Have you ever wondered about your family’s history or if you might be adopted because you look different from your siblings? That’s exactly what happened to me! Growing up, I didn’t look much like my siblings, so I decided to find out more about our family background using a DNA test from 23andMe. My sister and I took the test to see if we’re truly related and to learn more about our ancestry.
My sister, Kim, and I were both excited to take the 23andMe DNA test. This test is named after the 23 pairs of chromosomes we all have. It analyzes your DNA to tell you about your ancestors and even gives insights into traits like sleep patterns and how your body reacts to caffeine.
We each provided a saliva sample and sent it off to be analyzed. After a little wait, we received our results online. I had done this test before with my friend Greg, so I was curious to see how my results compared to Kim’s.
When I first took the test, I found out that I am 63% European. My ancestry map was full of colorful spots, mostly concentrated in one area. Kim’s results were a bit different. She is 61.9% European, which was surprising because I thought she would be more European than me. We also discovered that Kim is 21.2% South Asian, while I am 23.5% South Asian. This was interesting because people often guess our backgrounds based on our looks, but they might not guess these details!
Another surprise was that Kim has 0.2% Sub-Saharan African ancestry, while I have none. This shows how diverse our family history is and how appearances can be misleading.
Even though siblings inherit 50% of their DNA from each parent, the specific combination of genes can vary. It’s like having different colored beads and picking a random half from each parent. This is why siblings can look different and have different traits.
We also learned about some fun traits from our DNA. For example, Kim is more likely to match a musical pitch than I am, based on over 500 genetic markers. We also found out that Kim is more likely to be afraid of heights, while I’m less likely.
According to 23andMe, Kim and I share 43.4% of our DNA. While identical twins share 100% and the average for siblings is around 50%, our percentage confirms that we are definitely siblings, even if it’s slightly lower than average.
So, it turns out I’m not adopted after all! This experience brought us closer as siblings because we uncovered a shared story about our family history. If you’re curious about your ancestry or want to learn more about your family, you might consider trying a DNA test like 23andMe.
Thanks for joining us on this journey of discovery! If you’re interested, check out the seasonal promotions for 23andMe kits and explore your own family history. See you next time!
Research your family history by talking to your relatives. Use this information to create a family tree that traces your ancestry back several generations. Include any interesting stories or facts you discover about your ancestors.
Conduct a classroom experiment where you explore how different traits are inherited. Use colored beads to represent different genes and simulate the inheritance process. Discuss how this activity relates to the concept of genetic variation among siblings.
Participate in a debate about the influence of genetics (nature) versus environment (nurture) on personal traits. Prepare arguments for both sides and consider how DNA testing might provide insights into this ongoing debate.
Use online tools to explore ancestry maps and see how different regions are represented in genetic studies. Compare your findings with the ancestry results from the article and discuss the diversity within your own classroom.
Write a short reflection on what you learned about DNA and ancestry from the article. Consider how this knowledge might change your perspective on family and identity. Share your reflections with the class.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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This episode is supported by 23andMe. Growing up, I looked quite different from my siblings, which made me wonder if I was adopted. Today, I’ve brought my sister in to take 23andMe DNA tests so we can find out for sure if we’re actually related and how similar our ancestry is, given that we look pretty different.
Alright, we’re both here, and we’ve taken the 23andMe kit. How are you feeling, Kim?
Oh, I’m so excited! What do you think?
I think we’re going to be similar, but not exactly the same. I think we look alike in some respects, but in others, we don’t. A lot of people actually think we don’t look alike. Sometimes they even say that Greg from ASAP Science is my brother instead of you.
It’s called 23andMe because we all have 23 pairs of chromosomes. It’s a personal genetic service that looks into your DNA to tell you about the regions of the world your ancestors come from and can provide insights into physical traits, sleep patterns, and even how your DNA impacts things like muscle composition and caffeine consumption.
Both Kim and I submitted a saliva sample and then waited to get our reports online.
I actually did this before with Greg on this channel, so we’ll refresh my ancestry before diving into yours. Here’s a breakdown of my ancestry: I’m 63% European. You can see all these colorful spots on the map. When Greg did this, it was mostly concentrated in one area.
I’m 99.99% European, so I feel proud to be more diverse. That gives you a general sense of my background. I’m nervous because I don’t know if it’s identical.
Oh, I see colors! Yours is really beautiful! I would have thought you were almost entirely of European descent. This tells us where your ancestors came from and how long ago.
So cool! You have family from India, and we probably have relatives still in Britain and Europe. I have 62.2% European ancestry, and you have 61.9%. The fact that I’m more European than you is surprising, especially since skin tone can be misleading.
You’re 21.2% South Asian, and I’m 23.5%, which is pretty similar. When you tell people you’re part Indian, do they believe you?
Sometimes people say I don’t look Indian or that I look more East Asian or Native American. It’s interesting because people might guess my background, but they probably wouldn’t think I’m Scandinavian.
You have 0.2% Sub-Saharan African, and I have zero. I’m surprised by that!
If Kim and Mitch both inherit 50% from their mom and 50% from their dad, shouldn’t their DNA be the same? Not exactly. DNA can be thought of as different colored beads. Each parent contributes a random half of their DNA, so the combinations can vary.
We might discover other regions of the world in our ancestry if we test our other siblings.
We’ve been told there are results about musical pitch. Do you think one of us is more musical?
I think you are! You probably have a better chance of matching a musical pitch than I do.
Based on genetics and other factors, Kim is more likely to match a musical pitch than Mitch. 23andMe figured this out by analyzing over 500 genetic markers associated with this trait.
Do you have a fear of heights?
Oh, I’m absolutely terrified!
You’re more likely than average to be afraid of heights, while I’m less likely.
We both have at least a little bit of musical ability, which is interesting.
23andMe also has a share and compare section where we can connect and compare our genes. We share 43.4% of our DNA, which is still a lot. Identical twins share 100%, and the average for siblings is around 50%, so we’re slightly lower but still definitely siblings.
I guess I’m officially not adopted!
Did you have fun?
I had so much fun! The experience made me feel closer to my siblings because we’re uncovering a story that’s shared between us.
If you’re interested in doing this for your loved ones or yourself, there are seasonal promotions right now. We’ll put links in the description, but go to 23andMe.com/ASAP to check it out and get your own kit. Make sure to check out Kim’s channel as well.
See you next time!
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This version removes any informal language, personal identifiers, and maintains a professional tone while preserving the essence of the conversation.
DNA – Deoxyribonucleic acid, a molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms. – Scientists study DNA to understand how traits are passed from parents to offspring.
Ancestry – The lineage or historical descent of an organism, often traced through genetic information. – By examining her ancestry, she discovered that her great-grandparents came from different parts of the world.
Chromosomes – Thread-like structures located within the nucleus of animal and plant cells, made of protein and a single molecule of DNA. – Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes that determine everything from eye color to height.
Genes – Units of heredity that are transferred from a parent to offspring and are held to determine some characteristic of the offspring. – The gene responsible for eye color is located on one of the chromosomes.
Traits – Characteristics or features of an organism that are inherited from its parents. – Traits such as hair color and height are influenced by the genes inherited from one’s parents.
Siblings – Brothers or sisters who share the same biological parents and therefore have similar genetic makeup. – Even though they are siblings, they have different traits because they inherited different combinations of genes.
European – Relating to or characteristic of Europe or its inhabitants, often used in genetic studies to describe ancestry or origin. – Her DNA test revealed a significant percentage of European ancestry.
South Asian – Relating to the region of South Asia, which includes countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, often used in genetic studies to describe ancestry or origin. – The genetic markers indicated a strong South Asian ancestry in his DNA profile.
African – Relating to Africa or its people, often used in genetic studies to describe ancestry or origin. – The study showed that her maternal lineage has African roots.
Markers – Specific sequences in the DNA that can be used to identify individuals or species, often used in genetic research. – Scientists use genetic markers to track the inheritance of diseases in families.
