23andMe has added finer detail for customers with roots that trace back to four Indigenous Caribbean populations, which include Indigenous ancestry in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and the Southern Caribbean.&nbsp;



The update is part of our continuing work to improve 23andMe&#8217;s ancestry reports and features. This new update allows customers with ancestry from these regions to see connections back to populations indigenous to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and other parts of the Caribbean and surrounding mainlands. 



About two percent of 23andMe&#8217;s customers who have tested on our <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/218392668-Upgrading-to-23andMe-s-Newest-Chip-Version">latest genotyping chip</a> will receive a match to one or more of the groups.&nbsp;



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Indigenous Populations in the Caribbean</h6>



It&#8217;s believed that humans first settled these islands more than <a href="https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/ancient-dna-retells-story-of-caribbeans-first-people/">6,000 years ago</a>. It&#8217;s also where Indigenous Americans first encountered European explorers and colonizers after 1490 to devastating effect.&nbsp;



The region&#8217;s indigenous populations collapsed within decades after Spanish expeditions first encountered the native Arawak people living in the Bahamas, Cuba, and Hispaniola. The dramatic decimation of these populations was due to disease, enslavement, and outright killing by these early colonizers.



But recent studies of <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-03053-2">ancient DNA</a> show that traces of the early pre-colonial populations can still be found in people with roots in this region. People from these regions often have mixed ancestry, including contributions from their African, European, and Indigenous ancestors.&nbsp;



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Ancestry Composition update</h6>



23andMe&#8217;s Ancestry Composition report is a living analysis that improves as we add new reference data. Underlying our ancestry reports are powerful algorithms and analytical tools developed by 23andMe population geneticists and engineers to offer our customers more insights into their ancestral origins.



Over the last few years, we&#8217;ve updated results for people with <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/ancestry-reports/african-ethnolinguistic-groups/">African Ancestry</a>, <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/ancestry-reports/ancestry-composition-update-china/">Chinese ancestry,</a> <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/ancestry-reports/indigenous-genetic-ancestry/">Indigenous American ancestry</a>, <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-adds-more-detail-for-customers-with-british-and-irish-ancestry">British and Irish ancestry</a>, as well as <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/ancestry-reports/caribbean-latin-american/">Latinx ancestry</a>, for instance. Customers may already see evidence of recent ancestry from the Iberian Peninsula. Still, this update and these genetic groups represent improvements in accuracy. They also reflect the distinct regional populations and customers&#8217; ancestry.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Regions in the Caribbean covered in this update</h6>



Around 80 percent of customers with four grandparents from Puerto Rico, Cuba, or the Dominican Republic will receive a match (and if those customers have more than five percent Indigenous American ancestry, around 95% will receive a match).&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Caribbean-Region-RAC-1024x683.png" alt="A map of the Caribbean showing Cuba, Dominican Republic and the Southern Caribbean region." class="wp-image-31533" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Caribbean-Region-RAC-1024x683.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Caribbean-Region-RAC-300x200.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Caribbean-Region-RAC-768x512.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Caribbean-Region-RAC-880x587.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Caribbean-Region-RAC-1180x787.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Caribbean-Region-RAC.png 1374w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Many of these genetic groups likely reflect genetic ancestry related to the Taíno people who were Indigenous to the Greater Antilles, from Cuba in the West to Puerto Rico and the northernmost Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles in the East.&nbsp;



For the Southern Caribbean Genetic Group, there is also evidence of genetic ancestry related to the Garifuna people of the Windward islands of the Lesser Antilles. The Garifuna (Garínagu) people are descended from the Indigenous Kalinago inhabitants of Saint Vincent and the formerly enslaved West African people in the Lesser Antilles. Most Garifuna now live in eastern Central America, following the forced transportation of the Garifuna to the Bay of Honduras in the late 18th century.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">More on Populations from these Regions</h6>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Dominican Republic: Ayiti, the Taíno name for Hispaniola, was the cultural heartland of the Taíno civilization, which extended from Cuba in the west to the Lesser Antilles in the east and reached its zenith just before European contact.</li>



<li>Puerto Rico: In the late 1400s, after Spanish colonizers reached Borikén (the Taíno name for Puerto Rico), the island&#8217;s Indigenous Taíno population was decimated. Most Puerto Ricans have between 5–15 percent Indigenous American ancestry. Today, more and more Puerto Ricans celebrate their Indigenous heritage, including through efforts to reconstruct the extinct Taíno language.</li>



<li>Cuba: Humans have lived in Cuba for over six thousand years, but the Indigenous Taíno People were the predominant culture during European contact.&nbsp;</li>



<li>Southern Caribbean: Many people in this genetic group speak Caribbean Creoles or Indigenous languages in the Cariban or Ta-Arawakan families, such as Garifuna. The Garifuna (Garínagu) people descended from the Indigenous Kalinago inhabitants of Saint Vincent and the formerly enslaved West African people in the Lesser Antilles. Most Garifuna now live in eastern Central America, following the forced transportation of the Garifuna to the Bay of Honduras in the late 18th century.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-find-out-more">Find out more</h6>



23andMe customers who want to learn more about their Ancestry Composition can go <a href="https://you.23andme.com/reports/ancestry_composition_hd/">here</a>.&nbsp;



Not yet a customer? Find out more about 23andMe&#8217;s Ancestry Service and other services offered to customers <a href="https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/">here</a>.

A map showing the four new genetic groups added for people with Indigenous Caribbean ancestry

23andMe Blog

23andMe Blog Team

23andMe Adds More Detail for Indigenous Caribbean Ancestry

Scientists in Australia have found an overlap between some of the underlying genes associated with migraines and those associated with blood sugar imbalances.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-glycemic-headache">Glycemic Headache</h6>



The findings firm up a long-suspected connection between migraines and blood sugar regulation. Migraines affect greater than<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2787727#:~:text=Migraine%20affects%20an%20estimated%20more,in%20women%20than%20in%20men."> 10 percent of the world population</a>. Women are more than three times more likely to experience migraines than men.



“As far back as 1935, migraine was described as a ‘glycemic headache’,” said Dale Nyholt, professor at the Australia’s Queensland University of Technology<a href="https://www.qut.edu.au/research/centre-for-genomics-and-personalised-health" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health</a>. “Glycemic traits such as insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia (too much insulin), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level) and type 2 diabetes are associated with migraine and headache.”



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Understanding the Link</h6>



The genetic overlap of those traits helps scientists better understand how migraines and blood sugar may be related. It may also help scientists studying the best way to treat the condition. The link between migraines and blood sugar has been known. However, this is the first time researchers could see a genetic link between the two, Nyholt said.



Researchers at the Australia’s Queensland University of Technology led the study. It looked at data from more than a dozen institutions including from 23andMe. In all, data from almost 900,000 individuals was included in the study. About 100,000 of those individuals were 23andMe customers who consented to participate in research.



To read the full paper go to the journal<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00439-023-02532-6"> Human Genetics</a>.



<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/mutiny-and-headaches-on-the-bounty" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Other studies</a> have pointed to variants near genes that regulate serotonin levels. Serotonin is a messaging molecule produced by specialized brain cells and influences a wide range of human behavior, including appetite, sleep, memory, and mood.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="996" height="1024" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Canada-and-UK-Migraine-Report-996x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-29596" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Canada-and-UK-Migraine-Report-996x1024.png 996w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Canada-and-UK-Migraine-Report-292x300.png 292w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Canada-and-UK-Migraine-Report-768x789.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Canada-and-UK-Migraine-Report-856x880.png 856w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Canada-and-UK-Migraine-Report.png 1083w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 996px) 100vw, 996px" /></figure>



23andMe+ member can learn about what their genetic says about their own likelihood of developing migraines <a href="https://you.23andme.com/reports/prs.migraine/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. 



The 23andMe+ Migraine Report looks at more than 20,000 genetic variants along with the ethnicity and sex to estimate the likelihood of experiencing migraine headaches.



Not yet a 23andMe+ member? Find out more <a href="https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.

Genetic Links Between Migraines and Blood Sugar

In early March 2020, the World Health Organization declared we were in the middle of a worldwide pandemic. Three years later, and few things are left untouched by the COVID-19 virus. Almost seven million people worldwide have died, and untold millions are still struggling with long COVID. Yet, looking at all that has happened and continues to transpire, there is much to glean from this experience.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="914" height="1024" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/COVID-Study-Graphic-914x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-29489" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/COVID-Study-Graphic-914x1024.jpg 914w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/COVID-Study-Graphic-268x300.jpg 268w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/COVID-Study-Graphic-768x861.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/COVID-Study-Graphic-785x880.jpg 785w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/COVID-Study-Graphic.jpg 1026w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 914px) 100vw, 914px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A run-down of COVID-19 research during the first months of the pandemic.</figcaption></figure>



Others are looking at the public health response, public policy, questions about the virus&#8217;s origin and other issues that are very important. But we here at 23andMe want to look at the science, or at least what we learned through our ongoing research of COVID-19.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-covid-19-study">The COVID-19 Study</h6>



So, how has 23andMe contributed to COVID-19 research?



When the pandemic emerged, our scientists, like others worldwide, asked what we could do to help. 23andMe has a research platform that leverages one of the largest genetic and phenotypic databases of consented research participants to generate genetic insights at unprecedented speed. So back in March 2020, we decided to leverage this tool to learn as much as possible about the virus and share it as rapidly as possible with others. That&#8217;s how we began our <a href="https://you.23andme.com/covid19-study/">COVID-19 study</a>.



We launched in March 2020, asking our customers who have consented to participate in research about their own experience with the virus. In a matter of a few months, we had more than 1.2 million people participating in our study, and we were able to generate a host of insights. By June, we shared our first finding — that <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/blood-type-and-covid-19/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">blood type</a> could play a role in the susceptibility of the virus. In addition, we identified a locus on chromosome 3 that could influence the severity in symptoms among those who get it.



In less than 90 days, we were able to analyze results and share them with other scientists, offering insights into the nature of the virus and why some people may be more susceptible or have a more severe reaction than others. We published the findings on a preprint server in September and later in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-021-00854-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Genetics</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="675" height="711" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Empty-Bed.jpg" alt="An empty bed." class="wp-image-17852" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Empty-Bed.jpg 675w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Empty-Bed-285x300.jpg 285w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 675px) 100vw, 675px" /></figure>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Taste, Smell, Anxiety, and Sleep</h6>



We found other genetic insights, including genetic associations with the loss of <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/loss-of-smell-covid-study/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">smell and taste</a>, a common symptom among those with the virus. This information could indicate how the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 enters the body and accumulates in the olfactory cells of those infected.



23andMe scientists also looked at <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/covid-19-vaccine-reactions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vaccine reactions</a>. We learned that the second in the two-dose Moderna vaccine produced the strongest response, and we found that younger people and women tended to have a stronger reaction to the vaccine.



We also garnered insight into the vaccine’s impact on underrepresented populations. Because 23andMe has so many individuals from traditionally underrepresented populations, our scientists were able to look at how the virus impacted people of <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-research/impact-disparities-of-covid-19/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">different ethnicities</a>.



We did other non-genetic studies looking more broadly at how the pandemic, <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/social-distancing-and-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">social distancing</a> guidelines, and other public health responses were impacting people&#8217;s <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/covid-impact-on-sleep">sleep</a> <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/activity-changes-during-covid" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">and activity levels</a>. 



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Long COVID</h6>



More recently, we&#8217;ve looked at how <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/anxiety-long-covid" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">depression and anxiety</a> significantly increase the risk for <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/anxiety-depression-long-covid" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Long COVID</a>. Ours was one of the largest studies of long COVID at the time and confirmed that long COVID disproportionately impacts women.  



In three years, we learned a lot. But we still need to learn more, particularly about the long-term implications of having had the virus, and long COVID itself.



We&#8217;re now focused on long COVID, trying to understand why it impacts women more than men. We&#8217;re also looking at an apparent association with cardiometabolic diseases, such as <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/health-predispositions/high-blood-pressure/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">high blood pressure</a>, <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/health-predispositions/coronary-artery-disease/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coronary artery disease,</a> <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/health-predispositions/type-2-diabetes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">type 2 diabetes</a>, and <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/health-predispositions/ldl-cholesterol/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">high cholesterol</a>.



As new insights into COVID-19 arise, we’ll be sure to share them.

A logo for 23andMe's COVID-19 Research Study

COVID-19 Three Years In 

A name, a letter, and a necklace, that&#8217;s all Julia had of her birth mother for 22 years.



&#8220;Those always have been my only connection to my roots,&#8221; Julia said.



A social worker told her that her birth mother had returned to El Salvador, and Julia didn&#8217;t ever have much hope of learning more.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">A Turning Point</h6>



That all changed late last year after Julia used 23andMe, first connecting with an older brother she didn&#8217;t know. Although she knew that her birth mother had two other children, a boy and a girl, Julia was initially skeptical that he was indeed her brother. They exchanged some messages. Julia learned the person who matched as a potential half-brother was also from a town just 20 minutes from her own, so it didn&#8217;t quite mesh with what she thought she knew about her birth family.



&#8220;Then he said, &#8216;do you still have the necklace that our mother gave you?'&#8221;



It was something no one else would have known about; it immediately stirred something deep in Julia. She began to cry.



It all happened very quickly after that. Julia met her birth mother and four other siblings through her newfound older brother, Melvin.



&#8220;That&#8217;s a huge turning point as an adopted kid,&#8221; said Julia, something she&#8217;d hoped for but never expected would happen.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Talking-to-Adoption-agency-1024x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-31416" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Talking-to-Adoption-agency-1024x1024.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Talking-to-Adoption-agency-150x150.png 150w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Talking-to-Adoption-agency-300x300.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Talking-to-Adoption-agency-768x768.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Talking-to-Adoption-agency-880x880.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Talking-to-Adoption-agency-1180x1180.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Talking-to-Adoption-agency-271x271.png 271w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Talking-to-Adoption-agency-372x372.png 372w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Talking-to-Adoption-agency-574x574.png 574w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Talking-to-Adoption-agency-980x980.png 980w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Talking-to-Adoption-agency.png 1302w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Julia leaving a message with a social worker asking about her adoption.</figcaption></figure>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forgive-me">Forgive Me</h6>



It might have never taken place if Julia hadn&#8217;t used 23andMe, which had only happened because of a class project she was working on at college and the help of her instructor.



For years her connection to her birth family, and roots, was the necklace and the letter and the little things she knew about her birth mother, her name, Elsy. She even had an old photo of her birth mom, sitting with Julia&#8217;s parents.



The letter is folded carefully in an envelope Julia keeps in a little box laminated with a 10-colon Salvadorian banknote. In neatly worded Spanish, Julia&#8217;s birth mom, just 20 at the time, tried to explain why she&#8217;d given up her daughter. She didn&#8217;t know what else to do.



&#8220;My child, first off, I want to tell you that I love you. I love you so much,&#8221; the letter says. &#8220;I looked for other ways but could not find any. My love, I am a poor woman without luck. It&#8217;s always gone bad for me. I wish that you can forgive me one day, I may not be able to forgive myself.&#8221;



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Family is Family</h6>



Mastering Spanish and learning about El Salvador had been a way for Julia to connect to her birth family and her roots. It was something that her parents encouraged.



Julia always knew she&#8217;d been adopted because her parents never hid that from her. Her parents, Matt and Kristen, couldn&#8217;t have children &#8220;the natural way,&#8221; as Kristen says. So, they decided to adopt. Julia&#8217;s sister, Audrey, was also adopted. So, there was never a time that Julia or her sister didn&#8217;t know.



But being adopted didn&#8217;t change how Julia felt about her sister or her parents.



&#8220;My family is just my family,&#8221; Julia says.



It&#8217;s not just her parents and her sister, Julia is bonded with the sprawling collection of her cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Of course, this is her family, but she was always curious about where she came from.



Julia was just nine days old when she was adopted. And Matt and Kristen had made a point of meeting Julia&#8217;s birth mom. They even have a photo of them together on Julia&#8217;s adoption day. The idea was that they would maintain that connection. They&#8217;d hoped that Elsy would be able to remain in Julia&#8217;s life, but it didn&#8217;t work out that way. After the adoption agency closed, they were told that Elsy had returned to El Salvador. They lost that connection.



In its place, Matt and Kristen ensured that Julia understood her Salvadorian roots, and encouraged her to learn more about the culture and the language.



&#8220;She embraced the culture a lot more and was in tune with it… as she got older, it became important to her to find her birth family,&#8221; her dad said.



But Julia was always curious to find out more.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="850" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Waiting-to-Open-Results-1024x850.png" alt="" class="wp-image-31415" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Waiting-to-Open-Results-1024x850.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Waiting-to-Open-Results-300x249.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Waiting-to-Open-Results-768x637.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Waiting-to-Open-Results-880x730.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Waiting-to-Open-Results-1180x979.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Waiting-to-Open-Results.png 1682w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Julia getting ready to open her 23andMe results.</figcaption></figure>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Barely Contained Excitement</h6>



Julia had twice tried to learn more.



First when she was 16 and then again at 18.



Both times she&#8217;d learned little of anything new. Finally, at 18 she&#8217;d reached out to the social worker and was given some minor details about her mother and her mother&#8217;s circumstances at the time of the adoption. There was nothing more than that.



Julia sought connection through understanding more about El Salvador. But she was equally taken with other cultures. She&#8217;s part of a Bollywood dance team and connects with India. Being a Latina in a predominantly white suburb, she looked for and found connections and community in many different ways, whether it was dance, music, or friend groups.



As part of one of her classes at Suffolk University, taught by the Emmy-award-winning documentary filmmaker<a href="https://www.jeremyslevine.com/about"> Jeremy Levine</a>, Julia decided to create a video project around her adoption journey. Professor Levine suggested Julia do a DNA test as part of the project. So she did, but she thought what she&#8217;d learn would be more about her ethnicity.



It all happened very quickly after she sent off her test in November. A day after Thanksgiving, Julia got an email that her reports were in. Again, she thought the reports would tell her the mix of her ancestry. Instead, she was stunned by what she learned.



&#8220;I thought I knew what it was going to be, but it was for the project, so I videoed myself opening the (reports),&#8221; she said.



In the video, she says she hadn’t expected to get her reports so quickly.



&#8220;This wasn&#8217;t supposed to happen for another two weeks so I&#8217;m not prepared at all. I set the camera up as fast as I could,&#8221; she said.



She rattles off the percentages of her Ancestry Composition, &#8220;42 percent Southern European, 35 percent Indigenous, 16 percent Sub-Saharan African.&#8221;



And then she notes with interest her increased likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.



Then with a sort of &#8220;ah ha&#8221; expression, she says, &#8220;increased likelihood to weigh less than average.&#8221; And with that, she encircles her skinny wrist and shows it to the camera.



&#8220;Likely blue or green eyes,&#8221; she says. &#8220;And I have green eyes.&#8221;



&#8220;Ooh oo wait,&#8221; she says, shaking her head with emotion. She gasps and puts her hands on her face taking in a breath.



&#8220;I have… Oh my God, I&#8217;m shaking,&#8221; she starts crying.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="873" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Reaction-1024x873.png" alt="" class="wp-image-31414" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Reaction-1024x873.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Reaction-300x256.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Reaction-768x654.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Reaction-880x750.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Reaction-1180x1005.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Julia-Reaction.png 1244w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Julia after learning she&#8217;d found her biological brother.</figcaption></figure>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">the world is so small </h6>



It all was so unexpected. It was, as Julia said, &#8220;getting deeper than I thought it would.&#8221;



Not only did she have an older half-brother, Melvin, but he was in Massachusetts, and he lived in a small town only about 30 minutes away.



She&#8217;d contacted him within an hour of finding the match, and they exchanged messages.



How close they&#8217;d been to each other all this time. Julia said her life has always felt like it was filled with coincidences and synchronicity. For example, until a year ago, she&#8217;d never worn the necklace her birth mother had given her out of fear that she might lose it, but then all of a sudden had the urge to wear it all the time.



Her first communication from her brother, Melvin, was through 23andMe: &#8220;Hi! I can&#8217;t believe this has happened. I think I know who you are. Yes, I&#8217;d love to get to know you too. This world is so small.&#8221;



Julia marveled at how close he and her birth mother had been all this time, they live in small towns in Massachusetts that are about 30 minutes from each other. He worked at the same hospital as Julia&#8217;s adopted mom, and one of her half-sisters, Nansy, also works there. Her birth mom works at a sandwich shop that Julia and her family have been to many times. Her older half-brother went to the school that Julia’s father once taught at although he attended class there a year or two after her dad went to teach somewhere else.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Julia&#039;s DNA Story" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2Haawaw9pr4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><code>To see Julias full video project go here: https://youtu.be/rWG1lCbwM68</code></figcaption></figure>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-life-altering">LIFE ALTERING</h6>



She wonders how many times they have crossed paths.



&#8220;Maybe it happened all the time, and we never even realized it,&#8221; she said.



Soon thereafter, they made plans to meet at a mall.



&#8220;I&#8217;m about to meet my brother who grew up with my birth mother and five other siblings,&#8221; Julia said in the video she made as she prepared to meet her brother for the first time.



And after meeting him, Julia met her birth mom along two of her five other half siblings. Along with her older brother Melvin and older sister Nansy, are sister Dariana, and two younger brothers Jacob and Levi. At their first meeting Julia and Elsy hugged and cried and looked deep into each other&#8217;s faces. Julia, her newfound siblings, and her birth mom, are now trying to build a relationship. Her adoptive parents are equally emotional about the fact that Julia has made this connection. They cried at the news when she told them that she&#8217;d found her birth mom.



&#8220;Now it&#8217;s like I have closure about how I came into this world and who I am as a person… not just my own family, but my own identity as well,&#8221; Julia said, trying to put into words the complicated feelings she has. &#8220;Overall, most insane and incredible life-altering thing in the world.&#8221;

A photo of Julia as a smiling young girl.

A Name and a Necklace

This week, 23andMe released the new Hereditary Prostate Cancer (HOXB13-Related) Genetic Health Risk report* for 23andMe+ members. This report is the first and only direct-to-consumer test <a href="https://investors.23andme.com/news-releases/news-release-details/23andme-receives-fda-clearance-direct-consumer-genetic-test">cleared by the FDA</a> that provides genetic health risk information for HOXB13-related hereditary prostate cancer. Although females† do not have a prostate and are not at risk for prostate cancer, they still have access to this report in order to provide important information they can share with their family members.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">About this Report</h2>



Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among males,† with nearly 300,000 cases diagnosed each year in the U.S.[1] It is estimated that about 13 percent of males in the general population will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime.[2]



The Hereditary Prostate Cancer (HOXB13-Related) Genetic Health Risk report* includes one genetic variant called G84E in the HOXB13 gene, which is associated with an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. Males with this variant have a 33–53 percent chance of developing prostate cancer by age 80.[3],[4] People with this variant who develop prostate cancer also tend to do so at an earlier age. Exact risks depend on family history and other factors.



This variant is most common in people of European descent, especially in people of Northern European descent. Up to 1 in 70 people of European descent has the HOXB13 G84E variant.[5] In families of European descent, the G84E variant accounts for up to 5 percent of hereditary prostate cancer. In some Scandinavian countries, this variant accounts for about 22 percent (Finland) and 8 percent (Sweden) of hereditary prostate cancer cases.[6]



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Factors Also Influence Risk</h2>



It&#8217;s important to remember that only a small percentage of prostate cancer cases are caused by the genetic variant in this report. Variants in other genes can also increase prostate cancer risk, including variants in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and genes linked to Lynch syndrome. If you have a personal or family history of prostate cancer, it&#8217;s important to talk with a healthcare professional about whether comprehensive clinical genetic testing – which looks at many more variants in many different genes – may be right for you.



In addition, note that the majority of prostate cancer cases are not caused by inherited genetic variants. Besides genetics and family history, many other factors can influence a person’s risk for prostate cancer, including age, lifestyle, and ethnicity. For example, some studies have found that males who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop aggressive forms of prostate cancer, and smoking is associated with an increased risk of dying from prostate cancer. In addition, African Americans have a greater risk of developing prostate cancer than people of other ethnicities: In the U.S., more than 1 in 6 African American males develops prostate cancer by the age of 80, compared to about 1 in 8 males of European descent. African Americans are also more likely to develop prostate cancer at an earlier age.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Viewing the Report</h2>



23andMe+ members have the option to view their Hereditary Prostate Cancer (HOXB13-Related) Genetic Health Risk report. As with other Genetic Health Risk reports that are considered sensitive, eligible customers must first opt-in to view the report. If they choose to opt in, they will be prompted to complete a short educational tutorial that details some information that is important to know before seeing their results.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Important Limitations of the Report</h2>



23andMe is committed to ensuring that our customers understand not just what it may mean to have a risk variant, but also what it means to not have the variant covered in this report. Specifically, not having the variant — or a negative result — does not mean a person is not at risk of developing prostate cancer. Instead, the report highlights the fact that genetics is just one of many risk factors for prostate cancer.&nbsp;



Male customers with the variant in this report should talk to a doctor. Their doctor could then order confirmatory testing and help them find a screening strategy that is right for them. Screening guidelines for prostate cancer vary. However, some guidelines recommend earlier prostate cancer screening in males with the G84E variant in the HOXB13 gene. If female customers have the variant in this report, we suggest sharing this information with their family members, especially their male relatives.



Finally, the Hereditary Prostate Cancer (HOXB13-Related) Genetic Health Risk report is not diagnostic. It is intended for adults only. It is also not a substitute for visits to a healthcare professional for recommended screenings or appropriate follow-up. Any result should be confirmed by an independent genetic test prescribed by your healthcare provider before taking any medical action.



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



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>23andMe+ members can click <a href="https://you.23andme.com/reports/ghr.hoxb13/">here</a> if they wish to view their report. Customers will be directed to update their report preferences and choose whether to opt in to receive the report. Customers will then need to complete an educational tutorial before viewing their report.&nbsp;</li>



<li>Current 23andMe Health + Ancestry Service customers on the current genotyping chip can receive this report along with 35+ other reports by joining 23andMe+ from within their account. Learn more<a href="https://you.23andme.com/subscription/"> here</a>.</li>



<li>Not a 23andMe+ customer yet? Learn more about what 23andMe has to offer <a href="https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/">here</a>.</li>
</ul>



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



<footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;">
</code><code style="display: none;">
</code><a id="f1" href="#a1">[1]</a>American Cancer Society. “Key Statistics for Prostate Cancer.”<a href="https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/about/key-statistics.html</a><footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;">
</code>
<footer class=" footnotes"=""><code style="display: none;">
</code><code style="display: none;">
</code></a>
<a id="f2" href="#a2">[2]</a>Surveillance Research Program, National Cancer Institute. &#8220;SEER*Explorer: An interactive website for SEER cancer statistics.&#8221; 2017-2019. Retrieved Jan 23, 2023. <footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;">
</code>
<a id="f3" href="#a3">[3]</a>Klerk M et al. (2002). Karlsson R et al. (2014). &#8220;A population-based assessment of germline HOXB13 G84E mutation and prostate cancer risk.&#8221; Eur Urol. 65(1):169-76. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22841674/"> </a>
<footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;">
</code>
<code style="display: none;">
</code><a id="f4" href="#a4">[4]</a>Nyberg T et al. (2019). &#8220;Homeobox B13 G84E Mutation and Prostate Cancer Risk.&#8221; Eur Urol. 75(5):834-845.<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30527799/"> </a></footer>
<footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;">
</code></footer>
<code style="display: none;">
</code><a id="f5" href="#a5">[5]</a>Karlsson R et al. (2014). &#8220;A population-based assessment of germline HOXB13 G84E mutation and prostate cancer risk.&#8221; Eur Urol. 65(1):169-76.
.<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22841674/"> </a></footer>
<footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;">
</code></footer>
</code><a id="f6" href="#a6">[6]</a>Xu J et al. (2013). &#8220;HOXB13 is a susceptibility gene for prostate cancer: results from the International Consortium for Prostate Cancer Genetics (ICPCG).&#8221; Hum Genet. 132(1):5-14..<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23064873/"> </a></footer>
<footer class="footnotes"><code style="display: none;">
</code></footer>



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



†Within this blog post and the Hereditary Prostate Cancer (HOXB13-Related) report, we use the word &#8220;male&#8221; to refer to people whose birth sex is male and have a prostate, and &#8220;female&#8221; to refer to people whose birth sex is female and do not have a prostate. We made this decision as a way of highlighting that HOXB13-related cancer risk depends on whether someone has a prostate. However, we recognize that being categorized by birth sex may be an uncomfortable experience for some people, and we do not mean to delegitimize anyone&#8217;s gender identity. Learn more about why we made this decision in this <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/12279220169623">help article.</a>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-note">Note:</h6>



*The 23andMe PGS 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, including the 23andMe PGS Genetic Health Risk Report for Hereditary Prostate Cancer (HOXB13-Related). Your ethnicity may affect the relevance of each report and how your genetic health risk results are interpreted. The test is not intended to diagnose any disease and does not describe a person’s overall risk of developing any type of cancer. It 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 treatments. 



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-warnings-amp-limitations">Warnings &amp; Limitations:</h6>



 The 23andMe PGS Genetic Health Risk Report for Hereditary Prostate Cancer (HOXB13-Related) 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. This report does 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. 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.

An image announcing 23andMe+'s new Hereditary Prostate Cancer (HOBB13-Related) report.

Hereditary Prostate Cancer (HOXB13-Related) Report

But you might be even more special than any of us suspected, and we want to learn a little more about that.



23andMe’s unique research model allows our scientists to leverage data from millions of customers who consent to participate in our research. This gives us data at unprecedented scale to reveal more quickly and efficiently not just the causes for illness but also their potential treatments. 



That’s the power of “big data.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Data-Viz-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-25916" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Data-Viz-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Data-Viz-300x169.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Data-Viz-768x432.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Data-Viz-880x495.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Data-Viz-1180x663.jpg 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Data-Viz.jpg 1366w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



But there’s also power in small data — finding individuals whose genetics makes them especially interesting. 



So 23andMe researchers are undertaking a pilot project that will include several dozen customers who’ve consented to participate in research and have something unique in their genome that could help our scientists to better understand metabolic conditions such as heart disease or type 2 diabetes. These customers have agreed to be re-contacted by 23andMe researchers.



Along with looking at genetics, health history and the conditions research participants report that they currently have, we’ll also be adding basic blood panel data from these individuals — such as lipid levels and glucose. For this data we’ll be enlisting the help of<a href="https://ixlayer.com/"> ixlayer</a>, a leading remote diagnostic testing platform. <a href="https://ixlayer.com/">ixlayer</a> will be coordinating both the at-home blood draw experience and the lab work at a national scale and then 23andMe will be incorporating that data into our analysis.



So, what’s so interesting about adding this kind of data to the data we already have, and why are we focused on just a few dozen individuals?



<div style="float: right; text-align: justified; width: 300px; background-color: #eee; padding: 15px; margin-left: 10px;">Research Opportunities Based on Your Unreported Genetics

The participants in this study represent a group of our research participants who’ve gone through an additional layer of consent.
For this research our research participants have opted-in to being contacted by our researchers about research opportunities based on genetic information not included in their 23andMe reports.
These research opportunities might be related to specific conditions for which we currently do not yet have a report. Those who agree to participate and who are contacted for specific studies may only learn about the condition being studied but not the specific variant.
Like all our research, participants must opt-in to be included, and those who are currently participating can change their minds and then opt-out at any time.
Interested in 23andMe Research? 
Find out more <a href="https://research.23andme.com/">here</a>.
</div>



We’ll explain.



Studying individuals who maybe would be expected to have a condition but do not because of something in their genome, or other individuals who are healthy but have a rare genetic variant that turns off the function of a gene, could tell us a lot about certain diseases and potential ways to treat them.



People who have a rare genetic variant that turns off a gene, known as a “loss of function” variant, or others who have a variant that heightens the expression of a gene or gives it a new activity, known as a “gain of function” variant, offer researchers the potential to find much deeper insight. 



In cases where healthy individuals have one of these rare variants in a gene that is also associated with a condition — say high or low cholesterol — it indicates for those studying these conditions whether boosting or diminishing the function of that gene to treat an illness may be safe to do. Individuals with rare genotypes can offer insights not just into a specific disease, they can also give insight into whether a specific drug is safe or not.



There are already real-world examples of how this works. The most cited is that of extremely rare individuals who have dual “loss of function” variants in the gene PCSK9, which is involved with the regulation of the amount of cholesterol in the bloodstream. Individuals who had loss of function variants in both copies of that gene were shown to have very low LDL levels, or so called “bad” cholesterol, but importantly, were otherwise healthy despite having no PCSK9 function. Medications were developed that inhibited PCSK9, lowering LDL levels and in turn substantially reducing the risk for a cardiovascular event.



There are other examples of individuals who had something in their genome that made them resistant to certain diseases like HIV, Alzheimer’s disease or diabetes. A deeper understanding about what in their genome contributes to that could help those studying these conditions and looking for new treatments.



That’s the motivation with this small pilot study. The first step is finding these special individuals, and then it’s gathering data for a deeper understanding of what makes them unique. Ultimately, the hope is that this will lead to potential treatments and cures.



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



About ixlayer



<a href="https://ixlayer.com/">ixlayer</a> is redefining next generation patient experiences for lab testing and better health outcomes. They make it easy for people to test outside of clinical settings and take proactive steps towards better health. ixlayer collaborates with a wide variety of organizations to create configurable solutions for their patients and research participants. Their platform enables patient-friendly digital experiences, 1000s of testing options and seamless integration with their customers and lab partners.&nbsp;



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

We Know You’re Special

As part of a series of ancestry updates, 23andMe has added finer detail for customers with British &amp; Irish ancestry.



More than half of our customers 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, will likely match one or more of the 38 Genetic Groups we added for customers with ancestry in Ireland and Great Britain (often referred to, together, as the British Isles). These include one Genetic Group in Wales, 17 in England, eight in Scotland, and 12 in Ireland.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="922" height="682" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/VA-British-Irish.png" alt="" class="wp-image-31126" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/VA-British-Irish.png 922w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/VA-British-Irish-300x222.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/VA-British-Irish-768x568.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/VA-British-Irish-880x651.png 880w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 922px) 100vw, 922px" /></figure>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ireland-and-great-britain">Ireland and Great Britain</h6>



The history and genetic landscape of the British Isles — which include Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Hebrides, and the Northern Isles — were largely shaped by waves of Celtic, then Anglo-Saxon, and Viking migrations from northwestern Europe. More recently, the people of the Isles have left their genetic fingerprints around the world, following centuries of nautical exploration, colonization, and immigration.



And although the Republic of Ireland is now independent of the United Kingdom—and Scotland and Wales have distinct cultural identities of their own—the people of the British Isles share this common genetic history and cross-cultural mixing.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancestry-composition-update">Ancestry Composition Update</h6>



This update helps people with roots in this region discern more detail in their connections. The update also reflects that 23andMe&#8217;s Ancestry Composition report is a living analysis. Therefore, it improves over time as we add new reference data.&nbsp;



Underlying our Ancestry reports are powerful algorithms and analytical tools developed by 23andMe population geneticists and engineers to offer our customers more insights into their ancestral origins. Using these tools allows 23andMe to create and continuously improve our customers&#8217; results. Some recent updates include adding finer detail for customers with <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/ancestry-reports/african-ethnolinguistic-groups/">African ancestry</a>, <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/ancestry-reports/ancestry-composition-update-china/">Chinese ancestry,</a> <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/ancestry-reports/indigenous-genetic-ancestry/">Indigenous American ancestry</a>, <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/ancestry-reports/caribbean-latin-american/">Latine ancestry</a>, <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/detail-for-ashkenazi-ancestry">Ashkenazi ancestry</a>, and <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-adds-more-detail-for-spanish-and-portuguese-ancestry">Spanish &amp; Portuguese ancestry</a>.&nbsp;



For many customers with ancestry from the British Isles, this new update will improve the specificity of their results and connect them to Genetic Groups within the region. However, not all v5 customers with British and Irish ancestry will receive new Genetic Group matches with this update. We identify these Genetic Groups by using identity-by-descent, which relies on heavy-duty computing to find clusters of individuals with shared segments of DNA. Those clusters also align with specific geographic regions.&nbsp;



While these Genetic Groups may sometimes overlap and do not necessarily reflect political boundaries, they often are more reflective of the distinct regional populations that connect to a customer&#8217;s ancestry.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="807" height="1024" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/British-Isles-807x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-31123" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/British-Isles-807x1024.png 807w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/British-Isles-236x300.png 236w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/British-Isles-768x975.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/British-Isles-693x880.png 693w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/British-Isles.png 846w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 807px) 100vw, 807px" /></figure>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-regions-in-the-british-isles">Regions in the British Isles</h6>



In this update, the new methodology and algorithms use data from groups with four grandparents from specific parts of Ireland and Great Britain. Using these regional populations as reference data, we can connect customers with ancestry to those regional genetic groups through their shared DNA.&nbsp;



While people from Ireland, Britain, or Scotland tend to be genetically similar, genetic clusters show that even within countries, there are distinct regional differences, and this update captures some of that.



The most common Genetic Groups in the British Isles include Scots Irish, South England, Northeast England, Southwest England, East Anglia, Scottish Lowlands, and Wales.&nbsp;



The Scottish Highlands, the Northern Isles, Southwest Munster, and Galway are the least common.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="432" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu1_2x-1024x432.png" alt="" class="wp-image-31136" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu1_2x-1024x432.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu1_2x-300x127.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu1_2x-768x324.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu1_2x-880x371.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu1_2x-1180x498.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu1_2x.png 1660w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-on-matching">More on Matching</h6>



Matching to one of these Genetic Groups means that you share a high genetic similarity with reference individuals in that group. While some regions overlap, we&#8217;ve distinguished each geographically and descriptively.&nbsp;



While customers may receive a likely or highly likely match to one of these Genetic Groups, this update does not provide more breakdowns for customers&#8217; British &amp; Irish ancestry percentages.&nbsp;



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-ancestry-matters-for-your-health">Your ancestry matters for your health</h6>



Many people find value in learning about their cultural roots. But knowing your ancestry can help you better understand your health. Your health and likelihood of developing certain conditions involve your environment, family history, and lifestyle. But your genetics also plays an important role, and some genetic risks are more common among people with specific ancestry.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="432" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu6_2x-1024x432.png" alt="" class="wp-image-31134" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu6_2x-1024x432.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu6_2x-300x127.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu6_2x-768x324.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu6_2x-880x371.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu6_2x-1180x498.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu6_2x.png 1660w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



So, for example, people with ancestry from the British Isles are more likely to carry a variant in the HFE gene associated with <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/health-predispositions/hereditary-hemochromatosis/">hereditary hemochromatosis.</a> Hereditary hemochromatosis, known as the &#8220;Celtic Curse,&#8221; is a condition characterized by an over-absorption of iron which in turn can cause damage to the joints and specific organs.&nbsp;



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-find-out-more">Find out more</h6>



If you are a 23andMe customer with the <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/218392668-Upgrading-to-23andMe-s-Newest-Chip-Version">latest genotyping chip</a>, V5, you can see your results in your Ancestry Composition report.



Not yet a customer? Find out more about <a href="https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">23andMe&#8217;s ancestry service and other services offered to customers here</a>.

More Detail for British and Irish Ancestry

This week, we released a new report powered by 23andMe research on attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) for 23andMe+ Premium members.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-adhd">What is ADHD?</h6>



ADHD is caused by differences in the brain that can affect attention, working memory, and something called “executive function” or the way the brain prioritizes or manages thoughts and behaviors. These differences can contribute to things like feeling restless, frequently losing things, difficulty completing tasks or projects, difficulty concentrating, forgetting important things, and/or difficulty coping with intense emotions. But these characteristics can show up differently in different people.



While anyone may occasionally experience those feelings or impulses, for those with ADHD these characteristics persist over time and can impact other areas of life like their ability to study, work and interact with others.



ADHD can also impact one’s health. Those with ADHD may be more likely to experience sleep disorders, for instance, mental health conditions like anxiety or depression, or substance abuse issues. But many people with ADHD report that there are also positive effects of having ADHD including being adventurous, creative, and hyper focused.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Prevalence</h6>



ADHD is most often diagnosed in children, but it could affect people of any age.



Just under 10 percent of children have been diagnosed with ADHD, according to the<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html"> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>. It’s almost twice as likely to be diagnosed in boys, with about 13 percent of boys having an ADHD diagnosis compared to about 6 percent of girls. However, it’s not clear whether boys more frequently experience ADHD, because <a href="https://chadd.org/for-adults/women-and-girls/">ADHD may be harder to recognize in girls compared to boys</a>. It is challenging to get an accurate estimate of ADHD prevalence in adults but one 2006 study by researchers at<a href="https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/ajp.2006.163.4.716"> Harvard Medical School’s Department of Public Health</a> estimated that it affects 4 percent of adults. However <a href="https://chadd.org/for-adults/diagnosis-of-adhd-in-adults/">other studies</a> have found the prevalence to be even higher.



23andMe’s report is focused on adults and does not look at diagnosis of ADHD in childhood.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Our new report</h6>



23andMe’s new Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder report is powered by data from people who have consented to participate in 23andMe research. The report uses machine learning techniques to estimate an individual’s likelihood of being diagnosed with ADHD.



This estimate is made using a statistical model that includes thousands of genetic markers and information on an individual’s ethnicity and birth sex. You can learn more about the science and methodology behind our new report in this <a href="https://permalinks.23andme.com/pdf/23_21-PRSMethodology_May2020.pdf">white paper</a>.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Genetic factors</h6>



Based on<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24107258/"> a large twin study</a>, it is estimated that about 70-80 percent of the chances of developing ADHD may be explained by genetic factors. Scientists are still learning more about the genes involved and about other factors that may be involved in ADHD predisposition.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Living with ADHD</h6>



When characteristics of ADHD become problematic, they can be managed with medication, or with accommodations at the workplace or school. In addition, having support from a psychotherapist or counselor, who can offer behavioral strategies can also help.



Strategies that many people with ADHD find helpful include tools used to help in organizing time or space. Improving sleep can also go a long way toward helping alleviate problems, so it’s often a good first problem to tackle. To address sleep issues, those with ADHD have been helped by improving sleep habits, better bedtime routines, and limits on screen time before bedtime, for instance, but if that’s not enough additional treatment may be needed.



In addition, for people who want to support others with ADHD, a good first step is educating yourself about ADHD and learning how to adjust your actions and communication style to better accommodate their needs.



As we mentioned above, many people with ADHD find the focus in medical research on the negative impacts are often more related to external standards imposed by society. Finding ways to adapt schools, workplaces or other institutions to accommodate those with ADHD would help reduce the challenges that people with ADHD may face. It’s also important to know that recent studies looking at perspectives from those with ADHD found that a majority said there were many positive aspects of having ADHD. Among the traits they saw as positive were their drive, adventurousness, creativity, flexibility, hyper-focus and willingness to assist others.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Learn more</h6>



23andMe’s new Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (powered by 23andMe Research) is available to all annual members of the 23andMe+ Premium Membership.



To view your report, go <a href="https://you.23andme.com/reports/prs.adhd/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Want to join our <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/">23andMe+ Premium Membership</a>?



Find out more <a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.

An image announcing 23andMe+'s new ADHD report

New 23andMe+ Premium Report on Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Editor&#8217;s Note:There are some stories so good they need to be told a couple of times over, so for St. Patrick’s Day we thought it right to reshare a post from last year about Mary and her son Ryan connecting with their roots in Ireland. So enjoy and Happy St. Paddy’s Day.
Each March, when she was still in grade school, Mary’s parents would dress her in what passed for Irish clothes — a lot of green — to celebrate the feast of St. Patrick’s with other families who’d adopted children from Ireland.
Like two of her six siblings, Mary was adopted from an orphanage in Ireland in the early 1950s. She was raised by a family in California. She always knew she was adopted from Ireland, but she didn’t really know what it meant to be Irish.
For such a small place, Ireland has an outsized influence on the American psyche. About 31 million Americans claim<a href="https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=ACSDT1Y2019.B04006&amp;tid=ACSDT5Y2019.B04006&amp;hidePreview=true"> Irish ancestry</a>, according to the last Census. And whether it’s Frank McCourt’s book “<a href="http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/description/simon033/96005335.html">Angela’s Ashes,</a>” or Mary McCarthy’s “<a href="https://www.worldcat.org/title/memories-of-a-catholic-girlhood/oclc/506838147?loc=">Memories of a Catholic Girl</a>,” or the book “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Tree_Grows_in_Brooklyn_(novel)">A Tree Grows in Brooklyn</a>,” most of the best Irish-American stories are intertwined with sadness, humor, and family. Mary’s story has a little bit of each.
For St. Paddy’s Day this year, we wanted to share her story and the story of her children, and how they all connected to more than one hundred family members in Ireland that they never knew they had. Making that connection not only bonded them to people but to a place that felt familiar. Mary’s son Ryan summed up the feeling of meeting new cousins in Ireland, seeing resemblances to him and his brother and sister, and the joy of hearing family history entwined with the history of Ireland.
“I’ve never had this kind of connectedness before,” he said. “I went from being in a place where I felt like I had no connection to going to a place where I feel more connected.”

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="515" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-and-Mary-1024x515.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-29622" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-and-Mary-1024x515.jpg 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-and-Mary-300x151.jpg 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-and-Mary-768x386.jpg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-and-Mary-880x442.jpg 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-and-Mary-1180x593.jpg 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
<h6>California Irish</h6>
For his mom, that connection was more than half a century in the making.
As a child, Mary always celebrated St. Patrick&#8217;s Day but that was the extent of her Irishness. Three of her brothers, her parents’ biological children, were all blonde, blue-eyed “California boys.” And although she felt loved, Mary also felt alien with her dark hair, blue eyes, and pale skin.
“I lacked that underlying sense of belonging,” she said.
That was something she would have never said out loud because she didn’t want to insult her family or appear ungrateful, but she didn’t see herself in them. And Mary lacked any connection to her birth family or the land of her birth, Ireland.
“I always wondered, you know, who am I and where do I come from?”
<h6>St. Patrick’s Mother and Baby Home</h6>
In the 1950s, being an unwed mother in Ireland meant shame and ostracism, even more than it did in the US. When women became pregnant out of wedlock, their families often sent them off to special homes, many of which were run by the Catholic church. They’d stay at those homes for many months until they gave birth. After her birth at<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Patrick%27s_Mother_and_Baby_Home"> St. Patrick’s Mother and Baby Home</a>, Mary remained until she was adopted at six months and then sent to California.
What happened at St. Patrick’s Mother and Baby Home — and at other homes like it across Ireland —only<a href="https://www.thejournal.ie/what-is-the-mother-and-baby-homes-commission-ireland-5249377-Oct2020/"> came to light</a> decades later. The rate of infant mortality was quite high. For the children who were not adopted to families, life there could be quite bleak, and sometimes the young mothers only reluctantly gave up their children. So in many ways, Mary knows she was fortunate to have been brought to the US. Still, she wanted to know more.
All Mary had was a passport and a birth certificate that listed her mother’s name and where she’d been born. In the 1970s she learned more about St. Patrick’s Mother and Baby Home, which she visited when she traveled there in the 1970s. But she didn’t have any other information on her birth mother. She was helped eventually by an Irish citizen who’d made it his mission to help adoptees and their birth mothers find each other if they wanted or to simply learn more about what had happened to them. Some birth mothers had only given up their children under duress and wanted to find them. The 2013 movie<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philomena_(film)"> Philomena</a> detailed one mother’s search for her child sent to the United States.
Mary’s story was different. She did eventually travel to Ireland in the 1970s and visit the orphanage. It wasn’t until later in the 1990s with the help from the Irish citizen who helped adoptees like her that she was able to connect with her birth mother’s sister. But her efforts to meet her mother were rebuffed at that time. Mary was able to give her photos of her and her children to share with her birth mother.
“There was still a lot of fear and shame,” Mary said.
Few biological family members even knew of her birth.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="999" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-Mary-Michael-and-the-first-cousins-1-1024x999.png" alt="" class="wp-image-29624" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-Mary-Michael-and-the-first-cousins-1-1024x999.png 1024w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-Mary-Michael-and-the-first-cousins-1-300x293.png 300w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-Mary-Michael-and-the-first-cousins-1-768x749.png 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-Mary-Michael-and-the-first-cousins-1-880x858.png 880w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-Mary-Michael-and-the-first-cousins-1-1180x1151.png 1180w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-Mary-Michael-and-the-first-cousins-1.png 1468w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
 
<h6>DNA Unlocks the Secret</h6>
Despite not meeting family, Mary felt the pull of something deeper from that trip.
“I saw more people who looked like me,” she said. “I became interested in learning more about where I came from.”&nbsp;
All that would have to wait, though. This was all long before DNA testing opened up ways of finding families that didn’t rely on a paper trail. With name changes and her father’s name unknown to her, Mary had very little to go on. Besides, she soon started a family of her own. She was busy working as a nurse and raising her sons Ryan and Michael and her daughter Stephanie.
Mary had her life to live, and her search grew dormant.
It wasn’t until her own children were grown that the possibility to connect with her birth family in Ireland emerged again. But this time it was her children who picked up her search. It started with her daughter, Stephanie, who used 23andMe to explore health insights, but noticed a message from an unknown DNA relative.
The relative was in Ireland and had no idea that he had a close cousin in the United States. He was in shock and wanted to know more.&nbsp;
“He ended up being my mom’s cousin,” said Ryan. “After a few texts and emails over a few days, we were able to pinpoint who my mother’s father was.”
For the first time, Mary learned a bit about her father. He’d been a bouncer and a process server. He traveled a bit, worked in Dublin, and served in the military in England. He had at least one other child out of wedlock, who Mary connected with and who lived in Scotland. After he was married, he had five other daughters and one son. He and his wife lost two other children. Most of her siblings, however, were still alive with adult children of their own.
As they messaged back and forth they were able to piece together more about him and her family, but none had known of Mary&#8217;s existence. Her father had passed away and they couldn’t ask him, so she didn’t know how he met her birth mother or the circumstances around her birth. As for her mother’s side, after her initial efforts were rebuffed she had more luck in 2001 when she connected with a sister, and although she didn’t meet her birth mother she shared photos of her family for her birth mother to see.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Apart from her mother and her mother’s older sister, no one knew of her birth, Mary said. They too were shocked, but most of them were open, once they learned of her existence. She found out that she had four maternal sisters and one brother. On her father’s side, she had five sisters and one brother. She has one other brother, on her father’s side who was also adopted by a family in Scotland. Suddenly Mary had dozens and dozens of Irish relatives who were eager to meet her.
“It was a shock when they found out; no one knew,” Mary said.

 <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/bw-1-1-768x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-29619" srcset="https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/bw-1-1-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/bw-1-1-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/bw-1-1-660x880.jpeg 660w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/bw-1-1-885x1180.jpeg 885w, https://blogcms.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/bw-1-1.jpeg 1158w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure>
 
<h6>An Irish Welcome</h6>
In 2019 before the pandemic, Mary and her children visited Ireland. Mary went back to where the orphanage once had been and visited some of the places she’d been before. But this time she was brought into the homes of her family.
Gone was the shame of the secret of having had a child out of wedlock, replaced by curiosity and a desire to connect with family.&nbsp;
Mary met her siblings, and more than 100 cousins, nieces, and nephews. Her sisters noticed the family connection right away.
At one of the meetings with her sisters, she walked into a home and toward the back of the house, looking out the window and sort of surveying her surroundings. Her sisters said that was just what they do. And two of her sisters on her mother’s side are nurses, like her.&nbsp;
One relative took Mary and Ryan around Westport in County Mayo where relatives lived, and they would stop at homes or pubs to meet relatives. She got to see photos of those who passed away. Sometimes she’d meet a cousin or a niece or nephew and she’d be struck dumb by how much they looked like one of her sons or her daughter.
“It was a little surreal,” Mary said.
And perhaps what she didn’t expect was how important it all was for her children. This connection was missing for them, too, so seeing it had a profound impact.
Mary said that listening to her son Ryan explain their story struck her because she suddenly understood that they felt some of what she felt looking around at her adopted family and not seeing herself in them.
“I never realized that for them it was also hard to be around family that doesn’t look anything like them,” she said.
After their trip to Ireland, several of their Irish relatives wanted to visit Mary and her children, but the pandemic postponed that reunion. The family hopes that they’ll be able to extend the welcome mat to their Irish family soon.
<h6>Find out more</h6>
Want to learn more about whether you have<a href="https://you.23andme.com/ancestry/"> Irish ancestry</a>? 23andMe customers go to their <a href="https://you.23andme.com/ancestry/">Ancestry Composition</a> to learn more.
Not yet a customer? Find out more about our <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-ancestry/">Ancestry Service here.</a>

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