In recent years, why has genetic testing become a craze?

In recent years, genetic testing has become a craze. Through genetic testing, we can not only know our genetic risk, mutation carrying and characteristics, but also know the genetic information such as nutritional needs, drug reaction, exercise and fitness, skin management and even ethnic origin, gene relationship distribution, ancestral information and so on. However, through genetic testing, you may also find unexpected surprises that you don't know. The original title of this article is that when DNA testing reveals too much, the author Dana G Smith introduces all kinds of unexpected findings after American genetic testing.

Lynn Scott's husband has been raised by adoptive parents since birth. After her husband died, Scott wanted to help their son find his grandparents who were related by blood. So Scott and his son tried the recently popular genetic test.

They spit saliva into a saliva collection tube and send it back to FamilyTreeDNA. Through the matching of kinship, the genealogy company found their cousin and finally found their son's biological grandfather.

However, apart from cousins, genealogy found several other matching relationships for them, but none of them came from the paternal side. Scott didn't know them either, and finally confirmed that they didn't belong to the maternal side.

"I think I know all my cousins, but I really don't know those who are genetically related." Scott said, "So, after comprehensive analysis, I think there must be something I don't know."

Scott's brother had a genetic test before, but he chose AncestryDNA genetic testing company. Therefore, their families tried to find out the answer by comparing these test results. They found that Scott and her brother were actually half-brothers.

It was later discovered that the man who raised Scott (who died in 2003) was not her biological father. The result, for her, was a bolt from the blue. "This news makes me feel that I have lost my biological father again." Scott said. By further exploring various genetic results, Scott found the person she thought was her biological father, and that person was her mother's colleague. But her mother refused to admit it.

That man died in 1999. So Scott couldn't meet him, but she found the man's grandson, hoping to meet a half-brother soon. Scott began to accept her brand-new family tree, but at first, she really struggled. "When I first discovered this result, I felt very lonely." She said, "Who should I tell about this? Does anyone else have a similar experience with me? "

A previous online survey confirmed that there was an experience similar to Scott's. On the Internet, Scott joined an online support group. This group was established by genetic consultant Brian kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick is mainly devoted to helping people discover unexpected family secrets through self-test genetic tests.