Earlier this year, I ordered a genetic sampling kit from a website, rubbed a cotton swab vigorously on the inner surface of my cheek, sealed and returned my biological sample via the US Postal Service, and some weeks later, received information about the DNA that sits inside my cells. In doing so, I joined the ranks of millions of people—more than 12 million as of the end of 2017—who’ve explored their own genetic blueprints in similar fashion.
So what did I learn from dipping my toes into the bustling direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetics market? The cocktail party talking points are too numerous to list, but here’s a taste: I’m 0.9 percent Ashkenazi Jewish, devoid of two of the genetic variants associated with celiac disease, likely to wake up around 8:02 AM (strike one, DTC genetics company), and unlikely to have a bald spot (strike two).
Even if the results are not ...
