23andMe are leaders in domestic genome testing (autosomal DNA, your mtDNA, and your yDNA if you are male). Growing up the only way you would ever hear about genetic testing was via the news and criminal cases and if anyone had to go through paternity testing. Even so, it was very few and far between. The costs of requesting your own tests were extortionate and it wasn’t a viable method for the average Joe. We relied on the NHS for all testing and to take care of us.
Fast forward to today and while I am super grateful we still
have a free NHS system, it has been stretched beyond all measures. This has
resulted in a lack of funding for specific tests or medications – there is now
a postcode lottery which is hugely unfair. This is where 23andMe come in, they
allow you to take control of – YOUR – own health and wellbeing. This alone will
take a huge pressure of the NHS as people will have the capabilities to
understand their own biomechanics and chemistry and take action to improve it
where possible, rather than taking up a multitude of appointments that may be unnecessary.
Not long after 23andMe started, I was going through a
multitude of health issues, we now know what the condition is but at the time
it seemed to be one thing after another, most of the issues were secondary to
the main cause (which is common for most with chronic conditions). I did get a
23andMe test so that I could attempt to fix myself, I was fed up of continually
going to the doctors, taking meds, being in pain and felt defeated. Taking the
test allowed me to regain an understanding of myself, and my genetics so that I
could work on my epigenetics to improve my health and you know, it absolutely worked!
When I completed the test I found I had the APOE4 Alzheimer’sgene and I was a carrier of hereditary hemochromatosis (H63D variant). My three
sons dad also got tested so that we could look at both results and see what we
could have passed to each of our sons, we found that their dad also was a
carrier of hereditary hemochromatosis (C282Y variant). This, of course, meant
that my sons could either have zero variants, have one variant and also be a
carrier or hold two variants and have hereditary hemochromatosis. My sons are
typically very healthy kids. Cole has Tourette’s syndrome (not coprolalia),
Cooper was Coombes position when he was born and had a huge pyogenic granuloma
on his forehead, he’s had ferritin issues, thyroid issues, textural issues and
issues with fatigue, Rome was told he had ADHD but none of my sons have been on
meds except for Cooper (iron supplements) and of course the removal of the granuloma.
Cooper seems to follow my traits more, he looks like me, he
suffers in the same way with fatigue that I and many of my Imre line do so I
decided to get all of my sons tested, one at a time, but starting with Cooper.
I’ve always wondered if the kid will end up with hemochromatosis as he seems to
be the unluckiest, and if he does have it, we can take steps now to ensure he
doesn’t end up with liver issues because of it.
The more you know, the better you can prepare.
I’ve also wondered what their blood types are? I’m A+/O- and
their dad is O+/O+ which means that I am a carrier of the negative type (Common
in my Kelly line). With Coop being Coombes positive I do believe he is O+ but I
wonder if he or any of them carry the lack of positive antigen which isn’t all
that common? Similarly, I have issues with my C677T MTHFR gene which can cause a
whole host of issues, I do wonder if Coop might have this variant also but if
he doesn't, again it’s another one that’s manageable.
Either way, it will be good to know where we stand, for their
health and even their own families' health as they get older, knowing what they
can pass to their children is like having a magic key I suppose. Cooper on the
other hand only cares about the ancestry aspect, he absolutely believes that he
will have British and Irish, Eastern European and African ancestry even though
I’ve told him neither I or their dad has any African ancestry but, the boy won’t
listen. I think he has a bit to learn about how ancestry DNA is passed down
haha.
My ancestry includes:
Britain & Ireland
France & Germany
Eastern European (Hungary, Transylvania, Poland, and Czech)
Jewish (Poland)
Asia – Sri-Lanka, Malaysia, and Turkic (Russia)
Native American (Inuit)
Their dad’s ancestry
includes:
Britain & Ireland
France & Germany
Scandinavian
As you can see there aren’t even trace amounts of African but
I do love that he is passionate about the variety of areas. I know he will be
gutted when he realises he’s a mix of the above. Maybe he’ll embrace his inner
Magyar yet, who knows. Whatever the results show, we will use them to carve out
a better and healthier future for him until he’s old enough to do so himself.
While 23andMe is very basic in what information they provide (hello Government
red tape) there are other sites such as My Heritage and GEDMatch where you can
upload your data to get a more in-depth ancestry calculation. Likewise there
are sites such as Promethease which allow you to upload your data to gain better
health reports which you can print for your doctor to keep on your medical
file.
What I will note is that if you plan to use the test to
prove paternity, it won’t be suitable. 23andMe’s tests do not focus on parentage
and will not stand up in court if this is a reason for consideration I advise
you to opt for a court-appointed service.
I’ll keep you posted on the outcome for Coop's test. Fingers
crossed.
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