicki told CNBC.
