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SHOULD YOU TAKE A DNA TEST?
Kiplinger's Personal Finance
|September 2025
Services such as AncestryDNA, 23andMe and MyHeritage DNA offer DNA testing kits. After you send in a sample of your saliva, the service uses it to analyze your genetic information and compares it to the DNA of other people worldwide. Then you'll get a report detailing the geographic regions where your ancestors may have lived.
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DNA testing can enhance your research, but it’s not a must-do for a successful trip, says Jackie Hogan, author of the book Roots Quest: Inside America’s Genealogy Boom. In fact, testing can come with some pitfalls, such as finding out a parent may not be who you thought they were or that your ancestral DNA doesn’t align with the cultural identity and traditions you grew up honoring.
This story is from the September 2025 edition of Kiplinger's Personal Finance.
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