Could this be the worst GIFT you ever give?

DNA tests are popular as presents – but they can reveal some unexpected shocks, as Jackie Brown reports

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Not that long ago, family secrets had every chance of staying that way – until the boom in DNA testing.

It was 25 years ago this month that the first genetic genealogy tests were offered to the public. Since then, 40 million people worldwide are thought to have tested their DNA ancestry through companies such as Ancestry, MyHeritage and 23andMe.

While some want to build their family tree, others are trying to find parents, siblings and other relatives, particularly if they've been adopted. We've seen amazing stories of emotional reunions on TV shows like Long Lost Family, which paint a picture of pure joy. There are medical DNA tests too, which can reveal genetic markers for inherited diseases.

However, there have also been some shocks. Actor John Simm found out his dad was not his biological father when he went on ITV's DNA Journey late last year. He was, in fact, the result of a short-lived affair his mum had with a married man.

'It spun my world, and everything I thought I knew wasn't real. It turned out to be such a massive thing in my life,' said John, who admitted he was relieved that his dad, who brought him up, had died a few years beforehand so would never know the truth.

Nowadays, discovering your family history doesn't require endless hours of heritage tracing. In fact, it can be as simple as a saliva test. Costing as little as £150, DNA tests are increasingly popular as presents. But with an enormous and growing database, you could find out more than you bargained for.

Pandora's box

Psychotherapist Susie Masterson warns against giving DNA tests as presents. 'It is a real Pandora's box. The difficulty is if it reveals something you weren't expecting. If you genuinely think you are related to your parents and a test contradicts that, it can really disrupt family dynamics and lead to disharmony.