Have you purchased one of those kits to have your genetics tested and analyzed? If so, did you have any surprises and did it change the way you live now? I keep seeing the commercials and have wanted to do it for a while now. However, I keep picturing myself all alone in my kitchen and learning something about my health that raises concerns. Of course, in my head it would happen on a Friday, but the doctor wouldn't be in until Monday - that's a long time to stew!

I haven't considered 23andMe. Awhile back I considered doing Ancestry.com, if my memory serves me correctly. But maybe I will give 23andMe a go because people seem to be doing these tests right and left. It's so interesting that you say this about your not wanting to find out about health concerns, because I heard someone said that same thing about 23andMe just the other day in a group conversation. The person said that some people won't do it because of health concerns, and at that time I thought to myself, "That can't be true," but I didn't say a word, I just listened. Now, here, less than a week later I read this post and you're saying you picture yourself learning something about your health that raises concerns. I didn't know that people actually felt like this. You learn something new every day.

If you do end up deciding to do one of these tests - especially 23andMe - please make sure to read all of the fine print about how your data might be used. There have been steps taken to ensure privacy but there still isn't a solid guarantee. I know I sound paranoid but this is unfortunately the kind of world we're living in and the future looks pretty anti-privacy.

I rather fancy having something like this done to learn a bit more about my ancestry. And also to discover people alive now that I am related to. I don't think there would be many surprises as I live in Britain, and my immediate ancestry is all British Isles going back to England, Scotland and Ireland. However there is some talk of somebody Spanish being on my mother's side - so I would be interested to learn more about that, if it is possible, from testing or from researching the family tree.

I have considered it but I am a little iffy about it, because your DNA is literally being stored by companies for the rest of your life. And who knows what all they do with it. I have heard that you basically sign away your rights to that DNA when you send it in.

@IdesOfMarch @Mendez Interesting what both of you are saying here. I hadn't even thought of these things, which is very unlike me because I have a conspiracy theory ready for any and all occasions. Puts a whole new spin on my wanting one of these tests done.

@IdesOfMarch, thanks a bunch for sharing that information! I had no idea something like that could happen and considered the testing as just something to do for fun. I guess it's taken pretty seriously, which lends the company some credibility. I'll definitely skip it though.

No problem, @ShadowEdge. I hadn't thought of it either until a friend of mine told me about how those sites can be just another way for people to use your data. It's turned me off. He told me that one of them is actually a Chinese database that could use your information for genetic warfare. I don't know how plausible that claim is though. That might be too far in the conspiracy theory realm.