Would you really want to know

Quite, DJ. DNA tests can rule things out, as well as rule them in.

Yes, janea, there are councillors to advise the family on whether to take the tests or not, if you are in a quandary. By the time it was discovered, we had two sons and four grandchildren. To find out it wasn't genetic was a relief all round.

Two of my DGS's have a genetic condition called x linked ichthiosis, a very dry, scaly condition of the skin, passed from mother to son. We didn't know about it until first GS was diagnosed age 18 months. It was only then that my mother told us about her brothers. She didn't realise that their skin condition was genetic or how it was inherited. There is now a test for it, but my DD decided that since she had one son with it she could cope more. One of her sons missed it and inherited the healthy gene, although it looks increasingly likely that this boy has high functioning autism, also linked to the faulty gene, or the genes either side of it which affect behaviour.
My DD does not know if she would have been tested before having the boys, but it would have been good to know the condition ran in the family.

She could cope with more.

If testing shows that you are likely to develop some disease or other- then you must be aware that both Life Insurance and mortgage obtention will be very difficult, and possibly impossible, or with hugely increased costs. Every doctor who has to fill in information via medical notes for insurance, be it private health, holiday or more importantly, life/mortgage purposes must know that.

Hypothyroid is not relevant to insurance- but was in answer to the statement you made re we should all know what illness we are likely to develop re. close family illnesses. I am not aware of anyone in the family who had hypothyroid- apart from my maternal grand-mother's half-sister born 1856. So not that close, really.

I think what janea and I are saying is that it isn't just a matter of having a test. There are consequences.

what I am saying too. Our lives was made quite difficult at times because a medical condition excluded us, or made it very expensive, to have insurance and a mortgage- so I would not wish this upon anyone who has no outside sign of disease- but would find themselves excluded, as high risk. It put a lot of stress on OH, who was so worried that I and the girls could be left early, and without the necessary insurance, etc. Mortgage is all paid up now, thank goodness, and he survived the day, and as, said, much better than other relatives who didn't have the same health problems- but it was very stressful at times.

Who says you have to give your correct name and other details anyway?

In which case, what's the point?

I am well past my 3 score and 10 and lots of my family and good friends have passed on. I say my prayers every night and thank god (remember him) for giving me today,I certainly dont worry about what is going to happen years from now so why invest in genetic mumbo jumbo.

Because Jen you just want the results for your own information.... duh!

Is it me?

Never bother with that god person myself.

But don't let that stop you agile75

So how do you get your ancestry details if you are giving them duff information, Anya?

I would want to know the ancestry bit. If a DNA test could get get an idea of where my father's father may have come from. (he knew nothing about his father).

However I think there are limitations on what can be found out about one's genetic ancestry and I am not sure if you could necessarily get that sort of genetic info passing down from a male line into a female. As my father is now dead it might make it impossible.

I would not want to know about any genetic health problems for me if there was no solution to them. If I were a known carrier of some significant genetic condition and making a decision about having a child who might have a life limiting condition it might be different.

I have entrusted DNA samples to the UK Bio bank.

Never, Anya? Not even when you were a kid? I got the impression that everybody was bothered by god when we were kids, having to go to Sunday School, etc.

My post about god was in the present tense Jen !!

Re getting my 'ancestry' details .... we are talking about submitting a DNA sample not trying to track down my ancestors

If I wanted to get a genetic profile from my submitted DNA sample and I felt paranoid that someone would use this information against me I would like the results to be private, then I'd simple submit my sample under an assumed name.

Nellie you, as a woman, cannot trace the genetic origins of your father's side of the family as you lack a 'Y' chromosome. You could only do that through a direct male relative, such as a brother.

While we are on the subject does anyone know of a reputable DNA storage facility in the UK?