These past few years have been full of science and serendipity with all the DNA testing my mother and I have participated in in search of ethnic lineage, not to mention being matched with BOTH her biological parents’ family members (she was adopted). As we navigate through our new relationships with newfound family members, I continued to participate in DNA testing just for the fun of it, and also in search of food intolerance reactions that traditional allergy tests couldn’t provide (I’ll miss you, pizza).
Through AncestryDNA, we were matched with and got acquainted with my mother’s biological mother’s side of the family first, and later with my mother’s biological father’s side of the family. I’m still trying to process how my mother went from being a biologically isolated only child to one of 10 children on both sides (and on both coasts)! I’ll say this again- I’ve never seen my mother so happy and complete in my while life. All from a little tube of spit…well, a few tubes of spit from all parties (thank you!). I don’t think any of us ever expected to make these connections, but we did, and it’s the coolest thing! AncestryDNA testing showed my mother and I are a mix of British Isles (Irish/English/Scotland), Western European (German, etc.) and Southern European (Italian). From my mother’s biological mother’s side of the family, we learned that their lineage can be traced back to England and Germany/Switzerland (roughly). And from my mother’s biological father’s side of the family, we learned their lineage can be traced back to Naples, Italy and Palermo, Sicily!
I wanted to compare my results from AncestryDNA to the 23andMe database, so I took both tests. While AncestryDNA showed a higher Scandinavian percentage (~27%), a high Irish percentage (~20%), and a high Western European percentage (~18%), 23andMe grouped these into one Northwestern European category at ~85.7% with the largest difference between AncestryDNA and 23andMe in the Scandinavian sub-category. This could be explained by a different data-set and a non-specific ~19.5% “Broadly Western Europe” in the 23andMe database. Either way, I still claim Irish Viking as my heritage with an Italian Viking mother. It’s called “interpretive science” and that’s okay, right?!
Included in the 23andMe testing was a confirmation of our K1c1 haplogroup/subclade, originating ~22,000 years ago from the Middle East to Europe, and includes Ötzi the iceman.
Taking DNA testing a step further, I submitted a saliva sample for genetic predispositions to food sensitivity, and a blood sample for actual reactions with food to EverlyWell. Without being too detailed, there are ingredients I just can’t “process” and I needed more than an elimination diet to help me figure out what I should and shouldn’t be eating (pizza, again, I miss you so much). I expected to see cow dairy and wheat products on the reactive list, but the surprises were crab and sweet potato. As if life wasn’t cruel enough!
Some of the other results confirmed my need to take B Vitamin supplements and my mutant super power for drinking espresso before bed and perfectly able to sleep like the dead right after. I pity those that can’t have caffeine after a certain time at night. This makes me the perfect Bond Villain…
Another fun and unexpected test that I took at a health and fitness expo was an Orig3n sampling. I submitted a cheek cell sample for ACTN3, AGER, FOXP2, and LEPR predispositions, but also submitted a blood sample to help them build their database (for science!). What I (and my personal trainer at the gym) found most humorous was the ACTN3 result showing little to no fast twitch muscles…simply meaning I can’t jump (I’m quite horrible at it), can’t play sports well (confirmed!), nor can I run very fast (also confirmed!). But what I have learned to adapt to, despite my genetic predisposition, is the ability to endurance run. I’ve run 12 half marathons and a full marathon like it’s no big deal at this point. I’m pretty sure my trainer is still going to make me do burpees from time to time though, she’s cruel like that.
So what am I going to do with all this data, especially after finding newfound relatives? I’m going to continue to explore the world, particularly the countries from which we originated. I’ve been fortunate to have visited all of these countries save Scandinavia (Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, and Finland)…so I’m coming for you! Baltic cruise, perhaps? So tell me, what have you found in your DNA? Any surprises?
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