AncestryDNA

I did it!  I got my test! 

After reading The Seven Daughters of Eve (see my review by clicking here) I dove headfirst into the idea of having my DNA tested to see what my mitochondrial DNA had to say to me about my "clan."  I began to research which company I would use and the cost and go from there.



The kit arrived after only
three days!

I didn't look far.  As I was searching on Ancestry.com for research on Cleon Moore, my husband's 5x's great-grandfather, I saw a little ad pop up for their new DNA test.  It is a much more impressive and comprehensive test than the old mitochondrial DNA test that I had been thinking of taking.  And, since it is in its beta stage, I was able to get it for half price.  To me it was a no brainer.  Not only will I find out what my mitochondrial clan line is, but I will get a comprehensive "portrait" of my genes. 



Step by step instructions.

So, I bit the bullet.  I clicked on order and lo and behold three days later my kit arrived at the post office!  I was nervous that I would mess up the process but as my photos show, the process was made super simple and easy, so even someone inexperienced in lab techniques and the like can't easily mess it up!  The process of extracting enough saliva took about 5 minutes and wasn't so bad.  The test requires more than a cheek swab so it is a little more "painful" than the DNA extraction made popular on popular TV detective shows but pretty simple over all.  


The saliva sample
containing my DNA!

After getting the sample, the kit instructs you on how to add the preservative into the test tube so that nothing is compromised during shipping.  The next step is to seal the tube, put it in the biohazard sleeve and back into the envelope to ship back.  Also at this time it instructs you to go online to Ancestry.com and activate your test with a unique activation code.  Simple!



Activating the test online
and linking to my family tree.

Unfortunately, the next step is going to be the hardest for me.  Waiting.  I am not good at waiting.  The test says to assume 6-8 weeks before getting results, but to expect closer to the 8 weeks during this beta time.  I have already logged on at least 5 times to see if some miracle has happened and my test got completed early---and it has only been 5 days!  Maybe the test will reveal where I got my impatience from.

The other part of me is kind of giddy and nervous.  Will the test show what I expect?  My guess it is going to be pretty uniform in showing European descent, but who knows, there might be a wildcard in our history somewhere! 



Where did I come from?  Am I completely
European, as I expect to find, or maybe there
is a wildcard out there somewhere.

So for now, I will continue to look in the mirror and speculate.  Where did my blue eyes come from (in an immediate family of all brown eyes)?  What about my blonde hair (in an immediate family of all brunettes)?  Did my family actually stay in the same region in Europe for the long-term like family history research has shown?  Or was there a lone wolf that came into the pack and introduced a different DNA sequence that has carried down to me today?  I am excited to find out!  And, watch out family, because I bet after I find out my results, I will be coming after yours!
Be on the look out for my results and maybe a few predictions before then---based on research I have done, specifically on my Rusyn heritage and common haplogroups found amongst the Rusyn people.  

~ Christine