About 10 years ago, I made the decision to know more about my ancestry, via Ancestry.com.

I received various, unsolicited opinions about doing so, the majority against sharing my DNA. I gave it some thought, and decided that my curiosity about my history trumped any danger of sharing my spit. It is 10 years later, and the world has changed a bit and I think I may have at least given it more thought prior to sharing, and at the very least I would have wanted to see a clause that would indicate that if the business in question registering my DNA were to fold, all registered DNA would be destroyed. Those who used 23 and me did not have that option and I don’t believe anyone knows who has ownership of their DNA. And while mine might be secure at the moment, that could change in the future.

The positives are big though, I have built a tree going back to the 1500’s, picked up photographs going back to the civil war (my third great grandfather who looks remarkably like my nephew). I have enjoyed discussions with others that share my DNA and gleaned a wealth of information. Most of my DNA comes from England, Ireland and Scotland (not really a surprise) plus Italy, Germany, France (the Italian and German I was aware of). I also was able to find death certificates, birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc. In summary, knowing what I have learned, I think I would have done it again.

It’s not for everyone, and I completely understand why some are guarded. It plays out like most important decisions though, you have to weigh what is most important to you and then make your decision.