39 Times People Took A DNA Test And Found Out More Than They Wanted To

23andMe has taken the world by storm with its innovative approach to educating consumers about their history. The company, which was launched in 2006, has sold over 12 million kits and has inspired the popular subreddit which has over 85k members. On the subreddit, users commonly discuss family problems and discoveries, ask questions and seek help, discuss their health reports, share PSAs and converse about their test results. And while some users have fun sharing their new-found knowledge, others use the page to seek comfort when they learn upsetting information.

Scrolling through the community, you can find many stories posted by users who suddenly are wondering why one parent’s test came back so differently from theirs or why the story they have been told their entire life about their origin does not seem to add up anymore. And while human error is always a possibility, for the most part, DNA tests don’t lie. I would not recommend taking one if you are scared of what family secrets might be revealed.

The creator of 23andMe, Anne Wojcicki, sat down with CNBC in 2018 to provide some insight on the background of the company and what her goals were. She explained that in 2006, she abandoned her career in biotech investing to focus on the dream she had of putting individuals’ personal health data in the palm of their hands, all from a small saliva sample. 

“I was always impressed by the eagerness of individuals to learn about their health and take action,” Wojcicki said. “They just needed the opportunity and time to learn and absorb.” In 2013, however, she encountered some issues with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration demanding she stop selling her kids until they were approved by the FDA. Finally, in 2018, 23andMe earned their seal of approval from the FDA, and Wojcicki was able to start marketing her kids to the general public yet again. 

23andMe can provide life-saving health information to consumers, as it was the first company to be approved to inform women of their breast cancer risk based on gene mutations, without requiring a doctor’s opinion. “Since our earliest days, we wanted to pioneer a path where people can get their genetic information directly and do not have to go through a physician or genetic counselor for access or interpretation,” Wojcicki told CNBC.

Today, 23andMe is also approved to inform users of their risks for Celiac disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease as well. In fact, it can even tell prospective parents whether they might pass along the cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, hereditary hearing loss, or many other gene abnormalities. Although the site is most famous for users being genuinely curious about their backgrounds and wanting to understand themselves or their family histories better, it is also a game changer when it comes to understanding personal health risks.

To learn more about the surprises that taking a DNA test can lead to, we reached out to Alexis Hourselt, host of the DNA Surprises Podcast. When asked what inspired her to launch this show, Alexis told Bored Panda, "I started DNA Surprises after experiencing my own NPE (non-paternal event). In July of 2021, I learned that the man who raised me is not my biological father—he’d unofficially adopted me when I was two months old. I also learned that I am not biracial white and Mexican, but white and African American. I decided to start the podcast to help others share their stories and feel less alone. This experience is very isolating, but sharing our stories helps us connect and heal."

We also asked Alexis if she thinks that it is important for everyone to have a DNA test done. "Taking a DNA test is a very personal decision," she says. "I’m glad I took mine because I’d rather know the truth, but that is not the case for all. Everyone who takes a test should be aware of possible outcomes." She's right. Even if you plan to only take a DNA test for fun, it is important to understand that there are always risks. If you find out something that you did not want to know, it may alter the course of your life or cause you to question your identity.

We also asked Alexis about some of the wildest stories she has heard from people who have taken DNA tests. "Racial shifts in identity like mine are always shocking," she told Bored Panda. "I’ve spoken to people who thought they were white and ended up being half black and people who thought they were half black who ended up being half Jewish. I’ve spoken to someone who thought they were one hundred percent African American who turned out to be biracial like me. There are a lot of cross-cultural discoveries like this, and they deeply affect people."

"Some people end up having double NPEs (non-paternal events) or DNA surprises—they’ll learn their birth certificate father isn’t their dad and their mother shares the name of another man," Alexis shared. "People start building relationships with the 'bio dad' only to learn that isn’t their father either. That double shock makes these stories even harder."

"Another thing that can complicate DNA discoveries is endogamy—in some cultures or small communities cousins marry cousins," Alexis explained. "I spoke to a guest who had family in Mexico, and endogamy made it extremely difficult to find her biological father."

"One of the biggest things people don’t think about in these situations is the medical history piece of DNA surprises," Alexis added. "We spend our lives with half of our history being a lie—people inherit medical issues that they can’t explain because they don’t know where they come from."

"This is also very common," she says. "It’s estimated that 5 percent of the population has misattributed parentage, whether they know it or not. That translates to 16 million Americans. If all NPEs comprised a state, we’d be the fifth largest!"

If you'd like to hear even more crazy stories about DNA surprises or hear more about Alexis' story, be sure to check out the DNA Surprises Podcast right here.

If you’re interested in having a DNA test done, Dr. Robert H. Shmerling of Harvard Medical School recommends you choose the right test for your personal goals. For example, if you are simply curious about your family history, 23andMe might be a good option. But if you are concerned about health risks and want to be sure you are not at high risk for certain medical issues, it might be better to have a more comprehensive test done by doctors. 23andMe only tests 24 gene variants, while other tests can include over 2,000. And in one study of over 4,500 participants, nearly 70% of them, including 94% of Black and 85% of Hispanic participants, would have missed important gene variants that present health risks had they only been tested through 23andMe. 

Is this list inspiring you to have your own DNA tests done? Whether you have tried 23andMe before or you have no interest in seeing your DNA results on paper, we hope you’re enjoying this list of shocking and amusing results from the service. Be sure to upvote the stories that you find most compelling, and then let us know in the comments if you have any personal experiences with DNA testing revealing family secrets. I’ve never taken one of these tests myself, but now I would be interested to know my results. Hopefully, it won’t lead to a panicked phone call to my mother…