I’ve always been curious not just about where my ancestors came from, but about the secrets hidden in my DNA. When tellmeGen reached out to collaborate with our blog, I was eager to dive into this fascinating world of genetic testing. Today, I’m excited to share the insights I gained from the tellmeGen DNA kit.
Sample Collection Kit
Collecting your DNA sample is incredibly simple. The kit includes a saliva collection tube that you need to fill with approximately 2mL of saliva. Following the kit’s instructions, the sample is securely sealed in a tube. This tube is then placed into a pre-labeled envelope provided by the kit, ready to be dropped off at the nearest collection point of the shipping company they work with. Best of all, the shipping cost is covered, so your sample will be on its way to the laboratory at no additional cost.
*2025 Update: The sample collection kit has been completely redesigned and now uses a RapiDri swab instead of the traditional saliva tube. This new method involves gently rubbing the swab along the inside of the cheeks, making the process more comfortable for the user, technically more effective, and more environmentally friendly.
Once your sample reaches the lab, you can expect to receive your results in about two months, with an email notification when they’re ready.
The Results…
My first reaction upon seeing the results was, “Wow, there’s a lot of fascinating data here!” The tellmeGen test provides results across several categories, each offering a unique glimpse into your genetic makeup:
Ancestry
We start with the ancestry section, which I found particularly intriguing. This section reveals the percentage of your DNA that matches different lineages and ethnicities around the world.
As shown in my results, a large portion of my genetic similarities are with populations from the Iberian Peninsula, along with regions in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Egypt. The results are visually represented on a world map, highlighting the regions where you have the highest percentage of similarity.
Additionally, tellmeGen allows you to download a PDF summary of your ancestry results, making it easy to share with family or keep for your records.
Complex Diseases
The second section delves into complex diseases, which are influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Here, tellmeGen provides a summary estimating your genetic risk for various conditions.
As you can see from the example image, the test screens for a wide range of diseases, offering a risk assessment for each. By clicking on each disease, you can access a detailed summary that includes a visual representation of your risk on a bell curve. However, it’s important not to panic if you see a high-risk score—these are merely predictive data points.
Monogenic Diseases
This section focuses on monogenic diseases, which are caused by mutations in a single gene. The report explains that while you may carry a variant for a certain disease, you might only be a carrier if the disease is recessive, meaning you have only one copy of the mutated gene. tellmeGen provides a thorough scientific review for each condition, complete with references for those interested in digging deeper into the science.
Pharmacogenetics
The pharmacogenetics section reveals important information about your tolerance and response to various medications. The results are organized into sections, making it easy to understand your genetic predisposition to certain drugs. Each section provides detailed explanations and references, allowing the curious-minded to fully grasp the implications of their genetic profile on medication efficacy and safety.
Personal Traits
In this section, tellmeGen explores how certain physical traits you possess are determined by your genetics, although they can also be influenced by your environment and lifestyle. This section helps you understand yourself better by summarizing your predispositions to various traits.
As shown in my results, the test outlines your tolerance or susceptibility to different situations. Clicking on each category takes you to a more detailed summary, offering deeper insights into how your genetics influence these traits.
Wellness
Finally, we have the “Wellness” section, which offers interesting insights related to well-being, divided into nutrition and sports performance.
In the following image, you can see a summary of the various wellness aspects analyzed by the test. As with the other sections, you can click on each item to learn more about the findings and how they relate to your overall health and well-being.
Conclusion
I hope this review has helped you see the value in trying out the tellmeGen DNA kit. From my perspective, it’s definitely worth it and could spark some fascinating conversations within your family!
Furthermore, any updates made on their platform are completely free once all the initial results have been generated, allowing users to benefit from new scientific discoveries at no extra cost.
Get a 10% discount with the code “GENCURIOSO” for tellmeGen’s Advanced and Starter products.