Would you really want to know

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

But don't let that stop you agile75

Never bother with that god person myself.

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

Is it me?

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.

In which case, what's the point?

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

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.

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

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.

She could cope with more.

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.

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.

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

My husband had cerebellar ataxia. Sometimes it's genetic, sometimes it isn't. It was quite worrying for us until it was discovered that his was not genetic. Not knowing what certain ancestors died of, it was impossible to say whether his grandparents, aunts and uncles had died of it, or even had it.

As I said before granjura, your genes are not necessarily your fate. Lifestyle is much more important IMHO.
The only way to force insurance companies to insure high risk people is to have the same (higher) premiums for everyone.
That works in principle for the NHS but I'm not sure it's applicable to life insurance or travel insurance.
What is the significance of being hypothyroid by the way?

but you must know from doing all those dreaded medical insurance reports, for life insurance or mortgages, etc- just how much that sword over peoples' heads affect their lives. Due to OH's kidney damage due to a staph infection when doing his finals- we had huge difficulties getting either of the above, with said condition being excluded, and at hugely increased cost. In lived his life very carefully and healthily, and is now nearly 3 scores and 10- whereas others in the family have not fared so well, due to life style. So unfair.

My parents lived to 96 and 94- despite my mother smoking like a chimney from the age of 16- my dad's dad died of an accident, and his mum lived to a very old age. My mum's dad died in his 50s of a heart attack- due to his love of good food and drink, and a jet set lifestyle- and her mum lived to nearly 90. I do not know of anyone in the family who had diabetes or hypothyroid.

How would you stop insurance companies from refusing life insurance or mortgages to anyone with 'poor' genes?

But most people already do know what conditions they are predisposed to develop, simply by looking at what their close relatives died of. I can't see that this test would make much difference.
For those who for one reason or another don't know their family history, a DNA test would help them to reduce the risk of developing diseases that they might otherwise be prone to.

NO! Not another dollop of stress which might never happen anyway.

Definitely not I have enough to contend with without adding to it and causing more stress and making me feel worse!