an adoptee with 23andMe

For my 2017 adoption day present, I decided I wanted to try out a DNA testing kit. I did light research on the different companies and decided to try 23andMe. This was during my second year of university, so I was just starting to discuss adoptee genetics in deeper conversation. Like many of my adoptee peers, my adoption story does not have some typically given information like genetics and medical background. With that being said, I wanted to do it all, so I ordered the Health + Ancestry kit ($199 regular price) off of the 23andMe website. I was excited and very intrigued to grasp onto anything about my genetic makeup and potential health risks. It seemed like it was a small piece to this confusing adoptee identity. I knew taking this was a huge shot in the dark in terms of finding my long-lost twin or birth parents but I thought about these things before ordering. What if I did find someone related to me? Would I be okay? What if I didn’t find someone closely related to me? Is that okay? What if I found out I was carrying a disease? Do I want to know? Do I need to know?

When my kit arrived through the slow college post, it was a white small package, with the colourful 23andMe design. Originally, I wanted to video this process, but at the time, I felt like it would be too forced and I would need to have a “good” reaction. Like many other DNA kits, 23andMe only requires your DNA in the form of saliva. As I was reading the instructions, I remember feeling like I was going to mess it up… and my anxiety kicked in. It kept telling me that my DNA was going to come back unreadable or my spit would have too much food in it, despite not eating before spitting into a tube. I gave enough spit and sealed everything up and then returned the package a few days later and waited. I waited about 4 weeks before I was emailed my results.

Immediately, I signed into my account and checked out everything.* Surprise! I found out I was 98% Chinese. It was somewhat comforting to see that the stronger “Highly Likely Matches” (all highlighted in red), were on the eastern coast of China, where I was adopted from -- so that aligned nicely. I checked out the various “traits” and “Wellness” that my DNA says I am likely or not likely to have… for example, I am “likely [to have] no red hair,” it is “likely [I] can taste” bitter taste, that it is “likely [I have] lighter skin,” and my “alcohol flush reaction” is “unlikely to flush.” Some of these are true, I do not have red hair, I found some of the results to also be incorrect. I do have dimples. I do not have motion sickness. I do not have freckles. I am not afraid of heights or public speaking. It was fun to see some of these traits but I realised I was avoiding the relative part. When I finally checked, the closest relative I could find was a third-distant cousin who had .58% DNA shared. Third cousins would mean we MIGHT have the same great-great-great-grandparents. Not going to lie, I was a little disappointed that there was not even 1% of my DNA shared with someone else.

It didn’t help that my roommate (domestically adopted from the US) also did 23andMe around the same time I did. Unlike me, she ended up finding her 1st cousin maybe a day or two later. It makes sense that she was more likely to find her first cousin because they share not only genetic DNA but also share overlapping socioeconomic backgrounds, they both are living and grew up in America -- where DNA testing is “trendy” despite being an adoptee. It also came to my attention that there are many, many DNA testing companies and although their processes are similar to spitting into a tube or pulling out a hair follicle are similar, the database access is not shared. Although this probably does not change me finding my potential twin, it does limit some things. For example, if I had a sibling or cousin, who was also adopted in the Americas, they could have used Ancestry while I used 23andMe. We would never “match” because we used different companies and the databases are not shared.

One thing I found while researching DNA tests is a site called WeGene. It focuses on the Chinese-Asian heritage and (with permission) it uses the 23andMe or Ancestry DNA data and expands the ancestry information. Meaning, you don’t have to buy a new DNA kit nor do you have to send it to China and wait, to further the DNA breakdown. It is in Mandarin, so for those interested and who do not speak/read Mandarin, they will need to use google chrome (or another web browser) which allows whole page translation.

For Adoptees interested in DNA testing, I would like to remind you all that these tests will not necessarily give you all the answers -- in fact, at most, they will only give you partial answers. Take any and all information you get, with a grain of salt and understand these limitations PRIOR to looking at the results. Also keep in mind, that if you are not in contact with biological relatives, you will not be able to fill out your “family tree” or give more information, especially those who are female. We are missing the “y-chromosome” which regardless of being an adoptee, we will always need a male parent with the y-chromosome to find out the remaining DNA strands. I am glad I did 23andMe, but because I did it for me. I wasn’t pressured into doing it by my family or other adoptees. My sister, who is also adopted from China, has not shared any interest in doing it all. My family at one point wanted to do it, but it wouldn't necessarily mean that much in terms of the online database given we do not share DNA. I still have heightened hope when I receive email alerts when someone who shares DNA with me joins the 23andMe community, but I know what I wanted out of 23andMe in 2017 and I know that the data kits can only give us so much information right now.*Since sending in my DNA in 2017, 23andMe has updated and added more information. I believe they have also narrowed down some of the ancestry composition to be more accurate. They also have options to participate in research studies which are completely optional.

Can also be found on here, Hello Adoption. A blog by Adoptees for Adoptees.

Originally Written: March 2017