We often hear about the &#8220;nature versus nurture&#8221; debate, framing it as a battle between our genes and our environment. But in many cases it&#8217;s not a battle at all, it&#8217;s a partnership. The way our genes impact our health and traits may change depending on our environment.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="684" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GettyImages-981323210-1024x684.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30209" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GettyImages-981323210-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GettyImages-981323210-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GettyImages-981323210-768x513.jpg 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GettyImages-981323210-880x587.jpg 880w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GettyImages-981323210-1180x788.jpg 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Understanding both &#8220;nature&#8221; and &#8220;nurture&#8221; is especially important when we consider complex skills critical to success in life, like reading. Thanks to the contribution of over a million 23andMe® research participants, a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40991152/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new study</a>, led by scientists from the University of Edinburgh, is helping to untangle how both genes and environment work to shape literacy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-reading-puzzle-nbsp">The Reading Puzzle&nbsp;</h2>



Literacy is a powerful predictor of life outcomes, from education level to income. For decades, researchers have tried to understand the roles genetics and environment play in why some people learn to read and spell more easily than others.



<figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="425" height="282" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/twins.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-392" style="width:309px;height:auto" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/twins.jpg 425w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/twins-300x199.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 425px) 100vw, 425px" /></figure>



Several <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23725549/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> of <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19076484/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">twins</a> in the United States suggested an interaction between genes and environment. In these studies, how much influence genetics had on reading skills seemed to be higher in families with a higher socioeconomic status. In other words, genetics appeared to have a bigger impact on a child&#8217;s reading ability when they were in a more advantaged environment. This idea is called a gene-by-environment interaction.



However, the evidence of this gene-by-environment interaction was mixed in studies conducted in the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19296213/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">United Kingdom</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28832969/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Australia</a>. This puzzle led researchers to ask: can we use modern genetic data to test this theory in large, diverse populations?



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



Researchers utilized summary statistics from a 2022 <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/study-identifies-genetic-links-to-dyslexia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">genome-wide association study (GWAS) on dyslexia</a> to construct a polygenic score—a way of estimating someone’s genetic tendency toward a trait by adding up the small effects of thousands of DNA differences.



The team then applied this polygenic score to two large groups of children and adolescents in Australia and the United Kingdom to see if the score&#8217;s effect on reading and spelling skills was moderated by their family&#8217;s socioeconomic status. Socioeconomic status was used as a broad measure of environmental advantage, capturing factors like parental education level and household income.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-was-discovered-two-parallel-paths">What Was Discovered: Two Parallel Paths</h2>



Both the dyslexia polygenic score (nature) and socioeconomic status (nurture) were significant predictors of reading and spelling performance. Together, demographic, genetic, and socioeconomic factors explained between 8% and 11.6% of the variation in reading skills.



However, the study found no interaction effect. Nature and nurture were both important, but they worked in parallel.



This means the influence of a person&#8217;s genetic predisposition was the same, regardless of their family&#8217;s socioeconomic background. In these groups, a higher genetic predisposition for reading provided a similar boost to children from all socioeconomic backgrounds.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bigger-picture">The Bigger Picture</h2>



This finding is an important reminder to scientists to consider different environments when looking for gene-by-environment interactions. While some earlier US-based studies suggested an interaction, the different environments in these large UK and Australian groups showed a different outcome. Suggesting that both our genes and our environment make their own distinct contributions to the development of this fundamental skill.



Of course, every study has its limitations. The 23andMe research participants who contributed to the original GWAS are a self-selecting group and may not be perfectly representative of the general population. Additionally, only about 5% of 23andMe research participants said they had dyslexia, which is on the lower end of the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18652545/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">commonly cited 5–10% range</a>.



Even so, this large-scale study provides a crucial piece of the puzzle, emphasizing how vital it is to test scientific findings in diverse environments to get the full story.

Nature and Nurture: A New Look at the Genetics of Reading Ability

This week the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) is having its <a href="https://meetings.ashg.org/event/ASHG25/home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">annual meeting</a> in Boston. Attending the ASHG annual meeting is about more than just presenting our work, it&#8217;s one way we are working to ensure that the 23andMe® Research Institute contributes to a healthier future for everyone.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Amplifying impact: Sharing our discoveries with a global audience helps our work reach those who can build upon it, accelerating the path from discovery to clinic.</li>



<li>Fostering collaboration: It&#8217;s where we connect with the brightest minds in the field. These conversations spark new ideas and forge partnerships that are essential for tackling complex diseases.</li>



<li>Staying on the cutting edge: Exposure to the latest technologies and unpublished data keeps our research relevant and innovative.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-23andme-research-institute-at-ashg">23andMe Research Institute at ASHG</h2>



For those attending, stop by our posters in the following sessions:



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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15TH 2:30 &#8211; 4:30 PM (Posters; Board #2004W) Sustaining Research Ethics in Times of Change: A Framework from the 23andMe Research Program



presented by Emily DelloRusso, Principal Regulatory Science Manager
</div>



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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16TH 2:30 &#8211; 4:30 PM (Posters; Board #2035T) Explore23: a privacy-forward, secure, extensible, and easy-to-use web application for exploration of a large genomic research cohort



presented by Julie Granka, Director, Statistical Genetics
</div>



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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17TH 2:30 &#8211; 4:30 PM (Posters; Board #3014F) Learning about a genetic predisposition to depression is psychologically well tolerated among those with high polygenic risk scores



presented by Rebecca Berns, Sr. Product Scientist I, Genomic Health and Sciences
</div>



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Interested in reading more? 23andMe has contributed to <a href="https://research.23andme.com/publications/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">more than 300 research publications</a>.

23andMe Research Institute Attending ASHG 2025

Cannabis is already one of the most widely used drugs globally, and its use will likely grow even more as it becomes more socially accepted and legally available. For many the recreational use of cannabis poses few problems, but for as many as a third of users, it becomes problematic developing into an addiction or what scientists call cannabis use disorder. Research suggests that genetics may explain why.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-searching-the-genome-for-clues">Searching the Genome for Clues</h2>



In collaboration with 23andMe Research Institute, researchers at the University of California, San Diego <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-025-03219-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published a study</a> today that found genetic links to cannabis use as well as links to psychiatric, cognitive, and physical health. The researchers used data from more than 130,000 people who consented to participate in 23andMe research. Participants answered survey questions on whether they had ever used cannabis (“lifetime use”) and, for those who had, how often they used it during their heaviest 30-day period (“frequency of use”). The team then conducted genome-wide association studies searching for genetic variants linked to ever trying cannabis and how often people used the drug.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-data-revealed">What the Data Revealed</h2>



Researchers found that having ever used cannabis was associated with two genetic regions: CADM2—a gene <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/scientists-identify-genes-associated-with-cannabis-use" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">previously linked</a> to cannabis and other substance use, impulsivity, and risk-taking—and GRM3. While GRM3 has been tied to alcohol use, schizophrenia, and certain personality traits, this is the first time it’s been linked to cannabis use. How often someone used cannabis was associated with a different variant also near CADM2, strengthening this gene’s role in cannabis behaviors. Both having ever used cannabis and how frequently someone used cannabis were genetically linked to other substance use, pain, and psychiatric conditions like depression. Researchers also created polygenic scores—which tally the effects of many different genetic variants—to estimate both the likelihood of ever having used cannabis and the frequency of cannabis use. These polygenic scores were able to replicate associations between cannabis use and substance use and mood disorders in two other independent research datasets (All of Us and BioVU). The researchers also uncovered novel associations with anxiety, celiac disease, HIV, and viral hepatitis.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-this-research-matters">Why This Research Matters</h2>



Most genetic research on cannabis has focused on two points in the spectrum: first use and cannabis use disorder. But the stages in between—like how often someone uses cannabis—are just as important. Studying these “pre-addiction” traits may help determine who is more likely to progress from a casual user to someone with cannabis use disorder. This study was one of the first genome wide association studies to look at traits that may lead to cannabis use disorder.&nbsp;



Traits like frequency of cannabis use can reveal genetic factors that shape vulnerability before addiction develops. Understanding these factors could eventually help predict risk for cannabis use disorder and related health conditions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-than-just-dna">More Than Just DNA</h2>



Like all research there are some important considerations to keep in mind for this study:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>While this research focused on genetics, many non-genetic factors may also play a significant role in a person&#8217;s likelihood of using cannabis or developing cannabis use disorder.</li>



<li>The study was conducted in people of European descent (based on an analysis of their local genetic ancestry), so the findings may not fully apply to people of other ancestries.</li>



<li>The measure of frequency (use days in a 30-day window) of using cannabis doesn’t capture full patterns such as the duration of regular use or quantity consumed.</li>



<li>While GRM3 is a promising lead, more work is needed to understand how the genetic variant in this region affects cannabis use biology.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-road-ahead">The Road Ahead</h2>



Future research will need to expand to larger and more diverse cohorts and include other cannabis-related traits such as craving, withdrawal, and response to cannabis. Combining genetic insights from multiple stages of cannabis use could:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Improve the discovery of new genetic variants</li>



<li>Help build predictive models for problematic use</li>



<li>Clarify how cannabis genetics intersect with physical and mental health</li>
</ul>



Takeaway: Studying genetic influences on early cannabis use behaviors could eventually help predict risk for cannabis use disorder and related health conditions, and may help shed light on who is most at risk for cannabis use disorder.&nbsp; These findings mark an important step toward understanding the genetics of cannabis use and its health consequences.

New Genetic Insights Into Cannabis Use

<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-study-may-help-identify-and-more-quickly-help-the-60-of-people-with-major-depression-who-do-not-get-relief-from-their-initial-treatments">A new study may help identify and more quickly help the 60% of people with major depression who do not get relief from their initial treatments. </h6>



It is estimated that 60% of patients with major depressive disorder don&#8217;t find relief from their first medication, and as many as one-third develop <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10503923/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">treatment-resistant depression</a>, which is often defined as still experiencing symptoms after trying at least two antidepressants.



Researchers at Johnson &amp; Johnson and the 23andMe Research Institute used advanced machine learning techniques to accurately identify those at most risk for treatment-resistant depression, a massive breakthrough for those suffering with this condition.



The groundbreaking research, published this week in the journal <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41028019/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Scientific Reports</a>, used only self-reported information from about 23,000 people who consented to participate in 23andMe research. The model included a total of 101 predictive factors, including such things as age, symptoms that persist between episodes of depression, the duration of episodes of depression, stress levels, and suicidal thoughts. 



Using this predictive model, researchers were able to accurately predict those at the highest risk for treatment-resistant depression 78% of the time, according to the study.&nbsp;



The predictive model did not use either genetics or lab results, just questions that can be easily assessed by a clinician.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why This Matters</h2>



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Typically, antidepressants used to treat major depression take a little time to work, up to a month or a month and a half. When a treatment does not work, clinicians often prescribe an alternative medication. When someone with depression fails to respond to at least two different medications, they are deemed to have treatment-resistant depression. In many cases, it can take around a year for someone to finally be diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression.



That long delay in finding effective treatment has a cost, not just in the time it takes to identify treatment but in the prolonged suffering for those in the throes of depression, unable to get relief.&nbsp;



The promise of the kind of predictive modeling described in this new study is that it would give both people with depression and clinicians who treat them a tool to flag those who might not respond to standard therapies.



Instead of waiting to see if initial treatments are effective, it may accelerate the process of finding alternatives. Additionally, this predictive model only utilizes patient-reported information; no expensive testing is required.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">More About the Predictive Model</h2>



The model identified eight primary factors that predict treatment resistance, as reported by research participants. Each offers different dimensions of their depression.



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Participants reported on the different symptoms that persisted between the episodes of depression. They reported on how long each episode of depression lasted, and how many years they&#8217;d experienced these periodic episodes. Also included in the self-reported data were levels of stress, or whether they had recurring post-traumatic stress, and two critical factors that looked at more external stressors and life events. Also factored into the modeling was a participant&#8217;s age and whether they had suicidal thoughts. Finally, the model included the self-reported timing between episodes of depression, which was significant when the time between episodes was shorter.



Using these factors and advanced machine learning the researchers were able to accurately distinguish between those who were treatment-resistant and those who responded to treatment. An accurate way to identify if someone will or will not respond to treatment could translate into meaningful clinical benefits. It could mean the difference between waiting months for effective treatment instead of years.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">More Personalized Depression Care</h2>



This research represents a crucial step toward more personalized mental health treatment and a move away from a &#8220;one-size-fits-all&#8221; approach to treatment of depression.&nbsp;



For the millions of people living with depression, this work represents a path toward precision care, shortening the time to effective treatment and improving quality of life.



The future of depression treatment lies not just in developing new medications, but in better understanding who needs what treatment when. This predictive model brings us measurably closer to that goal, promising a world where effective depression treatment is not a matter of luck, but of precision.



If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, please reach out to a mental health professional. The <a href="https://988lifeline.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Suicide Prevention Lifeline</a> (988) provides 24/7 support for those in crisis.

Predicting Treatment-Resistant Depression Using the 23andMe Survey Data

<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-data-initiative-accelerates-access-to-vital-genetic-and-clinical-insights">Data initiative accelerates access to vital genetic and clinical insights</h5>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="675" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/lung-double-edited-2.png" alt="Illustration of lungs on a background with a larger illustration of lungs" class="wp-image-34192" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/lung-double-edited-2.png 1200w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/lung-double-edited-2-300x169.png 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/lung-double-edited-2-1024x576.png 1024w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/lung-double-edited-2-768x432.png 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/lung-double-edited-2-880x495.png 880w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/lung-double-edited-2-1180x664.png 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>



At the 2025 World Conference on Lung Cancer in Barcelona, the 23andMe Research Institute, in collaboration with Troper Wojcicki Philanthropies and the health data software company Lifebit, introduced an open-source platform that could help fast-track research discoveries through a powerful new cancer data repository.



The announcement comes just a year after the start of the<a href="https://www.23andme.com/lung-cancer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Lung Cancer Genetics Study</a>, spearheaded by 23andMe and bringing together more than 20 lung cancer advocacy and science organizations to recruit 10,000 people diagnosed with lung cancer. Their goal is to develop new ways to identify those at highest risk for lung cancer early, while also finding possible new treatments for this deadly cancer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Personal Drive Behind the Mission</h2>



The effort is personal for many of the advocates who are part of the collaboration and also for Anne Wojcicki, founder and CEO of the 23andMe Research Institute. Anne&#8217;s sister Susan Wojcicki died of lung cancer last year, just as the study began.



&#8220;My sister was passionate about understanding the science behind lung cancer so future generations could prevent the disease and treat it. The Lung Cancer Genetics Study is a step towards achieving that.” Anne said.



In the months before her death, <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/a-legacy-of-hope-in-the-fight-against-lung-cancer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Susan had been very involved in helping to create the study with the hope that it could help others</a>. The idea was not just to leverage genetic data for insights into lung cancer but also to create a repository of data that would be available to as many qualified researchers as possible.&nbsp;



The platform — created through the collaboration between the 23andMe Research Institute, Troper Wojcicki Philanthropies, and Lifebit — offers a secure, open-source data platform for researchers to access this novel dataset. Powered by Lifebit&#8217;s Health Data Ecosystem, the platform provides qualified researchers with no-cost access to de-identified data from people diagnosed with lung cancer who have consented to participate in this research.&nbsp;



&#8220;More people die of lung cancer each year than breast, colon, and prostate cancer combined, yet it is one of the least funded for research. It’s important for this powerful new tool to be available at no cost to qualified researchers so that the best minds can work on unlocking the genetic insights that may lead to a cure,&#8221; said Anne.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Building a One-of-a-Kind Data Resource</h2>



Since launching the <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-launches-new-genetic-study-of-lung-cancer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lung Cancer Genetics Study</a>, more than 1,200 people diagnosed with lung cancer have enrolled to participate in the research. The goal is to enroll 10,000 people by 2027, but the study has already assembled one of the most diverse cohorts ever for lung cancer genetic research.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="464" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/teal_waldos-1024x464.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-34183" style="width:242px;height:auto" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/teal_waldos-1024x464.jpg 1024w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/teal_waldos-300x136.jpg 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/teal_waldos-768x348.jpg 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/teal_waldos-880x399.jpg 880w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/teal_waldos-1180x534.jpg 1180w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Genetics is just one of many factors involved in why some people develop lung cancer. Exposure to tobacco smoke is perhaps the best-known risk factor; however, <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2409903/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">80 to 90%</a> of people with a history of tobacco exposure never get lung cancer, and many people without tobacco exposure get the disease. These facts underscore the importance of investigating other, less well-known risk factors, like air pollution, radon exposure, and workplace-related exposures.



And there&#8217;s much more we don&#8217;t know about lung cancer. Many do not realize, for instance, that lung cancer is the <a href="https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2025/2025-cancer-facts-and-figures-acs.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">number one cause of cancer death in women</a> and <a href="https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/about/newsroom/articles/most-common-cancers-in-women#:~:text=It%20may%20not%20surprise%20you,in%20women%20and%20people%20AFAB." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the second most common cancer in women</a>. Although lung cancer overall is decreasing because of declines in tobacco use, lung cancer among people who have never smoked <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7431055/#:~:text=As%20expected%2C%20the%20primary%20factor%20leading%20to,non%2Dsmokers%20has%20been%20noted%20to%20be%20increasing." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">is stable or increasing</a>, and <a href="https://www.webmd.com/lung-cancer/features/lung-cancer-women-who-never-smoked" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">two-thirds of people diagnosed with lung cancer with no smoking history are women</a>.&nbsp;



Understanding the genetics of lung cancer may help unravel some of the factors underlying those statistics. Additionally, learning more about the underlying genetics could provide researchers with more insight into the biological mechanisms of the disease, aiding in the development of improved therapies and new diagnostics.&nbsp;



The de-identified data that participants in the Lung Cancer Genetic Study consented to share isn’t limited to just genetics. Many participants also chose to provide self-reported clinical, lifestyle, and even tumor biomarker data. The study will also follow participants over time, gathering important longitudinal data to help researchers understand the progression of cancer as well as the response to treatments.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Empowering Researchers</h2>



By opening up access to qualified researchers, the collaborators aim to address significant gaps in current lung cancer research, break down institutional silos, and remove barriers to dataset access, thereby accelerating research progress.&nbsp;



&#8220;We&#8217;re delivering more than a data system — we&#8217;re enabling an entirely new model for research equity and access,&#8221; said Nadia Litterman, PhD, Director of Scientific Affairs and Partnerships at Troper Wojcicki Philanthropies.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Find Out More</h2>



Anyone who has been diagnosed with lung cancer can learn more and enroll in the study at<a href="http://23andme.com/lung-cancer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> 23andme.com/lung-cancer</a>.



Interested researchers can begin the data access request process by contacting TWP study program manager Caitlin Nichols at <a href="mailto:caitlin@twphilanthropies.org">caitlin@twphilanthropies.org</a>.&nbsp;

Illustration of lungs on a background with a larger illustration of lungs

Powerful New Tool Opens Lung Cancer Data for Research Breakthroughs

Health Huddle LIVE from New Orleans brought together top athletes, medical professionals, and community leaders for powerful conversations on health, genetics, and early detection. Hosted at Dillard University during Super Bowl Week, the event was part of 23andMe’s Community Health Huddle, featuring expert panels and free health screenings. 



Watch the Highlights: 



<figure class="wp-block-embed alignwide 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="The 23andMe Health Huddle: Live from New Orleans" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5hOR4o5PkAU?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></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-experts-athletes-amp-actionable-insights">Experts, Athletes &amp; Actionable Insights</h2>



Panelists included Dr. Jen Caldwell, Dr. Joel Bervell, and Dr. Mathew Knowles—a breast cancer survivor and 23andMe Global Brand Ambassador—who shared personal stories and insights on health disparities, preventive medicine, and genetic testing. They were joined by NFL Total Health Ambassadors, highlighting how genetic insights shape performance, recovery, and longevity in sports.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-takeaways">Key Takeaways</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Genetic Testing Saves Lives – Understanding your genetic risks enables early detection and prevention, reducing the burden of chronic diseases. </li>



<li>Your Family History is Your Health Roadmap – What runs in your family doesn’t have to define your future, but knowing your risks empowers healthier decisions. </li>



<li>Health Inequities Must Be Addressed – Underserved communities continue to lack access to vital genetic and preventive care. This must change. </li>



<li>Athletes Rely on Science to Perform &amp; Recover – The same genetic insights that help pros optimize their health can help everyone make more informed health choices.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beyond-the-event-driving-change">Beyond the Event: Driving Change</h2>



Health Huddle LIVE reinforced a core truth: genetic insights aren’t just about ancestry—they’re a tool for taking control of your health and advocating for better healthcare access. By bringing together medicine, sports, and community leadership, 23andMe continues to lead the movement for health equity and empowerment.



 #HealthHuddleLIVE #GeneticHealth #CommunityWellness

Inside Health Huddle LIVE: Athletes, Experts & Doctors on Longevity, Genetics & Wellness

September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month, which offers us another chance to highlight some of the work 23andMe and its collaborators have done over the years.



Earlier this month, researchers from 23andMe,<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nih.gov/" rel="noreferrer noopener"> the the National Institutes of Health</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/som/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine</a> published new data on the association between sickle cell trait and blood clots. The new findings highlight the importance of this ongoing research and our overall efforts to illuminate this condition.



At 23andMe, knowledge is power, and understanding risks offers people opportunities to mitigate them.&nbsp;



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



But more than that, 23andMe also offers a unique research model that allows individuals to learn about their genetic likelihood of developing a condition and participate in innovative genetic research that could potentially find new treatments.



As part of our <a href="http://www.23andme.com/sickle-cell" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sickle Cell Carrier Status Awareness Program</a>, 23andMe has collaborated with academics and advocacy organizations to increase <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/sickle-cell-awareness-2">understanding of sickle cell</a>. In addition, we’re providing resources for those with sickle cell trait and sickle cell disease. With the help of the<a href="https://www.sicklecellga.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia, Inc. (SCFG)</a>,<a href="https://www.btsscycle.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Breaking the SSickle Cell Cycle</a>,<a href="https://www.sc101.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Sickle Cell 101</a>, and the<a href="https://www.msm.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Morehouse School of Medicine</a>, we’re working with Black communities to promote awareness. 



We are not alone in this effort. Recently, the NBA, the WNBA, and Wilson Sporting Goods began the #IBall4SickleCell social media campaign to raise awareness. The groups participating in the effort are Breaking the SSickle Cell Cycle, the American Red Cross of Tennessee, and New York Presbyterian’s Dalio Center for Health Justice. Learn more about sickle cell, the campaign, and how to help<a href="https://www.sicklecellball.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> here</a>. 



From all this work and research, we have learned much about sickle cell and the people it impacts most. However, much work is still needed to improve people’s understanding of sickle cell.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-on-sickle-cell-anemia-sickle-cell-trait">More on Sickle Cell Anemia, Sickle Cell Trait</h2>



Although many people have heard of sickle cell, often they do not know the difference between sickle cell trait and sickle cell anemia.



To have sickle cell anemia, one must inherit two copies of the HbS variant in the HBB gene—one copy from each biological parent. Typical signs and symptoms include anemia, pain episodes, and frequent infection.



People with just one copy of the HbS variant are called carriers. They’re also said to have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/sicklecell/traits.html" rel="noreferrer noopener">sickle cell trait</a>. People with sickle cell trait are not expected to have sickle cell anemia. They typically do not experience any health complications. However, in rare cases, people with the sickle cell trait may experience some health impacts. Current research, including our study, is underway to understand better and spread awareness about the complications someone with SCT may experience.



Importantly, carriers can pass their variant on to their future children. If their partner has the HbS variant or another variant in the HBB gene, there’s a 25 percent chance that each child may have sickle cell anemia or a related blood disorder.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-23andme-s-sickle-cell-anemia-carrier-status-report">23andMe’s Sickle Cell Anemia Carrier Status Report**</h2>



23andMe’s<a target="_blank" href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/carrier/sickle-cell-anemia/" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Sickle Cell Anemia Carrier Status Report</a>, which meets FDA requirements for clinical and analytical validity, looks at the HbS variant in the HBB gene linked to sickle cell anemia.



Sickle cell anemia is the most severe form of sickle cell disease. Three hundred million people worldwide and one in 13 Black and African Americans in the United States have sickle cell trait, making them carriers for sickle cell anemia.



In addition to informing people if they have one copy of the HbS variant and are carriers for sickle cell anemia, <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-updates-carrier-status-report-on-sickle-cell-anemia">23andMe’s report </a>can also tell individuals if they have two copies of the tested variant and if they are at risk of developing symptoms. However, the report does not describe one’s overall risk of developing symptoms. 



Because the HbS variant is more common in certain populations, the Sickle Cell Anemia report is most relevant to people of African, Middle Eastern, and South Asian descent, as well as people from the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and parts of Central and South America.



23andMe Health + Ancestry Service customers and 23andMe+ Premium members can see their <a target="_blank" href="https://you.23andme.com/reports/carrier.sickle_cell_anemia/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sickle Cell Anemia report here</a>.&nbsp;



Not yet a customer? Learn more about <a target="_blank" href="https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/?_gl=1*11ns9j4*_ga*OTk4NDAyMjA3LjE3MTgzODA2MTg.*_ga_G330GF3ZFF*MTcyNTQxNDcyOS4xNjQuMS4xNzI1NDE0Nzk4LjAuMC4w" rel="noreferrer noopener">all that 23andMe offers here</a>.



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-note">Note:</h2>



**The 23andMe PGS test uses qualitative genotyping to detect select clinically relevant variants in the genomic DNA of adults to report carrier status and reporting and interpreting genetic health risks. The relevance of each report may vary based on ethnicity. 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’s risk of developing a particular disease later in life. We provide a single report for certain conditions that includes information on carrier status and genetic health risk. For important information and limitations regarding other genetic health risk reports and carrier status reports, click <a target="_blank" href="https://www.23andme.com/test-info/" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.

An illustration for 23andMe's Sickle Cell Carrier Statues Awareness Program.

Learn More About Our Research and Collaborations During Sickle Cell Awareness Month

Editor&#8217;s note 7/8/2024: This post has been updated since 2020. In addition, We do not support uploading DNA data obtained from other testing services to 23andMe. This article explains the risks of uploading your DNA data to third party services.
With all of <a class="waffle-rich-text-link" href="https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/">23andMe&#8217;s services</a>, you’re in charge of your genetic data. That means we let you decide what information you want to learn and what information you want to share. However, you need to be informed about the risks of sharing your genetic data with other services. This includes understanding the implications if you decide to upload DNA to 23andMe or any third-party service.
After receiving <a class="waffle-rich-text-link" href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-reports-list/">personalized genetic reports</a> from 23andMe, customers can choose to download their raw DNA data. Some customers may do this to upload their data to third-party services, which offer to interpret their raw DNA data to find new genetic relatives or get additional genetic reports. However, 23andMe cannot vouch for the scientific validity or accuracy, or clarity in communication of results of any such third-party services. In fact, only 23andMe offers a consumer genetic test with health reports that have FDA&#8217;s independent assurance of validity and clear results (without requiring a prescription).
Beyond concerns about scientific validity, uploading your raw DNA data to a third-party service can also put <a href="https://www.23andme.com/privacy/">your data privacy</a> at risk. In part, this is why 23andMe provides important warnings to its customers before they choose to download.
<h2>What are some of the risks of uploading your DNA data to a third-party website? </h2>
<div id="attachment_27862" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/how-to-be-careful-with-your-raw-dna-data/what-is-dna-upload" rel="attachment wp-att-27862"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27862" class="size-medium wp-image-27862" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/What-is-DNA-Upload-300x128.jpg" alt="An illustration of the steps for downloading data." width="300" height="128" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/What-is-DNA-Upload-300x128.jpg 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/What-is-DNA-Upload.jpg 512w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a>Most consumer genetics companies, including 23andMe, allow you to download your own raw DNA data. At that point, the customer is free to do what they like with their raw DNA data, such as deciding to upload that raw DNA data to third-party services.</div>
At 23andMe, we’re clear with our users about the risks of using third-party services that provide additional health, wellness or trait insights. This is because only select genotype data used specifically in our Health reports have been individually validated for accuracy. While the rest of your data has undergone a general quality review, it has not been validated to the extent of the data underlying our official 23andMe reports. As a result, raw DNA data should not be used for medical purposes and we do not recommend the use of third-party services that claim to interpret raw DNA data to provide health information.
Consumers also cite concerns about law enforcement uploading crime-scene DNA data to third-party services to crack a cold case. Simply put, uploading crime-scene DNA data into the 23andMe environment is not possible because we do not support the upload of DNA data that has been processed by a third-party laboratory.
Further, 23andMe’s <a href="https://www.23andme.com/transparency-report/">Transparency Report</a> details our policy against releasing customer’s individual DNA data to any third party &#8211; including law enforcement &#8211; without receiving the customer’s explicit consent, unless required by law.
However, this concern about law enforcement upload of crime scene DNA data is a real one that we warn customers about should they choose to upload their DNA data to other third party platforms, including public genealogy services or other third party services that facilitate DNA data upload.
But there’s another form of vulnerability that’s less well-understood: Within databases that allow for raw DNA data uploads with access to relative matching features, people with malicious intent can upload real or fake “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_horse_(computing)">Trojan Horse</a>” genetic profiles for access to your personal identifying information. They could even infer your specific DNA variants—such as information about any disease risk variants you might carry. This is one reason why we don&#8217;t support uploading DNA to 23andMe.
<h2>How can that happen?</h2>
<ul>
<li>Many relative-matching services allow you to see the exact section or sections of DNA you share with each relative.*</li>
<li>If uploading DNA data is allowed, it means you no longer know for sure that your relative’s profile is actually controlled by your relative, and a malicious actor could upload real or fake DNA data to deduce information about you based on sections of matching DNA, including any disease risk variants you might have.</li>
<li>Even if shared segments aren’t shown, there are still ways that people with malicious intent can deduce some of your DNA variants.</li>
</ul>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-27863 alignright" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/How-Uploading-Creates-Risk-300x202.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="202" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/How-Uploading-Creates-Risk-300x202.jpg 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/How-Uploading-Creates-Risk.jpg 512w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
This vulnerability was recently described in two reports: one at the University of Washington and another at the University of California, Davis. The authors of these reports explain several ways an “adversary” can deduce people&#8217;s genotypes “either at key positions or at many sites genome-wide” in databases that allow DNA data uploads with relative matching. This highlights the risks associated with uploading DNA to 23andMe or similar services.
Both reports outline specific ways for services to mitigate risk, such as limiting the information displayed in relative-matching features.
While these practices may reduce risk, we believe the simplest and most effective defense is to not allow individuals genotyped through other testing services to upload their DNA data to 23andMe for the purpose of discovering genetic relatives.
In the past, 23andMe has allowed DNA uploads from other consumer genetic testing services in very specific circumstances. Specifically, on DNA Day in April 2018, 23andMe allowed individuals who tested at other companies to upload their results to access a subset of our trait reports, but 23andMe has not enabled the discovery of new relatives for these accounts.
<h2>How does 23andMe ensure that only real, consenting individuals participate in our service? </h2>
In a word, spit.
When you spit into the tube, you’re embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. You’re also trusting 23andMe with some of your most personal information.
Requiring a saliva sample is how 23andMe is able to verify that you’re a real person who chose to participate in the service. While it might be easy to upload fake DNA data, it’s another matter entirely to fake a spit sample, which requires filling a tube with more than two milliliters of spit. It’s how you know that “Linda-your-4th-cousin-who-you-didn’t-know-existed” is a real person who chose to do 23andMe. Linda had to spit in a tube, too.
<h2>What are some key questions you should ask?</h2>
When considering whether or not to upload your raw DNA data to another website, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with their privacy and security policies before you upload your raw DNA data.
Make sure to consider the following questions:
<ol>
<li>Before you upload your DNA data, ask yourself: do I really need to do this? Am I willing to risk the security and privacy of my DNA data by uploading it to a third-party service?</li>
<li>Do your research! Does the third-party service have a track record of strong privacy and data security?</li>
<li>How will the third-party service use your information?  How can your information be further shared with other third parties?</li>
<li>If you are not interested in discovering new relatives but you want additional DNA insights, does the other service explicitly exclude features relating to discovering genetic relatives?</li>
</ol>
An earlier article detailing our stance on protecting customers’ data is available <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/news/our-stance-on-protecting-customers-data/">here</a>. 
<h2>Learn More</h2>
Find out if your <a href="https://www.23andme.com/test-info/genetic-health/">genetics</a> might Increase your risk for any health conditions with 23andMe.
You can also Learn more about common risks associated with uploading raw DNA online and how to protect your DNA information.
*By default, 23andMe does not display your ancestry information or DNA segment information to relatives or connections until you decide to share it with them.

Can You Upload DNA Data to 23andMe? 

Today is DNA Day, and while every day at 23andMe is about DNA, this one is extra special because it allows everyone to delight in the power of DNA.



Whether you are a 23andMe customer or just DNA curious, there is a lot you can do if you’d like to start or deepen your genetic journey and take action to participate in the new genomic age.



We’ll get to that, but first, take a moment to learn —or refresh your knowledge — about what we’re celebrating.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-double-helix-celebration">A Double Helix Celebration</h2>



<a href="https://www.genome.gov/dna-day">DNA Day</a> commemorates the anniversary of the 1953 discovery of the double helix structure of DNA and the 2003 completion of the human genome project that led to the sequencing of the human genome for the first time. That code represents the building blocks of life, and it gives us access to information that has already led to medical and scientific breakthroughs, as well as an understanding of the human story.



23andMe was founded in 2006, not long after the publication of the mapping of the human genome. Our mission then and now is to help people access, understand, and benefit from the human genome.&nbsp;



Not too long ago, 23andMe surpassed 15 million genotyped customers, each of whom chose to begin their genetic journey with us. We’d like to invite you along as well, or if you’re already a customer, we’d like to share with you how to go a little further on this journey.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-first-steps">First Steps</h2>



If you’re not yet a customer, your first step could be to spit in a tube provided in one of our test kits and send it to our lab. At the lab, technicians extract DNA from your saliva, which is placed on a genotyping chip.



Here’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtxX_3nVDao">a little video</a> about the different services we offer customers and what they can tell you about your health, traits, and ancestry.



Of course, if you don’t want to use 23andMe or don’t want to use a genetic test, there are plenty of great and free options for learning more about genetics. One of our go-to resources is the <a href="https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics">National Human Genome Research Institute</a>, but many other options exist.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-open-and-explore-your-reports">Open and Explore Your Reports</h2>



Like with any exploration, you don’t know what you might find in using 23andMe that could draw you deeper into your DNA exploration.



Customers might want to learn more about their health, find DNA relatives, or learn about their genetic ancestry. Some people are just curious and want to geek out on genetics.&nbsp;



If you’ve taken that first step and tested, the next step is to open your reports. Some Genetic Health Risk Reports*—such as those on Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease, BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants), and Parkinson’s Disease, for instance—require an additional opt-in before opening. But whatever reports you’re looking at, we have tutorials on navigating them and where to start.



Our <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-ancestry/">Ancestry Service</a> has the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market; it now includes more than 3000 geographic regions, an automatic family tree builder, and more than 30 trait reports. As 23andMe grows, so does our ability to improve the granularity and specificity of the regions we offer in our ancestry report. For instance, we added 36 new Genetic Groups in France and Belgium.&nbsp;



23andMe’s <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-health-ancestry/">Health + Ancestry Service</a> includes everything you get in the Ancestry Service plus health predisposition reports (including FDA-authorized reports), wellness reports, carrier status reports, and a family health history tree feature. In all, the service includes more than 150 personalized reports.



The 23andMe+ Premium membership includes everything in the Health + Ancestry Service plus more than 30 PRS reports, including reports on three of the most common forms of cancer and reports on heart health and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. In addition, the service includes FDA-authorized reports on how your genetics may impact the way you process certain types of medications.** 23andMe+ Premium also includes tools and features such as <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/stay-on-track-with-23andme-health-tracks">Health Tracks</a>SM and <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/a-health-action-plan-for-you">Health Action Plan</a> to help you get even more personalized recommendations. Most recently, we’ve added a new ancestry feature called <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-historic-matches">Historical Matches</a>SM that helps determine whether you connect to one or more of 335 historical people across the globe.&nbsp;



For those who want our most advanced and comprehensive health membership, we offer <a href="https://www.23andme.com/total-health/">23andMe+ Total Health</a>***, which includes next-generation sequencing that detects 200x more disease-causing genetic variants*. This new membership offers more than 190 genetic reports from 23andMe+ Premium, along with clinician-ordered exome sequencing to help identify disease risks and biannual blood testing with advanced cardiometabolic biomarkers. You&#8217;ll have direct access to clinicians trained in genetics-informed care to receive a personalized health plan tailored to you



Whatever services you’re using with 23andMe, we offer a guide to <a href="https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/">get started with your reports</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-participate-in-research">Participate in Research</h2>



What is something in you, something in your DNA, that could help scientists better understand a disease or develop a new treatment or cure?&nbsp;



One of the many innovations 23andMe pioneered is our research model, which allows people to consent to participate in research. The guiding principle for 23andMe is transparency and choice. It’s a choice whether someone wants to access their genetic information, and 23andMe also gives our customers a choice about whether they want to participate in research. More than 80 percent of 23andMe customers actively consent to participate in research.&nbsp;



Our research database, which contains aggregated de-identified genetic and phenotypic data, is by far the largest research database of its kind.&nbsp;



It’s helped not just our scientists but academic and institutional researchers with whom we’ve collaborated on more than <a href="https://research.23andme.com/publications/#publications">250 publications</a> on neurological conditions, cancers, and rare diseases. There are also ongoing research studies for <a href="https://www.23andme.com/PD/">Parkinson’s Disease,</a> <a href="https://www.23andme.com/genetic-insights-into-colorectal-cancer-black-community/">Colorectal Cancer within the Black Community</a>, and <a href="https://www.23andme.com/sickle-cell/">Sickle Cell</a>. And we continue to work on other conditions, including <a href="https://www.23andme.com/depression-bipolar/">depression and bipolar disorder</a>, <a href="https://www.23andme.com/sarcoidosis-representation/">sarcoidosis</a>, and <a href="https://you.23andme.com/covid19-study/">COVID</a>.&nbsp;



Another aspect of this work is ensuring that our research is more representative and thus benefits people of all backgrounds. Unfortunately, much of genetic research to date lacks diversity, which has meant that people of non-European backgrounds often do not benefit from those insights. 23andMe is trying to change that. Our Black Representation in Genomic Research study, for instance, has made great strides at engaging with communities that have historically been left out of research.&nbsp;



You can also help. If you’re a customer of 23andMe, you can consent to participate in research at any time through your Account Settings; if you’re not, you can seek out opportunities to participate in research through the <a href="https://allofus.nih.gov/">National Institutes of Health’s All of Us</a> effort, for example, or the Veteran’s Administration <a href="https://www.research.va.gov/mvp/">Million Veterans Program</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-share-your-story">Share Your Story</h2>



It’s always been heartening for us at 23andMe to hear from our customers and those who participate in our research about how launching their DNA journey has impacted them.&nbsp;



Whether they’ve learned more about their <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-connects-living-family-to-enslaved-african-american-from-historic-site">family’s ancestral journey</a>, discovered <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbWirWghCJA">life-saving information</a> about family members, or joined with others to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JzErEQFPIU">participate in crucial genetic research</a>, their stories inspire us all.&nbsp;



If you have a story to share, <a href="https://www.23andme.com/stories/#submit">we’d love to hear it</a>.



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



*23andMe health predisposition reports include both reports that meet FDA requirements for genetic health risks and reports that are based on 23andMe research 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. 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. 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. For certain conditions, we provide a single report that includes information on both carrier status and genetic health risk. 



Warnings &amp; Limitations: The 23andMe PGS Genetic Health Risk Report for BRCA1/BRCA2 (Selected Variants) is indicated for reporting 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. 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. This report is for over-the-counter use by adults over the age of 18 and provides 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. For important information and limitations regarding each genetic health risk report, visit <a href="https://www.23andme.com/test-info/">23andme.com/test-info/</a>. 



**23andMe PGS Pharmacogenetics reports: The 23andMe test uses qualitative genotyping to detect 3 variants in the CYP2C19 gene, 2 variants in the DPYD gene, and 1 variant in the SLCO1B1 gene in the genomic DNA of adults from saliva for the purpose of reporting and interpreting information about the processing of certain therapeutics to inform discussions with a healthcare professional. It does not describe if a person will or will not respond to a particular therapeutic. Our CYP2C19 Pharmacogenetics report provides certain information about variants associated with the metabolism of some therapeutics and provides interpretive drug information regarding the potential effect of citalopram and clopidogrel therapy. Our SLCO1B1 Pharmacogenetics report provides certain information about variants associated with the processing of some therapeutics and provides interpretive drug information regarding the potential effect of simvastatin therapy. Our DPYD Pharmacogenetics report does not describe the association between detected variants and any specific therapeutic. Results for DPYD and certain CYP2C19 results should be confirmed by an independent genetic test prescribed by your own healthcare provider before taking any medical action. Warning: Test information should not be used to start, stop, or change any course of treatment and does not test for all possible variants that may affect metabolism or protein function. The PGS test is not a substitute for visits to a healthcare professional. Making changes to your current regimen can lead to harmful side effects or reduced intended benefits of your medication, therefore consult with your healthcare professional before taking any medical action. For important information and limitations regarding Pharmacogenetic reports, visit <a href="http://23andme.com/test-info/pharmacogenetics/">23andme.com/test-info/pharmacogenetics/</a> 



***Total Health is not available to residents of HI, NJ, NY, OK, RI and US territories. Not currently available to existing 23andMe customers. <a href="https://www.23andme.com/total-health/#sign-up">Sign up</a> to be the first to know when it’s available.



Exome Sequencing and blood testing services are available to eligible customers upon completion of the intake questionnaire that must be reviewed, approved and ordered by a third-party clinician. Exome Sequencing is analyzed by a CLIA- and CAP-accredited laboratory. Blood testing is completed by Quest Diagnostics. All telehealth services are provided in accordance with the Telehealth Terms and Consent Telehealth.



‡Our genotyping product detects 250 health-related variants in our Carrier Status and Genetic Health Risk reports. The Exome Sequencing reports detect 50,000+ hereditary disease-causing variants.&nbsp;

Happy DNA Day 2024

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://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-1024x1024.png 1024w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-150x150.png 150w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-300x300.png 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-768x768.png 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-880x880.png 880w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-1180x1180.png 1180w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-271x271.png 271w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-372x372.png 372w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-574x574.png 574w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Get-your-green-on-980x980.png 980w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/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.

Improving Cancer Outcomes Through Early Diagnosis and Treatment

Fundamental, common humanity unites every person on the planet: DNA. Some use race and biology to explain what are, in reality, social and cultural differences between people. It’s a fact that we humans are genetically 99.5 percent identical.&nbsp;



23andMe is a brand that leads with science. We fundamentally believe that we are more alike than we are different. Understanding that ridding ourselves of socially constructed ‘isms’ — like racism or classism —frees everyone. When we step out of systems of “us” vs “them” and bear witness to the oppression of people everywhere, humanity takes center stage.&nbsp;



Isabel Wilkerson’s biographical New York Times best-selling book, Caste, inspired Ava DuVernay’s new film ORIGIN. As with the book, DuVernay’s moving film adaptation — starring Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Wilkerson — analyzes discrimination and the connections between American racism, Nazi persecution of Jews, and India&#8217;s caste system.&nbsp;



It is the 0.5 percent that makes us each genetically different from one another and has also bred hatred across the world.



23andMe believes that focusing on all that we share as humans, and celebrating what makes us unique, could bring the world together. So for the next 23 days of January, 23andMe will donate 100 seats daily, to the <a href="https://www.seat16.com/">Seat16 program</a> which has a goal of getting 10,000 young people around the country to see the new film, ORIGIN.



Everyone deserves a place in this world and we believe in focusing on the things we share in common. Above all else, we want the world to remember that we are all 100 percent human.



ORIGIN will be in select theaters starting on January 19, 2024. 23andMe CEO and Co-founder Anne Wojcicki helped produce the film. You can see the ORIGIN film trailer <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAweg5PaMuw">here.</a> 



#100PercentHuman <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C1VAohGvlEW/?img_index=2">#ORIGINFilm</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/seat16/">#Seat16</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/23andme/">#23andMe</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/unityindiversity/">#UnityInDiversity</a>

Origin and Our Common Humanity

Sit back and listen to 23andMe CEO and Co-Founder <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andmes-anne-wojcicki-among-the-best-ceos-for-women">Anne Wojcicki, </a>along with 23andMe board member and founder of 23andMe Therapeutics division <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/richard-scheller-named-to-national-academy-of-medicine">Richard Scheller</a>, speak to Roelof Botha of Sequoia Capital about the company&#8217;s critical moments in history.



Botha, who is also on the 23andMe Board of Directors, discusses how the company weathered early criticism, even at its founding in 2006, from the 2013 FDA letter that ordered 23andMe to stop selling health testing products to customers to downturns in consumer interest.



The episode is part of a series called <a href="https://www.cruciblemoments.com/episodes/23andme" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Crucible Moments,</a> produced by Sequoia Capital. In this series, Roelof explores moments in every start-up business journey in which a company can succeed or fail. How a company responds often defines its future.



Listen to <a href="https://www.cruciblemoments.com/episodes/23andme">Anne&#8217;s Crucible Moments</a> and learn a little about <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-turns-16">23andMe&#8217;s history</a>.

Crucible Moments in 23andMe’s History

Since 2019, 23andMe customers have had the option to utilize authenticator app 2-factor authentication, which adds an extra layer of security to their account. Starting today, we are requiring all customers use a second step of verification to sign into their account.&nbsp;



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-2-step-verification">What is 2-Step Verification?</h6>



2-step verification (2SV), also referred to as 2-factor authentication, requires customers to provide two distinct steps to sign in before accessing their accounts. In combination with a username and password, customers will be asked for a verification code. 



Depending on what method customers choose to use, that code will either be generated by an authenticator app, or sent to their email if they use email 2-step verification. This code is another way to verify the customer’s identity before accessing their account.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-setting-up-2-step-verification">Setting Up 2-Step Verification</h6>



New customers will be automatically enrolled in email 2SV when they create their account. Existing customers who do not already use an authenticator app will also be automatically enrolled in email 2SV, and will receive an email containing their verification code at their next sign-in. 



Existing customers who already use an authenticator app, can continue to use that option. New customers who want to use an authenticator app, such as Google Authenticator™ mobile app, instead of email 2SV, can set up the authenticator app using the instructions found <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/360034119874-Adding-2-Step-Verification-to-Your-23andMe-Account">here</a>. 



<h6 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-questions">Questions?</h6>



As always, customers can work with our <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/">Customer Care team</a> if they have questions about using this added security step.



 This new security update is part of our ongoing commitment to keep customer data safe and secure. It’s another line of defense to protect their data. We encourage all of our customers to review our <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/360062175913-Privacy-and-Security-Help-Center">Privacy and Security Checkup</a> page, where they will find additional information on how to keep their accounts secure.

An image of a lock a computer, DNA and a mobile phone representing security protections.

Enhanced Customer Security at 23andMe with 2-Step Verification

Update: December 5, 2023 2:45 PM PST



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-credential-stuffing-incident-what-happened">Credential Stuffing Incident: What happened?</h2>



As our investigation comes to a close, we wanted to share the details of what took place and our findings.&nbsp;



In early October, we learned that a threat actor accessed a select number of individual 23andMe.com accounts through a process called credential stuffing. That is, usernames and passwords that were used on 23andMe.com were the same as those used on other websites that have been previously compromised or otherwise available. We do not have any indication that there was a data security incident within our systems, or that 23andMe was the source of the account credentials used in these attacks.&nbsp;



The threat actor used the compromised accounts to access information shared with these accounts. Specifically, DNA Relatives profiles connected to these compromised accounts, which consist of information that a customer chooses to make available to their genetic relatives when they opt in to participate in 23andMe’s DNA Relatives feature. A DNA Relatives profile includes information such as display name, predicted relationships, and percentage of DNA shared with matches. You can find a full list of the types of information included in a DNA Relatives profile <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/212170838">here</a>.



Additionally, through the compromised accounts, the threat actor accessed a feature called Family Tree, which includes a limited subset of DNA Relatives profile information. The Family Tree feature does not include ancestry information such as the percentage of DNA shared with genetic matches or ancestry reports.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-threat-actor-accessed-nbsp">What the Threat Actor Accessed&nbsp;</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The threat actor was able to access less than 0.1%, or roughly 14,000 user accounts, of the existing 14 million 23andMe customers through credential stuffing.&nbsp;</li>



<li>The threat actor used the compromised credential stuffed accounts to access the information included in a significant number of DNA Relatives profiles (approximately 5.5 million) and Family Tree feature profiles (approximately 1.4 million), each of which were connected to the compromised accounts.</li>
</ul>



Since detecting the incident, we emailed all customers to notify them of the investigation and are continuing to notify impacted customers, based on applicable laws. We also required every 23andMe customer to reset their password. In addition, 23andMe now requires all new and existing customers to login using two-step verification. Protecting our customers’ data privacy and security remains a top priority for 23andMe, and we will continue to invest in protecting our systems and data.



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-security-incident-updates">Security Incident Updates</h2>



Update: December 1, 2023 3:45 PM PST



23andMe has completed its investigation, assisted by third-party forensics experts. We are in the process of notifying affected customers, as required by law.&nbsp;



We have taken steps to further protect customer data, including requiring all existing customers to reset their password and requiring two-step verification for all new and existing customers. The company will continue to invest in protecting our systems and data.



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



Updated: November 6, 2023 7:45 AM PST



Starting today, we are requiring all customers to utilize email 2-step verification (2SV) as an&nbsp;added&nbsp;layer of protection for their account.&nbsp;New customers will be automatically enrolled in email 2SV when they create their account. Existing customers who do not already use an authenticator app will also be automatically enrolled in email 2SV, and will receive an email containing their verification code at their next sign-in. You can read <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/enhanced-customer-security-at-23andme-with-2-step-verification">more on our blog post</a>.



Update: October 20, 2023 9:35 PM PST



As part of the ongoing security investigation, we have temporarily disabled some features within the DNA Relatives tool as an additional precaution to protect the privacy of our customers.



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



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-actions-has-23andme-taken">What actions has 23andMe taken?</h2>



Update: October 9, 2023 8:25 PM PST



Our investigation continues and we have engaged the assistance of third-party forensic experts. We are also working with federal law enforcement officials.&nbsp;



We are reaching out to our customers to provide an update on the investigation and to encourage them to take additional actions to keep their account and password secure. Out of caution, we are requiring that all customers reset their passwords and are encouraging the use of multi-factor authentication (MFA).



If we learn that a customer’s data has been accessed without their authorization, we will notify them directly with more information.



Please continue to follow this blog for updates as our investigation continues



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



October 6, 2023



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-credential-stuffing-attack">Credential Stuffing Attack</h2>



We recently learned that certain 23andMe customer profile information that they opted into sharing through our <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/212170838">DNA Relatives feature</a>, was compiled from individual 23andMe.com accounts without the account users’ authorization.



After learning of suspicious activity, we immediately began an investigation.&nbsp; While we are continuing to investigate this matter, we believe threat actors were able to access certain accounts in instances where users recycled login credentials – that is, usernames and passwords that were used on <a href="https://www.23andme.com/">23andMe.com</a> were the same as those used on other websites that have been previously hacked. 



We believe that the threat actor may have then, in violation of our <a href="https://www.23andme.com/legal/terms-of-service/#requirements-and-conditions">Terms of Service</a>, accessed <a href="https://www.23andme.com/">23andMe.com</a> accounts without authorization and obtained information from certain accounts, including information about users’ DNA Relatives profiles, to the extent a user opted into that service.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-committed-to-safety-and-security">Committed to Safety and Security</h2>



23andMe is committed to providing you with a safe and secure place where you can learn about your DNA knowing your privacy is protected. We are continuing to investigate to confirm these preliminary results. We do not have any indication at this time that there has been a data security incident within our systems, or that 23andMe was the source of the account credentials used in these attacks.&nbsp;



At 23andMe, we take security seriously. We exceed industry data protection standards and have achieved three different ISO certifications to demonstrate the strength of our security program.&nbsp; We actively and routinely monitor and audit our systems to ensure that your data is protected.&nbsp; When we receive information through those processes or from other sources claiming customer data has been accessed by unauthorized individuals, we immediately investigate to validate whether this information is accurate. Since 2019 we’ve offered and encouraged users to use multi-factor authentication (MFA), which provides an extra layer of security and can prevent bad actors from accessing an account through recycled passwords.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recommendations">Recommendations </h2>



We encourage our customers to take as much action to keep their account and password secure. Out of caution, we recommend taking the following steps:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Confirm you have a strong password, one that is not easy to guess and that is unique to your 23andMe account. If you are not sure whether you have a strong password for your account, reset it by following the steps outlined <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/202907580-Forgot-Your-Password-#:~:text=You%20are%20able%20to%20reset,the%20Send%20Reset%20Email%20button.">here</a>.&nbsp;</li>



<li>Please be sure to enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on your 23andMe account. You can enable MFA by following the steps outlined <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/360034119874-Adding-2-Step-Verification-to-Your-23andMe-Account">here</a>.</li>



<li>Review our <a href="https://customercare.23andme.com/hc/en-us/articles/360062175913-Privacy-and-Security-Help-Center">Privacy and Security Checkup</a> page with additional information on how to keep your account secure.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-need-assistance-customer-care-is-available">Need Assistance? Customer Care is Available</h2>



23andMe is here to support you. Please contact Customer Care at <a href="mailto:customercare@23andme.com">customercare@23andme.com</a> if you need assistance with navigating these important steps to protect your account.

Addressing Data Security Concerns – Action Plan

This St. Patrick&#8217;s Day, we’re excited to help you connect with your Irish and Irish American roots! 23andMe offers a variety of ways to discover more about your Irish ancestry. From identifying the percentage of your DNA linked to the British Isles, uncovering connections to specific counties within Ireland, or connecting you to <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-adds-more-detail-for-customers-with-british-and-irish-ancestry">Genetic Groups in Ireland</a>, we can help your journey in understanding where your Irish ancestors may have lived.&nbsp;



<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/where-our-irish-ancestors-lived">Read more about where 23andMe Customers’ Irish Ancestors Lived</a>



You can even discover connections to early British and Irish immigrant groups across the U.S., as well as British and Irish <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/are-you-genetically-connected-to-early-colonial-americans">Colonial Americans</a>. These insights can give you a richer understanding of your family’s history and the migration paths your ancestors may have taken.



<a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/">23andMe+ Premium™ members</a> also get exclusive access to the Historical Matches? feature, where you can see if you have connections to <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/historical-matches-ancient-irish-elite">individuals from Neolithic Ireland</a>.&nbsp;



For those curious about how Irish ancestry influences health, we provide insights into conditions like Hemochromatosis, sometimes called the &#8220;<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/breaking-the-celtic-curse">Celtic Curse</a>,&#8221; which disproportionately affects people of Irish descent.



Join people like <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/an-irish-welcome">Mary and her son Ryan connecting with their roots in Ireland</a>, or <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/the-irish-connection">Mike who helped share his connection to Ireland with newfound family</a>. 23andMe can help you connect to and celebrate your Irish ancestry today!

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by Exploring Your Irish Heritage with 23andMe

In honor of Irish American Heritage Month, we’ve added a new group to our Historical MatchesSM feature that offers a glimpse into Ireland’s ancient past. This group, called the “Megalithic Society of Neolithic Ireland,” includes members of an elite society connected to Ireland’s megalithic tombs, which were built over 5,000 years ago.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-do-we-know-about-the-ancient-farmers-who-built-ireland-s-megalithic-structures">What do we know about the ancient farmers who built Ireland’s megalithic structures?</h2>



The Neolithic Period (7000–2000 BCE) was a time of profound transformation in Europe, as populations transitioned from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle to settled farming communities. This era also saw the rise of megalithic architecture—monumental stone structures such as stone circles, dolmens, and passage tombs—built for both ceremonial and funerary purposes.



In Ireland, megalithic architecture first appeared around 4000 BCE, marking the beginning of a tradition that would shape the island’s landscape for millennia. While the enduring stone structures provide valuable insight into Neolithic craftsmanship and ritual practices, little was known about the ancestry, social organization, and kinship patterns of the people who built and used them—until now.



In 2020, researchers sequenced the genomes of 44 ancient individuals from sites across Ireland to better understand these early communities. What they discovered was unexpected.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-surprising-case-of-inbreeding-among-ireland-s-ancient-elite">The surprising case of inbreeding among Ireland’s ancient elite</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="800" height="600" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Newgrange_Si_an_Bhru_Monument_Donore_Eire_-_44753782680.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-33779" style="width:542px;height:auto" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Newgrange_Si_an_Bhru_Monument_Donore_Eire_-_44753782680.jpg 800w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Newgrange_Si_an_Bhru_Monument_Donore_Eire_-_44753782680-300x225.jpg 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Newgrange_Si_an_Bhru_Monument_Donore_Eire_-_44753782680-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Inside the Newgrange Passage Tomb</figcaption></figure>



One of the most remarkable individuals in this study was a man buried inside Newgrange, one of Ireland’s most famous and elaborate passage tombs. Built around 3200 BCE, Newgrange consists of a massive circular mound surrounded by a stone ring. A narrow passageway leads to a cross-shaped inner chamber, which aligns with the rising sun during the Winter Solstice, flooding the tomb with light in a dramatic annual event—suggesting it had deep ceremonial significance.



When researchers analyzed this man’s genome, they found something highly unusual: extreme genetic similarity between the DNA he inherited from his mother and father—a telltale sign of close inbreeding. Their analysis indicated that his parents were either full siblings or a parent-child pair.



While such close inbreeding has been considered taboo in most societies, his elaborate burial suggests that his parentage was not only accepted but possibly even socially sanctioned. The researchers proposed that this could be an example of “royal” or “dynastic” incest, a rare practice historically used by ruling families—such as the Egyptian pharaohs—to maintain political power and prestige within a single bloodline.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-elite-burials-across-ireland-hint-at-an-ancient-dynasty">Elite burials across Ireland hint at an ancient dynasty</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="379" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Group-125607-1024x379.png" alt="" class="wp-image-33780" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Group-125607-1024x379.png 1024w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Group-125607-300x111.png 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Group-125607-768x284.png 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Group-125607-880x326.png 880w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Group-125607-1180x437.png 1180w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Group-125607.png 1945w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Carrowmore (left) and Carrowkeel (right) megalithic tombs</figcaption></figure>



Further evidence of his elite status came from genetic links to several other high-status individuals buried in major passage tombs, including Carrowmore and Carrowkeel, located nearly 100 miles west of Newgrange. These connections suggest that a powerful, interconnected elite class may have existed in Neolithic Ireland, with its members buried in monumental tombs across the island—perhaps forming an early ruling dynasty.



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



Want to find out if you share a distant connection to this elite lineage of Neolithic Ireland or to the many other non-elite individuals in this group? Explore the Historical Matches feature, available to<a href="https://www.23andme.com/membership/"> 23andMe+ Premium™ members</a>, to see if your DNA links you to this ancient dynasty—or to hundreds of other historical individuals from the past.

Newgrange prehistoric monument in County Meath, Ireland

New Historical Matches Could Connect You to an Elite Dynasty in Ancient Ireland

This post has been updated. It was originally published on May 26, 2023.



Can learning about your Irish ancestry also give you a chance to prevent serious health consequences? When it comes to the &#8220;Celtic Curse&#8221; the answer is yes.&nbsp;



Thousands of years ago people from central Europe came to the British Isles. It&#8217;s thought that some of them carried slight changes in their genomes that may have protected them from iron-deficient diets. These small changes—two genetic variants in the HFE gene—spread and became especially common in Ireland.&nbsp; Today, however, those two genetic variants can turn deadly, as they&#8217;re linked to a genetic condition called <a href="https://www.23andme.com/topics/health-predispositions/hereditary-hemochromatosis/">hereditary hemochromatosis</a>. Dubbed the “Celtic Curse,” because it tends to affect people with roots in Ireland and the UK, hereditary hemochromatosis can lead to toxic iron accumulation in a person’s organs. The condition is highly treatable when caught early, but many people go undiagnosed.



<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="A color map of Europe showing the orgin of the HFE C282Y variant." class="wp-image-31134" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu6_2x-1024x432.png 1024w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu6_2x-300x127.png 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu6_2x-768x324.png 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu6_2x-880x371.png 880w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu6_2x-1180x498.png 1180w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu6_2x.png 1660w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Common Genetic Disease You Never Heard Of</h2>



Hereditary hemochromatosis often goes undetected for years, decades even. By then, the disease may have already done its damage to organs. Even though it is one of the most common genetic diseases, many people have never heard of it.



Casey Hill certainly never had.



&#8220;I didn&#8217;t know at the time exactly what it meant or how serious it could be.&#8221;&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/image_6487327-768x1024.jpg" alt="A photo of Casey and his newborn." class="wp-image-31862" style="width:576px;height:768px" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/image_6487327-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/image_6487327-225x300.jpg 225w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/image_6487327-660x880.jpg 660w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/image_6487327-885x1180.jpg 885w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/image_6487327.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">No This is Serious</h2>



When the 31-year-old Head of Growth for a video messaging app used 23andMe, it was to learn about his ethnic origins, which are primarily British and Irish.&nbsp;



&#8220;I originally got 23andMe to learn more about my ancestry,&#8221; Casey said. &#8220;But then it turned into much more.&#8221;



After perusing what 23andMe had to say about his ancestry, Casey viewed the health tutorials and opened up his genetic health risk reports. A few things drew his attention. First, he had a single genetic variant associated with a slightly increased risk for celiac disease* and another for age-related macular degeneration (AMD*). He wasn&#8217;t concerned about celiac; the increased risk was minimal. As for his risk for AMD, he took note of it and thought it would be something he should at least be aware of as he got older. Then there was this third thing, a genetic health risk report indicating that he had two copies of genetic variants linked to &#8220;<a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/updated-results-for-hereditary-hemochromatosis">Hereditary Hemochromatosis (HFE-Related)</a>*.&#8221;&nbsp;



At first, he ignored the details on that report until his wife, who is a doctor, weighed in. She told him this was serious.&nbsp;



&#8220;I saw it, didn&#8217;t think much of it, but on the advice of my wife, decided to just get (my iron levels) tested,&#8221; Casey said.



That&#8217;s when he realized just how serious it was. The test showed he already had an <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/the-iron-scale-factors-tipping-towards-overload">iron overload</a>, and should get preventative treatment. His test showed his iron saturation was 91 percent, and he had a ferritin level of more than 600, or about double normal levels.&nbsp;



&#8220;If I had waited, I may not have caught it for many more years until it was much worse,&#8221; Casey said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Give Blood</h2>



Fortunately, the treatment for hemochromatosis is straightforward and entails periodic phlebotomy. In other words, Casey could lower iron levels by giving blood.&nbsp;



But he was still concerned that he may have already damaged his organs, so he saw a specialist who checked Casey&#8217;s liver, kidney function, and heart. Apart from mild toxicity in his liver, his organs looked good, but the specialist was stunned. He told Casey that he wouldn&#8217;t generally test for iron overload unless a patient exhibited symptoms. The doctor had no idea that 23andMe even had a report looking at one&#8217;s genetic risk for hemochromatosis.



&#8220;He thought that was pretty interesting and had never heard of it before,&#8221; Casey said.



Left unchecked, hemochromatosis can poison nearly every organ in the body &#8211; not just the liver or kidneys, but also the pancreas, heart, and skin. The challenge is catching it early, but the symptoms — such as fatigue and joint pain — are not distinct enough for many people or their doctors to notice. As a result, doctors might not catch the condition until after their patient suffers much more severe consequences, such as heart, liver, or kidney failure.



&#8220;23andMe very literally changed my life trajectory by potentially decades,&#8221; Casey said.



Understanding your ancestry isn’t just about where you come from, but can also be about taking control of your health.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Find Out More</h2>



23andMe Health + Ancestry Service customers can see their <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/articles/23andme-adds-new-genetic-health-risk-reports">Hereditary Hemochromatosis (HFE-Related) Genetic Health Risk</a> report and what it says about their genetic health risk. 



Not yet a customer? Find out more about the <a href="https://www.23andme.com/compare-dna-tests/">different services 23andMe offers</a>.



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



<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. 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. The test is&nbsp; 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. &nbsp;For important information and limitations regarding each genetic health risk report, visit&nbsp; <a href="https://www.23andme.com/test-info/">https://www.23andme.com/test-info</a>

Breaking the Celtic Curse

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://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/VA-British-Irish.png 922w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/VA-British-Irish-300x222.png 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/VA-British-Irish-768x568.png 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/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://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/British-Isles-807x1024.png 807w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/British-Isles-236x300.png 236w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/British-Isles-768x975.png 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/British-Isles-693x880.png 693w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/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://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu1_2x-1024x432.png 1024w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu1_2x-300x127.png 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu1_2x-768x324.png 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu1_2x-880x371.png 880w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu1_2x-1180x498.png 1180w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/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://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu6_2x-1024x432.png 1024w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu6_2x-300x127.png 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu6_2x-768x324.png 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu6_2x-880x371.png 880w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/britishirish_edu6_2x-1180x498.png 1180w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/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

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://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-and-Mary-1024x515.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-29622" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-and-Mary-1024x515.jpg 1024w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-and-Mary-300x151.jpg 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-and-Mary-768x386.jpg 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-and-Mary-880x442.jpg 880w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/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://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-Mary-Michael-and-the-first-cousins-1-1024x999.png" alt="" class="wp-image-29624" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-Mary-Michael-and-the-first-cousins-1-1024x999.png 1024w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-Mary-Michael-and-the-first-cousins-1-300x293.png 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-Mary-Michael-and-the-first-cousins-1-768x749.png 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-Mary-Michael-and-the-first-cousins-1-880x858.png 880w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Ryan-Mary-Michael-and-the-first-cousins-1-1180x1151.png 1180w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/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://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/bw-1-1-768x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-29619" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/bw-1-1-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/bw-1-1-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/bw-1-1-660x880.jpeg 660w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/bw-1-1-885x1180.jpeg 885w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/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>

An Irish Welcome

Millions of 23andMe customers in the United States have some Irish ancestry, and because March is <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/03/01/a-proclamation-on-irish-american-heritage-month-2021/">Irish-American Heritage Month</a>, we’re again sharing something we looked at not too long ago about where in Ireland their ancestors called home.
We learned that although Irish immigration peaked in the U.S. in the mid-19th century, many of the connections we found were much more recent. To more closely examine those connections, we looked at how many customers in the United States reported having Irish grandparents. Then we asked those customers where in Ireland their grandparents called home.
<h6>Where in Ireland</h6>
Most reported connections to the counties of Cork, Mayo, or Galway in The Republic of Ireland. Others also had grandparents from the cities of Belfast and Dublin. Belfast is the largest city in Northern Ireland, while Dublin is the biggest in the Republic of Ireland.
The darker the shading on the map below, the more customers who report grandparents from that region.

	<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="461" height="512" src="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/ireland.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28129" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/ireland.png 461w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/ireland-270x300.png 270w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px" /></figure>
	
<h6>Coming to America</h6>
As a result of the Irish potato famine between 1845–1849, Ireland experienced a sustained <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/great-famine-s-impact-illustrated-by-interactive-map-1.3428848">exodus</a> of people — and to date, the island’s population has not recovered to pre-famine numbers. 
Many of those immigrants wound up in the United States, but what is interesting is that our data showed patterns of recent Irish ancestry that mimicked historical patterns of migration to the United States.
So 23andMe researchers dug a little deeper. We did this by looking at data from customers with grandparents from Ireland. Sure enough, we saw higher concentrations of people with recent Irish ancestry in the Northeast, particularly New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.  Mapping that data we saw more clearly where in the United States many of these immigrants wound up. (See Census map from 2019 below that aligns with our own look at the distribution of where people with Irish ancestry live.)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-26929 aligncenter" src="http://35.88.189.111/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/irish-american.jpg" alt="" width="612" height="648" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/irish-american.jpg 612w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/irish-american-283x300.jpg 283w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px" />
The data also showed fewer individuals with recent Irish ancestry in the Deep South and the Southwest. It’s important to note that this is not mapping genetic ancestry. Rather it is looking at concentrations of where people who reported having grandparents that were born in Ireland currently live.
While this data was not the most surprising to our population geneticists, what’s interesting is that the state-wide segmentation mirrors U.S. Census data on reported Irish ancestry. It also aligns with long-established patterns of where Irish immigrants have settled since first arriving in the country. Certain communities, like Plymouth County south of Boston Massachusetts, have higher concentrations of people with Irish ancestry in the country, <a href="https://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2019/irish-american-month.html">according to the U.S. Census Bureau</a> 
<h6>Studies of Irish Ancestry reveal unexpected connections</h6>
In a number of recent studies (<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29370172">7</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29222464">8</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20571510">9</a>), researchers identified distinct genetic clusters within the island of Ireland. While Irish people tended to be genetically similar to each other, there were a few regional differences the study was able to identify within the DNA.  
For example, southern Ireland was the most genetically distinct from the rest of the island, followed by Northern Ireland and central Ireland (which split rather unexpectedly into a northern half and a southern half).  
Why unexpected?  
Historically, there were four traditional Irish provinces: Ulster in the North, Munster in the South, Connacht in the West, and Leinster in the East. According to the DNA, It seems that people migrated between East and West in Central Ireland over time, obscuring some of these traditional borders.  

	<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="216" src="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Orkney.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28130" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Orkney.png 512w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Orkney-300x127.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
	
<h6>Why “British &amp; Irish” ancestry peaks in Ireland</h6>
Our own researchers were able to explore the impact of ancient and historical migration from mainland Europe into the British Isles (<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26712024">1</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26783717">2</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15309688">3</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29466337">4</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26783965">5</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12082121">6</a>). There are clear geographic differences in our customers’ average ancestry percentages. Customers with four grandparents born in Ireland tend to have more British &amp; Irish ancestry than customers with four grandparents born in Great Britain.
You can clearly see that French &amp; German ancestry reaches over 25% in England’s Southeast, where British &amp; Irish ancestry hovers around 50%. Compare that to more than 90% British and Irish ancestry in western Ireland, or more than 75% in western Wales and northern Scotland. 

	<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="313" src="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/British-Irish-French-German.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28131" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/British-Irish-French-German.png 512w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/British-Irish-French-German-300x183.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
	
<h6>What’s the “Celt Belt” and where did Celtic languages come from? </h6>
Celtic languages and culture first appeared in Central Europe, extending from the British Isles to the Black sea by the 3rd century BCE. But, the rise of the Roman Empire spelled the downfall of a Celtic-speaking Europe. 

	<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="276" src="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/celtic-expansion.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-28132" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/celtic-expansion.jpg 512w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/celtic-expansion-300x162.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
	
Today, while Celtic languages can only be found along the “Celtic Fringe” or the “Celt Belt” along the far western periphery of their former territory, Celtic cultural heritage remains deeply meaningful to millions of people around the world.

	<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="216" src="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/celtic-fringe.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28133" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/celtic-fringe.png 512w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/celtic-fringe-300x127.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
	
<h6> </h6>
<h6>Genetic Origins of the “Celtic Curse”</h6>
Bagpipes, intricate metalwork and red hair are often associated with Celtic heritage, but less familiar is the link between “Celtic-like” ancestry and hereditary hemochromatosis. Hemochromatosis is a condition characterized by the absorption of too much dietary iron, which can cause damage to the joints and certain organs.
Today, the DNA variants associated with this condition are common in Ireland, leading to the nickname, “The Celtic Curse,” as it’s commonly known in the scientific and hemochromatosis communities. However, most evidence points to a central European origin of the most common variant (HFE C282Y), which was likely carried to the British Isles thousands of years ago and further spread by medieval Viking migrations. Some scientists have proposed that the C282Y variant may have protected our farming ancestors from iron-deficient diets, but the evidence for this “protective” role is limited.

	<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="216" src="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HH.png" alt="" class="wp-image-28134" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HH.png 512w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/HH-300x127.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></figure>
	
 
If you’re a Health + Ancestry customer, your Hereditary Hemochromatosis (HFE-related) report is available <a href="https://you.23andme.com/reports/ghr.hemochromatosis/">here</a>.
(See references <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9836708">10</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15290237">11</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12972035">12</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10953956">13</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12791037">14</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10657371">15</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11159767">16</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9783719">17</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16920278">18</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14740507">19</a>).

Where 23andMe Customers’ Irish Ancestors Lived, And More

Caroline Wallis, 23andMe Content Writer, Ancestry Product Team 
<div id="attachment_26919" style="width: 235px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-26919" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/image2-225x300.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-26919 size-medium" width="225" height="300" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/image2-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/image2-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/image2-660x880.jpeg 660w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/image2-885x1180.jpeg 885w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/image2.jpeg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" />A photo of Mike in front of Bunratty Castle in County Clare, near the Shannon Airport. </div>
Messaging a distant cousin through <a href="https://www.23andme.com/dna-ancestry/#dnarelatives">23andMe’s DNA Relatives </a>can feel like a leap of faith, a shot in the dark. You hope a message doesn’t fall on uninterested eyes. You hope it is read by someone like Mike Farragher, an offbeat writer from New Jersey. You hope for someone like <a href="https://www.irishcentral.com/opinion/cahirodoherty/mike-farragher-brings-ireland-and-irish-america-together-in-his-latest-story-collection">Mike</a>, particularly when you are looking for your ancestral connections to Ireland. 
&nbsp;
For Mike, opening one of these messages also holds its own unknowns. Indeed he could never have predicted the profound impact one message from a cousin (and its many consecutive ones) would have on his life, which has always included ties to his roots in Ireland. 
&nbsp;
A second-generation Irish American, Mike grew up listening to his father’s thick Irish brogue and visiting the Emerald Isle every other year to see his grandparents. Mike’s father was one of 10 siblings. As a result, Mike had strong family connections both here and in Ireland, and he wasn’t searching for any more. His first story collection, <a href="http://www.thisisyourbrainonshamrocks.com/">This is Your Brain on Shamrocks</a>, tapped into his Irish American upbringing. Mike, who works as a vice president for sales at a laboratory company when he’s not writing, thought he knew all about his big Irish family.
&nbsp;
Then, he got his first message from a DNA Relative on 23andMe. A cousin, Bethany*, found Mike in the process of doing her own advanced genealogical research. She had discovered evidence that they were related through his paternal side. Mike later connected with Bethany’s four sisters and other cousins, and soon learned that he was everyone’s closest living connection to Ireland. 
<div id="attachment_26818" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-26818" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Ireland-300x178.png" alt="" class="wp-image-26818 size-medium" width="300" height="178" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Ireland-300x178.png 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Ireland-768x456.png 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Ireland-880x523.png 880w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Ireland.png 993w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Using 23andMe&#8217;s Ancestry Composition tool, you can dig deeper and find where you have DNA in common with more people who report ancestry from those regions.</div>
“These ‘new’ cousins have been robbed of a few decades of that connection and are now making up for lost time,” Mike said. 
&nbsp;
Eager to share that connection with newfound family, Mike connected these cousins with other Irish family members, leading to a mini-reunion in Ireland for Mike’s father’s 80th birthday. 
&nbsp;
Laughing, Mike recalls his dad saying, “Don’t you think they’re after your money?[&#8230;]You better watch out for all these charlatans hiding in all the corners of the dark web!” 
&nbsp;
On the contrary, several of these cousins (many of whom are elderly) started crying upon hearing a brogue made familiar to them by their parents. Hungry to learn more about their ancestral birthplace, Mike’s new relatives would ask questions he had never thought to ask, helping Mike rediscover his own roots in a new way. 
&nbsp;
“I always knew who my family was but it is a lot of fun to watch others discover my family in this way,” Mike said. “Like discovering your life through your children’s eyes, I would liken this experience to much the same thing.”
&nbsp;
A natural storyteller, Mike has explored his Irish roots through his writing, and he even met a cousin while on a book tour. Mike likes to think that he carries on the legacies of Ireland’s famous writers, to keep the memory of his Irish ancestors alive, as well as to capture the contemporary stories of the Irish diaspora. And it all began with meeting a few cousins through 23andMe. 
&nbsp;
As Mike works on his next book — a novel inspired in part by his experience meeting his cousins — we marvel at the watershed power of one tentative message sent on the DNA Relatives platform. Mike is a cousin, a steward, and a storyteller, but also a historian keeping alive the stories of his family. 
&nbsp;
Follow along on Mike’s  entertaining adventures on his <a href="http://mikefarragher.blogspot.com/">blog</a>.
&nbsp;
*The names of Mike’s cousins have been changed to protect their privacy.

The Irish Connection

If Lisa hadn’t used 23andMe, it’s hard to imagine how she would have ever known about Nelly.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-24612 size-medium" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/LISA-P-QUOTE-300x300.jpg" alt="lisa-p-quote" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/LISA-P-QUOTE-300x300.jpg 300w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/LISA-P-QUOTE-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/LISA-P-QUOTE-768x768.jpg 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/LISA-P-QUOTE-880x880.jpg 880w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/LISA-P-QUOTE-271x271.jpg 271w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/LISA-P-QUOTE-372x372.jpg 372w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/LISA-P-QUOTE-574x574.jpg 574w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/LISA-P-QUOTE-980x980.jpg 980w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/LISA-P-QUOTE.jpg 1000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Lisa hadn’t been searching for her. When she tested with 23andMe, Lisa was mostly just curious about the science of personal genetics.


“I was fascinated that the technology had advanced so far so quickly, and that I could get my DNA tested so easily,” she said.
A 47 year-old designer who lives in Durham, North Carolina, Lisa first heard about 23andMe in a Wall Street Journal article that ran a few years ago.
She thought the name was cool, but put off testing until a friend who’d used 23andMe convinced her to give it a try.
“On a lark, I decided to take the test,” Lisa said.

While she was still very interested in the science, Lisa was also curious about whether she could learn a little about her grandfather’s family. Her grandfather had been adopted, and raised by a loving and well-to-do family. He didn’t know and didn’t share much about his biological family with his daughter, Lisa’s mom. As a result that page of the family history was largely blank.
There was some speculation about his ancestry – that he was Irish – but nothing firm.
“I decided to take the test to either confirm or deny what little I knew,” Lisa said.
The speculation about having Irish ancestry was correct, but there were also some surprises, like having Balkan and Native American ancestry. Lisa’s biggest surprise was finding a close “DNA relative” she never knew she had.
“Within two days I got an email from a woman who matched as a second cousin,” Lisa said.
It was a lucky break because Lisa’s new found cousin was a gold mine of information, quickly filling up the blank pages in the family history.


“She opened everything up,” Lisa said.


Her cousin, a forensic genealogist, had pieced together her grandfather’s origins and the story of his grandmother, Lisa’s great grandmother Nelly Scofield.
Lisa learned that Nelly’s husband died and that she couldn’t care for her two young sons, forcing her to give up Lisa’s grandfather and his brother. The two boys went to different families, and were raised apart. According to Lisa’s cousin, many years later when Lisa’s grandfather was about 21, a man came to his work.
“I’m your brother,” the man said to Lisa’s grandfather.
He’d found his brother to tell him that he too had been adopted, that he had recently found their biological mother and that she wanted to see him. Instead of going to see his mother, Lisa’s grandfather told his brother to go away.


“He had a good life and a good family,” said Lisa.
That was the last contact the two had. Exchanging messages with her cousin, Lisa learned that the family had always known of her grandfather’s existence but they didn’t have a name. Lisa’s cousin also shared with her a newspaper clipping about her grandfather’s brother’s reunion with their mother, Nelly. And she shared more details about the family with Lisa, including their roots reaching back to a small island off the west coast of Ireland, and their love of music.
“It’s was amazing to learn what ancestral traits my grandfather had in common with his unknown relatives,” Lisa said.
And it wasn’t just his looks, but also his hobbies and talents, Lisa said.
“Who plays the Irish accordion when they don’t even know they are Irish?” she asked.


But for Lisa what was most powerful was what this connection meant for her mother, who will soon be meeting her cousins in person.
“She now knows, even if her dad didn’t, who his birth family was,” Lisa said.
And Lisa has advice for others considering using 23andMe.


“If you are even thinking about taking the test, do it.” She said. “ It&#8217;s anonymous and you don&#8217;t need to share anything, if you don&#8217;t want. But you never know what secrets are waiting to be unlocked and how your life might change just from spitting in a tube!”

Whoa Nelly

We’re returning one more time to the story of Jessica and Alice, and how they used 23andMe to unravel a <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-customer-stories/jesss-story/">century old mystery</a>.
<div id="attachment_22174" style="width: 236px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-22174" class="wp-image-22174 size-medium" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Phil-and-Sam-226x300.jpeg" alt="Jess's grandfather Phil and her great grandfather Sam. " width="226" height="300" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Phil-and-Sam-226x300.jpeg 226w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Phil-and-Sam-662x880.jpeg 662w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Phil-and-Sam.jpeg 665w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 226px) 100vw, 226px" />Jess&#8217;s grandfather Phil and her great grandfather Sam.</div>

We first <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-customer-stories/jesss-story/">wrote about the story</a> back in February 2015 and again <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-customer-stories/the-other-side-of-the-story/">a few weeks later</a>, and we aren’t the only ones fascinated by it.


Scott Fisher, the host of the syndicated family history radio program <a href="http://extremegenes.com/ep-104-23andme-dna-day-and-pursuing-a-jail-break/">Extreme Genes</a>, dedicated his most recent show to their story.
Fisher has <a href="http://extremegenes.com/story-and-photos-of-two-men-switched-at-birth-in-1913-with-their-oops-fathers/">a great interview</a> with Jess, Alice, and genetic genealogist CeCe Moore, who each detail how they worked over three years to piece together a mystery that probably couldn’t have been solved any other way, and it all started when Alice tested with 23andMe.


“I took a DNA test and the results came back all the way wrong,” Alice told Fischer.


Or at least that’s what she thought.
Raised to believe she was three-quarters Irish, Alice’s ancestry results came back showing that she had 50 percent Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. This sparked what turned into years of trying to figure out if this was all a mistake or something else. Her mother and father weren’t around to ask anymore, so Alice eventually had all seven of her siblings tested with 23andMe.
They all showed the same result. They were half Ashkenazi.
How that was possible was the mystery to Alice, so she began working to solve it. She enlisted the help of CeCe, no stranger of difficult family mysteries, and the two got to work.
“There are unexpected surprises in pretty much every case I work on,” said CeCe.


This one was no different, and CeCe and Alice dove deeper looking at paper records and came up with some theories. If it was just Alice’s results that were different, perhaps the difference could be explained by a single infidelity, but everyone in her family had the same ancestry profile. Obviously something about their family history was different than they suspected. Alice’s father, James, had had a tough upbringing. He knew his parents but had been raised in an orphanage.
Alice began zeroing in on her father and the possibility that   he was switched at birth. But how could you figure something like that out?

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				<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/john-josef-collins-close_1-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" aria-describedby="gallery-1-23096" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/john-josef-collins-close_1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/john-josef-collins-close_1-271x271.jpg 271w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/john-josef-collins-close_1-371x372.jpg 371w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />
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				Alice&#8217;s grandfather, John, who is believed to be Jess&#8217;s great-grandfather.
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				Jess&#8217;s Grandfather, Phil.
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				Jess&#8217;s great-grandfather, Sam, who is believed to be Alice&#8217;s grandfather.
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				<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Alices-Father-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" aria-describedby="gallery-1-23093" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Alices-Father-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Alices-Father-271x271.jpeg 271w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" />
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				Alice&#8217;s Father, James.
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He was born at Fordham hospital in the Bronx in 1913, so CeCe and Alice began looking at birth records for babies born on the same day, in the same hospital. Perhaps, they thought, a nurse accidentally put Alice’s father in another child’s crib. CeCe and Alice even went so far as approaching the descendants of a man born that same day with a similar last name and had him test with 23andMe, but they found no match.


And then last year, Jessica, who lives in North Carolina, signed up for 23andMe. Like Alice she also got a big surprise.


“I knew my mom is Japanese, Filipino and Native American,” Jessica said.


Her dad was a bit of a mystery because he’d died when Jessica was still young, but she knew that he was Jewish. But the results came back and instead of showing she had Jewish ancestry, it showed she was a quarter Irish.
“It didn’t match what I knew,” Jessica said.
That might have been it, but that one of Alice’s nephews also tested with 23andMe. Alice found that she shared no DNA with him, that they in fact were not biologically related. Although that would seem to be another dead end, Alice knew that his results could help her solve the mystery.
When he shared with Alice some of his DNA Relative matches, she saw a name she didn’t recognize, Jessica.


“When I saw her listing, I started shaking,” said Alice.
She knew this could be the key.
So Alice sent her a message.
“Help solve a hundred year-old mystery,” Alice said in her message.
Jessica was intrigued.
When they connected, Alice immediately asked whether Jessica had been surprised by her ancestry results.
And then Alice floated her idea, that Jessica’s grandfather and Alice’s father, who were both born on the same day at the same hospital in the Bronx in 1913, had been switched at birth.
For Jessica, the whole thing sounded intriguing. She wanted to know. For Alice, who’d resigned herself to never solving the mystery, she could hardly contain herself.
When they shared family photos, it seemed even clearer that the mystery had been solved.


“You can’t look and come to any other conclusion,” said Fischer in the show.


For CeCe, the photos illustrate something she’s seen in many cases. Here are these two men, clearly not biologically related to the parents who raised them, and for those men how out of place they sometimes must have felt.
It’s also intriguing to think about how their lives might have been different, said Jessica.
“That might be the strangest part,” Jessica said. “They ended up living different lives.”

Family Mystery Solved with 23andMe

Earlier this month, we wrote about <a href="https://blog.23andme.com/23andme-customer-stories/jesss-story/">Jess</a>, who with the help of her 23andMe results discovered that 100 years ago her grandfather had been accidentally switched at birth with another baby boy and raised by<div id="attachment_22174" style="width: 236px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-22174" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Phil-and-Sam-226x300.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-22174 size-medium" width="226" height="300" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Phil-and-Sam-226x300.jpeg 226w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Phil-and-Sam-662x880.jpeg 662w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Phil-and-Sam.jpeg 665w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 226px) 100vw, 226px" />Jess&#8217;s grandfather Phil and her great grandfather Sam.</div>Jewish immigrant parents while the baby he was switched with by an Irish Catholic family.

The reason Jess was able to figure this out is because for three years, another woman, Alice Plebuch, was working to unravel her own family mystery. It was Alice who ultimately reached out to Jess asking in an email if she’d learned something unexpected about her ancestry. 


Now we get to hear Alice’s side of this amazing story that has been posted on <a href="http://www.yourgeneticgenealogist.com/2015/02/switched-at-birth-unravelling-century_27.html">CeCe Moore’s blog</a>.
Alice was raised to believe that she was almost all Irish on both her mother and father’s side, but after testing with several different DNA testing services she learned that she was actually half Jewish. Her quest to figure out why took years of work, and required testing of several different family members as well as document searches and even creating a database to track all of her the relatives she discovered through testing. It’s instructive to see how careful Alice was with information, knowing that it could be difficult for some family members to digest and wanting to make sure she had all the facts first. Alice’s story
<div id="attachment_22272" style="width: 210px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-22272" src="https://blog-api.23andme.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Alices-father-200x300.jpg" alt="Alice's father, who turned out to be Sam's biological son." class="size-medium wp-image-22272" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Alices-father-200x300.jpg 200w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Alices-father-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Alices-father-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Alices-father-587x880.jpg 587w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Alices-father-787x1180.jpg 787w, https://blog.pub.us-west-2.prd.23andme.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Alices-father.jpg 816w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Alice&#8217;s father, who turned out to be Sam&#8217;s biological son.</div>
is also informative about how a smart and resourceful person can use genetic testing and other records to uncover hidden family history.
What is also stunning, at least for us here at 23andMe, is that none of this would have – or even could have – come to light without genetic testing.


If Alice and Jess hadn’t tested there really wouldn’t have been any other way to uncover this hidden history. Even for CeCe – a genetic genealogists with <a href="http://www.yourgeneticgenealogist.com/p/about-me.html">years of experience</a> unraveling countless family stories – that Alice and Jess were able to figure this out was hard to believe.

Irish Ancestry