Cancer casts its shadow on almost all of us. Whether we&#8217;re facing our own diagnosis or that of a spouse, a parent, a child, a friend, or another loved one, we can muster the courage we need in those moments by knowing we are not alone.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beat-cancer">Beat Cancer</h2>



We at 23andMe are encouraged by the White House’s recent designation of April as National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month to rally support for those affected and their families and highlight the importance of prevention and screening.



But beyond simply naming the month, this is part of a collective effort to raise awareness that includes <a href="https://www.preventcancer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024_White_House_partner_letter_Cancer_Prevention_Early_Detection_FINAL.pdf">support from 84 non-profit and patient advocacy organizations</a>. Each group focuses on expanding cancer screening, research, and treatments. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-1024x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-32772" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-1024x1024.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-300x300.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-768x768.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-880x880.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-1180x1180.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-372x372.png 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-574x574.png 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-980x980.png 980w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on.png 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">23andMe Employees wearing green in support of National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-progress">Progress</h2>



So much progress has been made already — <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/parents/vaccine/six-reasons.html">vaccines against human papillomavirus</a> promise to slash the rates of cervical cancer; cancer screening has <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10405449/">saved millions of lives</a> in the last three decades; new <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/press-releases/2020/lung-cancer-treatments-mortality-drop">treatments for lung cancer</a> have reduced mortality rates; and immunotherapies such as <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/research/car-t-cells">CAR-T cell therapy</a> have improved outcomes for many types of cancer.



However, much more needs to be done. Every year, more than 1.8 million people in the United States are <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/statistics">diagnosed with cancer</a>, and more than 600,000 people die each year, making it the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm">second leading cause of death</a> behind heart disease.&nbsp;



Every cancer is different, but early detection and treatment offer the best outcomes for all cancers. Improved awareness about cancer screening — regular mammograms and colorectal cancer screening, for instance — can go a long way toward early detection.&nbsp;



Knowing one&#8217;s risk by learning about one&#8217;s family cancer history, or through genetic testing, or simply through identifying risk factors in one&#8217;s life can help identify those at higher risk and direct them toward preventive care or enhanced screening.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-power-of-knowing">The Power of Knowing</h2>



23andMe wants to show our support for this new effort but also share a little about how we are raising awareness about cancer, alerting people of their potential risk for different forms of cancer, and adding to the growing body of research into cancer to potentially identify causes and cures.



In the coming weeks, we’ll share more about what 23andMe has done and is doing to help people better understand their genetic risk and family cancer history and how that knowledge is a formidable tool for cancer prevention.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-find-out-more">Find Out More</h2>



Learn more about cancer prevention and screening from the <a href="https://www.preventcancer.org/cancer-prevention-early-detection-month/">Prevent Cancer Foundation</a>. You can explore more about all that 23andMe has to offer <a href="https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/">here</a>.

A photo of a doctor showing a patient information on a digital tablet.

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

Improving Cancer Outcomes Through Early Diagnosis and Treatment

In one of the largest studies of its kind, a team of researchers led by scientists at <a href="https://www.newswise.com/articles/a-deep-dive-into-the-genetics-of-alcohol-consumption#:~:text=Sanchez%2DRoige%20explained%20that%20variants,drinking%20to%20alcohol%20use%20disorder.">UC San Diego</a> found that genetic variants known to be protective against alcohol use disorder and excessive drinking were also associated with numerous health outcomes, many having nothing to do with drinking. 



Published in <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(24)00121-X/fulltext">Lancet eBioMedicine</a>, the study included data from more than three million 23andMe customers from diverse populations who’d consented to participate in research.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-metabolizing-alcohol">Metabolizing Alcohol</h2>



The work builds on the <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/the-genetics-of-alcoholism">ongoing research by the team at UCSD</a>, which has previously looked at genetic variants associated with alcohol dependence and alcohol use disorder, as well as associated psychiatric traits.&nbsp;



That work has already contributed to a better understanding of the genetic underpinning of alcohol use and addiction and offers important insights into the heritability of alcoholism.&nbsp;



Those studies identified the importance of genes involved in alcohol metabolism, ADH1B and ADH1C. Some variants in those genes control the speed rate at which a person metabolizes ethanol, the intoxicating chemical in alcoholic drinks.



“And that causes many negative effects,” said <a href="https://profiles.ucsd.edu/alexandra.sanchezroige">Sandra Sanchez-Roige,</a> an associate professor at UCSD School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and a lead author on the research.



These individuals may almost immediately feel nausea or a headache, for instance.



“These variants are primarily associated with how much someone may consume alcohol,” Sanchez-Roige said. “And they also tend to prevent alcohol use disorder because these variants are primarily associated with the quantity of alcohol someone may drink.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-associations">Surprising Associations</h2>



In this study, the researchers found that the variants in those genes that protect against heavy drinking also protect against a wide range of health outcomes. Some of those include metabolic diseases, such as obesity and high cholesterol, cardiovascular conditions, and some sleep and psychiatric disorders. 



However, and maybe counterintuitively, they were also associated with an increased risk of unexpected health conditions, such as allergies, eye health, and migraines. While some of these associations may not be causal, they offer new avenues for researchers to investigate.&nbsp;



Read the full study <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(24)00121-X/fulltext">here</a>.

Genetic Variants Protective Against Alcoholism May Impact Other Health Outcomes

Are you distantly related to the legendary, like the great musical genius Ludwig Van Beethoven? Perhaps you are genetically related to a high-status Viking woman from the 9th century who was buried in an ornate coffin with ornaments made of copper and a comb made from antlers? Maybe you&#8217;re linked to an African female Hunter-Gatherer buried with her bow and arrow and an ivory armband or a Caquetio man found with shards of decorated pottery at a site in Curaçao that dates back to before the first colonizers arrived in the Americas.



Woven into our DNA is a history thread linking us to our relatives, their stories, and the broader human story.



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="459" height="698" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Phone_Historical-Matches.jpg" alt="A view of a Historical Match with a Viking Woman on an mobile phone screen." class="wp-image-32706" style="width:371px;height:auto" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Phone_Historical-Matches.jpg 459w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Phone_Historical-Matches-197x300.jpg 197w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 459px) 100vw, 459px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-historical-matches">Historical Matches</h2>



This week, 23andMe launches its first iteration of &#8220;Historical Matches.&#8221; This powerful and unprecedented new 23andMe+ Premium feature may connect you to one or more of 335 historical people across the globe. The technology works by identifying places in your genome where you share identical DNA inherited from a shared ancestor. This might be someone who lived long before you or your historical match. This creates a new way to learn more about your connections to the past. 



Over time, 23andMe plans to add more historical genomes to the feature, offering customers more opportunities to connect their stories to past epochs.&nbsp;



“23andMe&#8217;s Historical Matches is a technical breakthrough in our ability to accurately detect genetic connections between customers and historical individuals,” said Dan Chu, 23andMe&#8217;s Chief Product Officer. “It uses cutting-edge science to provide customers with connections to history that can be fun, and in some cases, deeply personal and profound.”



23andMe is the first leading DNA ancestry service to offer this level of genetic matching to relatives of historical peoples based on peer-reviewed published methods and deep data analysis.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-historical-dna">Historical DNA</h2>



The cutting-edge science used to create this feature developed over more than a decade as scientists, including those at 23andMe, have leveraged new technology for extracting and sequencing ancient or historical DNA from bones found at archeological sites or, in Beethoven&#8217;s case, from a lock of his hair.



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="637" height="1024" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/80cbf02d-2a4f-433e-9d52-71c1e557e03e-e1710785443306-637x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-32689" style="width:370px;height:auto" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/80cbf02d-2a4f-433e-9d52-71c1e557e03e-e1710785443306-637x1024.png 637w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/80cbf02d-2a4f-433e-9d52-71c1e557e03e-e1710785443306-187x300.png 187w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/80cbf02d-2a4f-433e-9d52-71c1e557e03e-e1710785443306-768x1234.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/80cbf02d-2a4f-433e-9d52-71c1e557e03e-e1710785443306-548x880.png 548w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/80cbf02d-2a4f-433e-9d52-71c1e557e03e-e1710785443306-735x1180.png 735w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/80cbf02d-2a4f-433e-9d52-71c1e557e03e-e1710785443306.png 945w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 637px) 100vw, 637px" /></figure>



Pioneering work by Harvard Population geneticist <a href="https://reich.hms.harvard.edu/node/14">David Reich</a> and Nobel Prize winner <a href="https://www.eva.mpg.de/genetics/staff/paabo">Svante Pääbo</a> at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology advanced our understanding of those ancient populations, human migration, and the interrelationship between our archaic human cousins, the Neanderthals, and modern humans.



Over the years, ancient or historical DNA information has upended our ideas of human history and migration. It&#8217;s also starting to offer insights into the origin of disease that could point toward new treatments.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-23andme-matches-to-historical-genomes">How 23andMe Matches to Historical Genomes</h2>



While previous ancestry features allowed customers to find out if they were genetically connected via their maternal or paternal lines, this new feature searches across the whole genome to connect members to historical individuals who lived hundreds or sometimes thousands of years ago by finding identical segments of DNA in their genomes.&nbsp;



The feature relies on publicly available data, scientific publications, and the 23andMe relative matching technology to link to these historical individuals.



Like 23andMe&#8217;s DNA Relatives feature, Historical Matches searches for shared segments of DNA between 23andMe+ Premium members and historical individuals. The feature identifies matches by finding segments and looking at the length of DNA that subscribers share with these historical individuals. Creating quality thresholds for how long a shared segment must be for a match makes it unlikely that there would be &#8220;false positive&#8221; matches.



Most 23andMe+ Premium members will have a match to one or more of these individuals. This offers them a connection to specific individuals from a particular time in history.&nbsp;



Most matches reveal very distant connections. Some matches may be much closer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-are-these-historical-figures">Who Are These Historical Figures</h2>



Some of these genomes are from individuals who lived thousands of years ago. Others are just a few centuries old. Almost all are relatively anonymous, except one of the more recent figures, Beethoven, who died in 1827.&nbsp;



The Historical Matches feature includes details about each historical individual. These reports also offer details of what we know about them, how they lived, and, in some cases, how they died. The feature recounts the history of their time and the details of artifacts found with them.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="201" height="300" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/viking-warrior-card-201x300.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-32727" style="width:375px;height:auto" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/viking-warrior-card-201x300.jpg 201w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/viking-warrior-card-768x1144.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/viking-warrior-card-687x1024.jpg 687w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/viking-warrior-card-591x880.jpg 591w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/viking-warrior-card-792x1180.jpg 792w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/viking-warrior-card.jpg 1097w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 201px) 100vw, 201px" /></figure>



Beethoven&#8217;s musical genius is well known. Now, we also know about his genetic health predispositions. Researchers extracted DNA from a lock of his hair. In 2023, scientists from the University of Cambridge and the Max Planck Institute <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(23)00181-1#%20">published an analysis of Beethoven&#8217;s genome</a>, attempting to ascertain more about his progressive hearing loss, liver disease, and gastrointestinal issues.&nbsp;



Also in 2023, scientists from Harvard, the Smithsonian, and 23andMe conducted a historical DNA analysis of 27 enslaved and freed African Americans who labored at a Maryland iron furnace. The furnace operated during the American Revolution and into the 19th century. The study published in Science reveals a hidden history of people who lived and worked there. It also provides a technical and ethical benchmark for future studies of similar, largely forgotten burial sites. 23andMe&#8217;s new Historical Matches also include the genomes of nine individuals whose DNA was best preserved. Their names are lost to history. However, we know some of how difficult and, at times, brutal life was for the people who toiled at the furnace.*



Almost all 335 historical figures are anonymous, but these men, women, and children have a story to tell. Based on the original published studies, we&#8217;ve placed these individuals into different historical groups.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4d783a70-861b-4981-b62b-2f1e1c235c07-1024x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-32699" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4d783a70-861b-4981-b62b-2f1e1c235c07-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4d783a70-861b-4981-b62b-2f1e1c235c07-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4d783a70-861b-4981-b62b-2f1e1c235c07-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4d783a70-861b-4981-b62b-2f1e1c235c07-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4d783a70-861b-4981-b62b-2f1e1c235c07-880x880.jpeg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4d783a70-861b-4981-b62b-2f1e1c235c07-271x271.jpeg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4d783a70-861b-4981-b62b-2f1e1c235c07-372x372.jpeg 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4d783a70-861b-4981-b62b-2f1e1c235c07-574x574.jpeg 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4d783a70-861b-4981-b62b-2f1e1c235c07-980x980.jpeg 980w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4d783a70-861b-4981-b62b-2f1e1c235c07.jpeg 1080w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-historical-groups">The Historical Groups</h2>



The Viking Age—The Vikings were Seafaring people of Scandinavia who made their indelible mark between the 8th and 11th centuries, known as <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2688-8">the Viking Age</a>.&nbsp;



Catoctin Furnace Ironworkers—The Catoctin Furnace Iron Workers were enslaved and freed African American laborers who toiled there between the 18th and 19th centuries. The site is one of the earliest industrial sites in the United States. The furnace produced iron goods, including shells fired during the siege of Yorktown. It also made ammunition for the Continental Army.



Iron Age Taiwan — The<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03336-2"> Iron Age in Taiwan</a> refers to a period when the indigenous Atayal people began to use metals like bronze, iron, and silver.&nbsp;



The Ancient Eurasian Steppe—The Eurasian Steppe encompasses the massive grasslands and plains stretching from modern-day Hungary and Romania to Mongolia and China. It was also a crossroads for human migration and a hub for the spread of the Indo-European language.



The First Peoples of the Caribbean—This group includes indigenous people who lived in the region before colonization, between about 1,000 BC and 1500 CE, or just as Spanish explorers first encountered these communities. 



The Genomic Formation of South and Central Asia — Most South Asian populations today descend from a mixture of two ancient populations that lived around 4,000 years ago. Scientists call these two populations “Ancestral South Indians” and “Ancestral North Indians.” Ancestral South Indians were also the product of two genetically distinct groups related to ancient Iranian farmers and southern Asian hunter-gatherers. That intermixing likely occurred around 2,000 BCE. Ancestral North Indians descended from pastoralists (herders) who lived in the eastern part of the Eurasian Steppe during the Bronze Age.&nbsp;



Late Stone Age and Iron Age South Africa—Many archaeological studies in Southern Africa focus on sites where our earliest human ancestors lived hundreds of thousands of years ago. However, there are also sites from the more recent past. There wasn’t a fixed date when the Late Stone Age ended in South Africa. However, the Iron Age began around 200 CE when Bantu-speaking people who experienced ironworking migrated to the region.&nbsp;



Ancient Northern Chinese Millet Farmers—The fertile basin between the Yellow and the West Liao rivers was once home to the world&#8217;s earliest complex agricultural societies. The communities there grew millet. Human migration from and through the region helped spread the cultivation of millet. Millet eventually became the staple crop of Northeast Asia, dating back almost 8,000 years.



The Ancient City of Beirut — Beirut, Lebanon has been inhabited for 5,000 years. It has been governed by many empires — Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, and Ottoman. Each of these empires left a cultural mark but not always a genetic one.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discover-more-with-23andme">Discover more with 23andMe</h2>



23andMe+ Premium members can visit their Historical Matches to explore their connections to these figures.&nbsp;



Not yet a 23andMe+ Premium member? Find out more about 23andMe+ Premium offerings <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/">here</a>.



 *Are you an existing 23andMe customer interested in discovering if you have a strong genetic connection to historical individuals buried at Catoctin Furnace? Are you a 23andMe+ Premium or Total Health member? If you are not, you may be eligible to receive information about significant genetic connections you have to individuals buried at Catoctin Furnace at no additional cost. Please visit this <a href="https://you.23andme.com/user/consent/historical_matches_close_relatives/">page</a> for further information.

An illustration showing strand of DNA and a connection between a person and Beethoven

23andMe’s Historical Matches

<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/three-new-prs-cancer-reports">New reports</a> give more personalized and accurate results by incorporating genetic ancestry as a continuous spectrum instead of grouping customers into ancestry categories.



The question looks so simple, just four words: &#8220;What is your race?&#8221; We see it on forms seemingly everywhere we go — at the doctor&#8217;s office, work, and school. But the question&#8217;s simplicity belies the deep complexity of racial, ethnic, and ancestral origins. In the 2020 Census, over 10 percent of the United States population identified as multiracial. 



Similarly, at 23andMe, we found that many consented 23andMe research participants answered &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure&#8221; rather than choosing one of the options when asked which population they &#8220;most closely&#8221; identify with. As the nation becomes increasingly diverse, the assumption that a person&#8217;s identity can be captured meaningfully by a single racial or ethnic category becomes ever more flawed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reflecting-genetic-diversity">Reflecting Genetic Diversity</h2>



At 23andMe, we know that every customer has a unique Ancestry Composition, a genetic mosaic formed by countless ancestors over generations. To reflect this genetic diversity better, we are updating the algorithm that powers new reports available to 23andMe+ Premium members to reflect genetic ancestry as a continuous spectrum instead of as distinct groups.



The new reports are powered by 23andMe research and based on polygenic scores, which <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/how-23andme-predicted-my-likelihood-of-developing-the-disease-of-kings">estimate someone&#8217;s overall genetic likelihood of having a trait or disease based on the combined impact of thousands of </a>genetic variants. Any given health condition may be more or less common from one global population to another. 



Likewise, any given genetic variant may be more frequent in some populations than others. To tease apart all these interrelated factors and give accurate results to customers of varying ancestral backgrounds, customer results based on polygenic scores must account for ancestry in some way.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-polygenic-scores">Polygenic Scores</h2>



For several years, 23andMe developed reports using a polygenic score algorithm that incorporated data from consented research participants with predominantly East Asian, European, Hispanic/Latino, Black/African American, South Asian, or West Asian/North African ancestry. 



This algorithm, released in 2019, leveraged the fact that consented 23andMe research participants form the world&#8217;s largest, most ancestrally diverse recontactable genetic database. However, it was also limited because it relied on grouping customers with other genetically similar individuals to produce their report results.



The shift to representing genetic ancestry as a continuum is in line with emerging best practices in the scientific community; as we were developing this updated algorithm in 2023, <a href="https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/26902/using-population-descriptors-in-genetics-and-genomics-research-a-new">the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine </a>released guidelines recommending that scientific analyses represent genetic diversity as a continuous spectrum, rather than genetic groups.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tailored-results">Tailored Results</h2>



With that recommendation in mind, the new reports released this month take the inclusivity of the 2019 algorithm a step further by including consented research participants with mixed ancestry who do not fit into any of the genetic groups from the previous update. With this improvement, a customer&#8217;s results are calculated based on their personal, unique pattern of genetic ancestry, without comparison to groups of genetically similar people. 



This allows each customer to receive results tailored to their unique genetic makeup, whether or not there is a large group of consented research participants with similar ancestry. The new algorithm was presented at the American Society of Human Genetics Meeting in November 2023. For more scientific details, see our <a href="https://permalinks.23andme.com/pdf/23_25-PRSMethodology.pdf">white paper</a>.



New reports released to 23andMe+ Premium members will be powered by these more personalized and accurate results starting in March 2024, beginning with <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/three-new-prs-cancer-reports">three new reports on common forms of cancer</a>.

New 23andMe Reports Are More Personalized Than Ever

By Mikala Evans, MPH



Welcome to “Mind Body Wellness,” a column that aims to help you develop a deeper understanding of your health. 



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="300" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Evans-headshot-300x300.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-32651" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Evans-headshot-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Evans-headshot-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Evans-headshot-271x271.jpeg 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Evans-headshot-372x372.jpeg 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Evans-headshot.jpeg 500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mikala Evans, MPH</figcaption></figure>



With genetics in mind, I’m tackling common topics and breaking down issues that impact your health journey. With so much information coming at us daily, it’s hard to know what’s best for our health and what we should ignore. 



Is red wine good for you, or should you never touch alcohol? And what on earth is acetaldehyde? 



Navigating all of this information can be exhausting.



My name is Mikala, and I’m here to be your guide. I don’t mind sifting through studies and papers to summarize key takeaways (because I really like this stuff!)  My interest in science began in college, studying biochemistry. However, it wasn’t until I joined the 23andMe Customer Care team in 2015 and helped people answer questions about their genetic reports through thousands of emails and phone calls that I realized how daunting this journey can be. This ultimately led me to a master’s degree in public health, where I quickly learned that my favorite aspect of graduate school was that it was a little unique. As a teaching assistant in a cell biology course, I loved seeing students’ eyes light up when they finally understood a new biological concept. I felt privileged to help them gain new knowledge and understanding. 



My time in Customer Care and my students’ experience perfectly captures my goal for this blog. Not only do I want to break down health topics, I want you to start to feel more comfortable approaching scientific concept papers. We will cover a range of diverse issues, and I hope you get educational content that leads to conversations, reflection, and even action. 



Join me as I take on diet, exercise, mindfulness, and new developments around common health issues like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer using a holistic lens backed by scientific literature. I can’t wait to start this journey towards improving our understanding of mind and body wellness!



Everything is always better as a game — including biology. Here is the first of many health trivia questions! 



What is the most abundant element in the human body by mass?* (no cheating!)



Mikala Evans&#8217; time with 23andMe goes back to 2015 when she worked with our Customer Care team. She returned to the company after receiving her master&#8217;s in public health from UCLA, where she trained in epidemiology and focused her studies on asthma within a community in Los Angeles exposed to natural gas pollution. After returning to 23andMe, Mikala has worked as a quality engineer focused on compliance. She has a bachelor of science in biochemistry and a minor in religious studies from Washington University in St. Louis. She loves her two nieces and exploring all the natural beauty in Northern California. 



*Answer: Oxygen

Mikala Evans

Mind Body Wellness

23andMe Improves Ancestry Results for People with South American, Levantine, Sephardic, and Mizrahi Genetic Ancestry

This week, 23andMe released new reports on three of the most common types of cancer — <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/">breast cancer,</a> <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/basic_info/">prostate cancer</a>, and <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/what-is-colorectal-cancer.htm">colorectal cancer</a>.&nbsp;



The new reports use thousands of genetic variants associated with the disease to assess a person’s likelihood of an individual developing one of these cancers.



The reports are based on statistical models known as polygenic risk scores (PRS), developed by 23andMe through its proprietary research database. These new PRS reports were developed by 23andMe scientists and clinical experts using the company’s massive database of genetic and self-reported health information contributed by consented research participants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-new-cancer-prs-reports">The New Cancer PRS Reports</h2>



The new 23andMe PRS reports focus on some of the most common cancers for which genetics are often a factor, noting where some customers may have an increased likelihood of developing these conditions relative to the average. This is important because averages can mask significant differences – some people have a higher chance of developing cancer, and some have a slightly lower chance due to genetics and other factors. Significantly, healthy lifestyle habits can offset an increased genetic likelihood of developing these diseases, while routine screening can help with early detection.



Breast cancer affects, on average, one in eight females, while prostate cancer affects about one in eight males, and colorectal cancer impacts about one in 25 people.



For these reports, depending on the type of cancer and the member’s ancestry, up to 5-to-30 percent of our current <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/">23andMe+ Premium</a> and <a href="https://www.23andme.com/total-health/">23andMe+ Total Health</a> members will see an increased likelihood result.&nbsp;



It’s important to note that these three new cancer reports — <a href="https://you.23andme.com/reports/prs.breast_cancer/">Breast Cancer PRS Report</a>*, <a href="https://you.23andme.com/reports/prs.prostate_cancer/">Prostate Cancer PRS Report</a>*, and <a href="https://you.23andme.com/reports/prs.colorectal_cancer/">Colorectal Cancer PRS Report</a>* — augment or work in parallel with three existing Genetic Health Risk reports* that look at select variants associated with these types of cancers.&nbsp;



Although each report examines how a customer’s genetics can impact the chances of developing cancer, the reports differ in several ways. One way to look at them is to consider the different causes of cancer.



Cancer can be caused by rare genetic variants that have a significant impact on the risk of developing cancer. These highly impactful variants are part of our Genetic Health Risk reports. Other times, cancer can be influenced by thousands of common variants that each have a small effect on the likelihood of developing cancer. But a lot of small impact variants can make a big impact. 23andMe’s new PRS reports consider many common variants to report the likelihood of developing cancer. It’s these common genetic variants combined with lifestyle and environment that cause the majority of cancer.



23andMe’s existing Genetic Health Risk reports include the <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-updates-brca1-2-report">BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants)</a>* report, the <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-new-hereditary-prostate-cancer-hoxb13-related-report">Hereditary Prostate Cancer (HOXB13-Related)</a>* report, and the <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-new-mutyh-report">MUTYH-Associated Polyposis (MAP)</a>* report. If a customer has an increased risk detected in one of those reports, they will not receive a result for the related PRS report.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-caveat-regarding-the-new-colorectal-cancer-report">A Caveat Regarding the New Colorectal Cancer Report</h2>



The new colorectal cancer PRS report is only available for those of European and Latino/Hispanic descent, as there is not yet enough data to provide a result for those of other ethnicities &#8211; a historical issue with genetic research and polygenic scores at large. As the number of customers opting to participate in our research grows, we may be able to improve the model performance within these groups.&nbsp;



To help address this issue, 23andMe recently launched <a href="https://www.23andme.com/genetic-insights-into-colorectal-cancer-black-community/">Genetic Insights into Colorectal Cancer in the Black Community</a> study, which invites individuals with African ancestry and/or who identify as Black or African American to participate. In the U.S., Black and African Americans have an increased chance of developing and dying from colorectal cancer compared to many other ethnic groups. We hope to use the insights gained from this study to help more customers understand their chances of developing the disease. In the fall of 2023, we updated our BRCA1/BRCA2 (selected variants) report to include 44 variants and improve its coverage for people of non-European ancestry.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-find-out-more-about-23andme-s-new-cancer-prs-nbsp">Find Out More About 23andMe’s New Cancer PRS&nbsp;</h2>



The hope is that these new PRS reports will help our customers become more informed, alerting them to an increased likelihood of developing cancer that they would not have known otherwise.



The three new PRS reports are available to <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/">23andMe+ Premium</a> members and <a href="https://www.23andme.com/total-health/">23andMe+ Total Health</a> members. Because these three new cancer reports cover similar conditions covered in three of our previously released sensitive reports—BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants), Hereditary Prostate Cancer (HOXB13-Related), and MUTYH-Associated Polyposis—we require customers to opt-in and view any tutorials associated with those sensitive reports in order to view their new cancer reports.&nbsp;



While the new reports do not include suggestions for clinical action and do not diagnose cancer, they do highlight healthy lifestyle habits, the importance of keeping up to date with screening, and what to discuss with your healthcare provider.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-learn-more">Learn More</h2>



23andMe+ Premium members can find links to three new PRS reports on the new topic pages.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://you.23andme.com/health/condition/breast_cancer/">Breast Cancer </a>(only available for customers who self-reported their birth sex as female)</li>



<li><a href="https://you.23andme.com/health/condition/prostate_cancer/">Prostate Cancer </a>(only available for customers who self-reported their birth sex as male)</li>



<li><a href="https://you.23andme.com/health/condition/colorectal_cancer/">Colorectal Cancer&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>



These new topic pages explain how the new cancer reports work with 23andMe’s existing Genetic Health Risk reports. In addition, the pages include information about the factors influencing the chances of developing one of these cancers and the importance of knowing your family health history.



These new topic pages will also be available to all 23andMe <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry/">Health + Ancestry customers</a> on the <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/218392668-Upgrading-to-23andMe-s-Newest-Chip-Version">latest genotyping chip</a>, V5.&nbsp;



Find out all that 23andMe has to offer and <a href="https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/">compare our services here</a>.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-disclaimer">Disclaimer</h2>



*The 23andMe PGS test includes health predisposition and carrier status reports. Health predisposition reports include both reports that meet FDA requirements for genetic health risks and PRS reports which are based on a statistical model that includes data and insights from 23andMe consented research participants, and have not been reviewed by the FDA. 



The test uses qualitative genotyping to detect select clinically relevant variants in the genomic DNA of adults from saliva for the purpose of reporting and interpreting genetic health risks and reporting carrier status. It is not intended to diagnose any disease. Your ethnicity may affect the relevance of each report and how your genetic health risk results are interpreted. Each genetic health risk report describes if a person has variants associated with a higher risk of developing a disease, but does not describe a person’s overall risk of developing the disease. Each PRS report describes if a person has a certain likelihood of developing a condition, but does not describe a person’s overall likelihood. 



The test is not intended to tell you anything about your current state of health, or to be used to make medical decisions, including whether or not you should take a medication, how much of a medication you should take, or determine any treatment. Our carrier status reports can be used to determine carrier status, but cannot determine if you have two copies of any genetic variant. These carrier reports are not intended to tell you anything about your risk for developing a disease in the future, the health of your fetus, or your newborn child&#8217;s risk of developing a particular disease later in life. For certain conditions, we provide a single report that includes information on both carrier status and genetic health risk. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-warnings-amp-limitations">Warnings &amp; Limitations: </h2>



The 23andMe PGS Genetic Health Risk Report for BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) is indicated for reporting of 44 variants in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. The report describes if a person&#8217;s genetic result is associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer and may be associated with an increased risk for prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, and potentially other cancers. 



The variants included in this report do not represent the majority of the BRCA1/BRCA2 variants in people of most ethnicities. The MUTYH-Associated Polyposis Genetic Health Risk Report is indicated for reporting the Y179C and G396D variants in the MUTYH gene and an increased risk for colorectal cancer. The two variants included in this report are most common in people of Northern European descent. The Hereditary Prostate Cancer (HOXB13-Related) Genetic Health Risk report is indicated for reporting the G84E variant in the HOXB13 gene. The report describes if a person has the G84E variant and if a male is at increased risk for prostate cancer. The variant included in this report is most common in people of European descent, especially in people of Northern European descent. 



These reports do not include variants in other genes linked to hereditary cancers and the absence of variants included in this report does not rule out the presence of other genetic variants that may impact cancer risk. These reports are for over-the-counter use by adults, and provide genetic information to inform discussions with a healthcare professional. The PGS test is not a substitute for visits to a healthcare professional for recommended screenings or appropriate follow-up. Results should be confirmed by an independent genetic test prescribed by your own healthcare provider before taking any medical action.&nbsp; For important information and limitations regarding genetic health risk reports, visit https://www.23andme.com/test-info.

An image of the three Cancer PRS reports displayed on a mobile phone.

23andMe Launches New Genetic Reports on Common Forms of Cancer

In time for Colon Cancer Awareness Month, 23andMe launched its <a href="https://www.23andme.com/genetic-insights-into-colorectal-cancer-black-community/">Genetic Insights into Colorectal Cancer in the Black Community</a> study this week that we hope will help improve the performance of genetic report models that could help alert those with a higher likelihood of developing colorectal cancer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-awareness">Awareness</h2>



March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Did you know that Colorectal cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer? It is also one of the leading cancer-related causes of death in the United States, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its impact on people of color is particularly pernicious because they tend to be diagnosed in later stages of cancer and often receive lower-quality care. That plays a significant role in why 



Black and African American individuals are about 20 percent more likely to develop colorectal cancer and about 40 percent more likely to die from it, <a href="https://www.cancer.org/cancer/latest-news/colorectal-cancer-rates-higher-in-african-americans-rising-in-younger-people.html#:~:text=Risk%20is%20higher%20in%20African%20Americans&amp;text=African%20Americans%20are%20about%2020,it%20than%20most%20other%20groups.">according to the American Cancer Society</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="252" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Colorectal-Cancer-Image-300x252.png" alt="A graphic for the Colorectal Cancer Study" class="wp-image-32571" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Colorectal-Cancer-Image-300x252.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Colorectal-Cancer-Image.png 596w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></figure>



Early detection makes treatment much more likely to succeed. This is why regular screening—through colonoscopy or stool-based tests—is so important. Knowing your genetic likelihood of developing the condition can raise awareness and motivation to take these vital screening steps.  



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predictive-models">Predictive Models</h2>



Polygenic scores are a relatively new but powerful way to understand a person&#8217;s genetic likelihood for a condition. They combine the impact of hundreds or thousands of genetic variants to estimate a person&#8217;s chances. Individually, each of these variants only has a small effect on a person’s genetic likelihood, but that impact can grow when many variants are considered together. 



But the performance of these models — which rely on extensive genetic studies — tend to perform poorly for Black and African Americans, in part because of the lack of genetic research that includes data from non-European participants.



23andMe wants to improve how its polygenic score for colorectal cancer performs for Black and African American individuals and raise awareness about this form of cancer. That is the aim of this newly launched study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-colorectal-cancer">What is Colorectal Cancer?</h2>



Cancer occurs when abnormal cells divide and grow out of control. Colorectal cancer occurs in the colon or rectum, which are sections of the large intestine. This type of cancer usually starts as a growth called a polyp.&nbsp;



Most polyps are not cancerous, but some can turn cancerous over time. Left untreated, these cancer cells can spread beyond the colon or rectum through the blood and into the lymphatic system.&nbsp;



Like many forms of cancers, a complex mix of genetics, environment, aging, family history, and lifestyle influence whether someone develops colorectal cancer.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genes-and-environment">Genes and Environment</h2>



In a few types of colorectal cancer, such as <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/disease/colorectal_cancer/lynch.htm">Lynch syndrome</a>, <a href="https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/6408/familial-adenomatous-polyposis">familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)</a>, and <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-new-mutyh-report">MUTYH-associated polyposis</a>, genetics plays an outsized role. But diets that are low in fiber and fresh fruits and vegetables and high in fat and red and processed meats contribute to a higher risk for colorectal cancer, as does a lack of exercise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Things like eating a healthy diet, reducing alcohol consumption, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight can help lower one’s risk for the disease.



Current guidelines suggest starting regular screening for colorectal cancer at the age of 45 years. Still, certain risk factors, like a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or symptoms related to the disease, may call for earlier screening.&nbsp;



Although the majority of colorectal cancers are diagnosed in people over the age of 50 and the overall rate of colorectal cancers has declined in the last few decades, a <a href="https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.3322/caac.21772">recent study</a> by scientists with the American Cancer Society indicated that rates for those under the age of 55 have gone up. Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death for men under 50.&nbsp;



Recognizing these trends and the disproportionate impact of colorectal cancer in the Black community, 23andMe scientists are recruiting Black and African Americans in the United States who have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer and are willing to participate in our research.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-23andme-s-genetic-insights-into-colorectal-cancer-in-the-black-community-study">23andMe’s Genetic Insights into Colorectal Cancer in the Black Community Study</h2>



23andMe’s mission is to help all people access, understand, and benefit from the human genome. Several recent 23andMe initiatives have focused on conditions that affect many individuals but disproportionately affect individuals in the Black and African American communities. 



In 2022, we launched the Sickle Cell Carrier Status Awareness Program to help improve access to important information about sickle cell traits and diseases. That year, we also launched the Representation in Sarcoidosis Research Study, studying a rare inflammatory disease that affects the Black community at double the rate of individuals with European ancestry. We hope that with better representation, our products and research will benefit more people, especially when health inequities exist. One such condition is colorectal cancer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-study">A New Study</h2>



The newly launched <a href="https://www.23andme.com/genetic-insights-into-colorectal-cancer-black-community/">Genetic Insights into Colorectal Cancer in the Black Community</a> study will recruit Black and African American individuals in the United States who have been diagnosed with the disease. By increasing the amount of data on individuals from this community with colorectal cancer, we hope to be able to improve the polygenic score. This will strengthen our ability to inform Black and African Americans about how their genetics impact their chance of developing this form of cancer.&nbsp;



As part of this effort, 23andMe will reach out to individuals new to 23andMe. We will also connect with those currently participating in other research projects focused on the Black and African American community. The goal is to recruit Black and African American individuals who are 18 years or older, live in the United States, and have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. If you would like additional information about how to participate in this research, you can learn more <a href="https://www.23andme.com/genetic-insights-into-colorectal-cancer-black-community/">here</a>.



If you have questions or want to contact us, email crc-study@23andme.com.

Studying Colorectal Cancer Within the Black Community

Miracles happen; ask Brooke and Chris Martin, who&#8217;ve experienced more than one.



The first came almost 24 years ago, when the couple, with the help of in vitro fertilization (IVF), were able to conceive after years of trying unsuccessfully. In October 2000, the couple welcomed healthy twin boys — Matthew and Christopher — into the world.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-donation-and-then-a-prayer">Donation and then a Prayer</h2>



Knowing from their own experience how emotionally difficult infertility could be, Brooke and Chris donated embryos back to the fertility clinic instead of having the clinic discard them or donate them for scientific research. Brooke and Chris hoped the donation could help a couple who, like them, wanted children but couldn&#8217;t naturally have one.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="263" height="300" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Brooke-Portrait-263x300.png" alt="A portrait photo of Brooke Martin." class="wp-image-32554" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Brooke-Portrait-263x300.png 263w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Brooke-Portrait-768x878.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Brooke-Portrait-896x1024.png 896w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Brooke-Portrait-770x880.png 770w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Brooke-Portrait-1033x1180.png 1033w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Brooke-Portrait.png 1045w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 263px) 100vw, 263px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Brooke Martin</figcaption></figure>



&#8220;I thought it would be so awesome to help a couple who couldn&#8217;t conceive and to be able to give them the gift of a child,&#8221; Brooke said.



But this was a &#8220;blind&#8221; donation, meaning they wouldn&#8217;t learn anything about whether another couple used their embryos. They didn&#8217;t know anything about what happened to the embryos.



&#8220;I had always prayed that (the embryos) could help someone else,&#8221; Brooke said. &#8220;I&#8217;d hoped they&#8217;d end up in a loving home… but for 20 years, I&#8217;d wondered what happened to them.&#8221;&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-dna-connection">A DNA Connection</h2>



In 2021, another miracle, Brooke and Chris learned what happened to three of those embryos. 



Those three embryos they donated back to the fertility clinic gave another couple, Trey and Becky Monroe, the chance to be parents to triplets — Lauren, Thomas, and Peter.&nbsp;



That was a miracle for Trey and Becky. She wanted nothing more than to be a mom, Trey said. The children were a triple blessing. They also wondered a little about who had donated them.



When he and Becky asked their fertility doctor about the donor, the doctor &#8220;sort of chuckled,&#8221; Trey said, &#8220;(The doctor said) &#8216;they&#8217;re a lot like you two.'&#8221;



The couples were a lot alike. Along with sharing roots in Tennessee, Trey and Brooke work in mental health. They all have a solid Christian faith and a deep family connection. Then, there are the similarities between their children. You would expect some since they are biological siblings, so they look alike. But when Brooke first saw a photo of Thomas, it still made her gasp at how much she looked like her sons.



&#8220;There was no doubt that&#8217;s our kid,&#8221; Brooke said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-harmony">Harmony</h2>



But it wasn&#8217;t just how similar they all looked; there were also odd things like how Matt and Thomas walked with the same athletic swagger, and then there was Lauren and Chris&#8217;s interest in music and singing. 



A video of Lauren and Chris harmonizing as they sang a pitch-perfect rendition of the song &#8220;Speechless.&#8221; 



&#8220;We sound the same,&#8221; Lauren said. &#8220;It&#8217;s crazy.&#8221;



The clip of the two singing encapsulates both literally and figuratively how these strangers, who are also biological siblings, immediately fell into sync and harmonized as a family.



The story&#8217;s tragedy is that Becky didn&#8217;t live to see it. She died about a year before the two families made this connection.&nbsp;



However, the story of how they all found each other with the help of 23andMe has received regional and national media attention. For Brooke, it&#8217;s a story about faith and family, nature and nurture, and the good that comes from allowing another family to have a child. It&#8217;s also expanding how she thinks of family, she said.



These two families might not have joined had Trey and Becky&#8217;s son Thomas not asked for a 23andMe kit for his 18th birthday. There was a little history there. Just a few years before, his dad, Trey, who&#8217;d been adopted, used DNA testing to find his own biological family, ultimately meeting his siblings and birth mom. 



&#8220;For me, it was a positive experience,&#8221; said Trey. &#8220;I know it&#8217;s not always the case.&#8221;



Trey didn&#8217;t want to stand in the way of his kids having that same opportunity.



Thomas eagerly tested. He wasn&#8217;t necessarily looking to find family but was more interested in learning about his biological family background and whether there were any potential health issues he may have inherited. 



&#8220;I wondered if maybe we were something other than Scotch-Irish like my dad,&#8221; Thomas said. &#8220;We weren&#8217;t.&#8221;



While they did find some interesting things about their health, what popped out was a connection to a cousin named Tod — the first biological relative the triplets identified. Thomas reached out, explaining who he was. It was a lucky break because Tod was a family historian who&#8217;d extensively worked on the family&#8217;s genealogy. He is Brooke&#8217;s cousin, and they quickly made the connection.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="734" data-id="32558" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Lauren-Twins-1024x734.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-32558" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Lauren-Twins-1024x734.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Lauren-Twins-300x215.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Lauren-Twins-768x551.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Lauren-Twins-880x631.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Lauren-Twins-1180x846.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Lauren-Twins.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Brooke and her twin boys.</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="866" height="1024" data-id="32557" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Becky-Triplets-866x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-32557" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Becky-Triplets-866x1024.jpg 866w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Becky-Triplets-254x300.jpg 254w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Becky-Triplets-768x908.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Becky-Triplets-744x880.jpg 744w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Becky-Triplets-998x1180.jpg 998w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Becky-Triplets.jpg 1448w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 866px) 100vw, 866px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Becky Monroe with her triplets.</figcaption></figure>
</figure>



Soon, Thomas exchanged emails with Brooke and Chris, but he waited to tell them that it wasn&#8217;t just him, that he was one of three siblings. He was worried that the news that they were biological parents of triplets might be too overwhelming. When he eventually told them, they were more than overjoyed. Brooke said she was shaking with excitement, and more than that, she was smitten with the idea that now she didn&#8217;t just have sons but a daughter as well.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-siblings-meet-for-the-first-time">Siblings Meet for the First Time</h2>



Brooke and Chris also needed to talk to Thomas&#8217;s dad, Trey. They wanted to stay within the bounds, especially since Becky (Trey’s wife and Thomas’ mom) had only passed the year before. 



Trey sent a note back to them that just made their bond stronger, saying:



&#8220;Thank you for the gift of my children. That&#8217;s all my wife ever wanted.&#8221;&nbsp;



Since then, the two families have built a deeper relationship. They&#8217;ve had chances to meet in person, even going to a large family reunion. Lauren said it&#8217;s been beneficial for her to establish a relationship with Brooke after losing her mother. She&#8217;s always felt a little outnumbered as the only girl in the family.



The two have become quite close.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="472" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Brooke-Lauren-2-1024x472.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-32551" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Brooke-Lauren-2-1024x472.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Brooke-Lauren-2-300x138.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Brooke-Lauren-2-768x354.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Brooke-Lauren-2-880x406.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Brooke-Lauren-2-1180x544.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Brooke-Lauren-2.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lauren with Brooke.</figcaption></figure>



The families have had a lot of time to bond and build relationships. Brooke hopes that their story might also encourage more of those with frozen embryos to donate them to other couples trying to conceive. She&#8217;s tracking the experience of connecting these two families on a Facebook page called &#8220;Love Multiplied,&#8221; she is almost finished writing a book about it all.  Who knows, there may be another chapter in this story; there were five other embryos that Brooke and Chris donated.



&#8220;I believe there are more out there,&#8221; Brooke said.

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