Do you think the easy availability of genetic testing is a positive or a negative? Have you used this company or one similar?

Richard finds Laura via a match in Ancestry.com. Do you think the easy availability of genetic testing is a positive or a negative? Have you used this company or one similar, and if so, did you learn anything unexpected about genetic makeup?

Genetic testing is positive for people wishing to trace their genealogy. However, it can be negative when people discover their paternity isn't what they thought it was because of infidelity. My mother was adopted and it helped her find her long lost biological family.

My birth son found me using a genetic testing service. He found me through a relative of his birth father. It was such a blessing.

I have mixed feelings. Not everyone wants to know about their background. And that is okay. I personally have no desire to investigate. Just recently a friend of mine found out that she has a half brother she knew nothing about. Her mother was in the same situation as Laura. Her mother is deceased so unfortunately she cannot discuss it with her. But she feels bad that her mother kept it from her all those years.

I do see it as a positive. My brother and sister are both adopted. My sisters children have a number of health issues and my niece wanted that history hoping g to get answered for medical help. I have not used it

I also see genetic testing as a positive. I did it, for no reason other than out of curiosity. It was interesting to see now how the results lined up with the family tree genealogy my grandmothers had done and talked about in my childhood - but with a couple of little 1% surprises. I found it very fascinating and fun. If people do not want to know about that, then they have the option to not take a test.

I think having this tool available is marvelous. It can be super helpful in identifying health issues for which you have a genetic predisposition, which I feel can help you keep an eye out for potential problems. I did send my spit off to Ancestry DNA just out of curiosity, but it didn't really show anything all that interesting. I knew my family was from Eastern Europe and that's what it showed - except for 1% Finnish. I'd love to know where THAT came from, LOL.

I feel that this is a mixed bag. While some want to find their birth mothers, not all mothers want to be found. They may feel it would be too disruptive to their current situation. The fact that it could make you aware of possible health issues would be beneficial.

I think it is good. Today's medicine has progressed to the point that family history is important in detection and treatment of many illnesses.

I think genetic testing can be a positive thing. I have used Ancestry DNA and it is interesting what you can learn about yourself, along with finding other people who share your DNA.

It is a great tool when the information is used appropriately. It can be a real shock that some are not ready to face.

I agree with all the comments thus far, especially as long as it's used appropriately. I haven't been tested, but am curious. Still, as an African American, I can't imagine being surprised by any of the results.

I did a test through ancestry.com because I am researching our family’s genealogy. I have made contact with matches and was able to get missing information about our mutual relatives, so this was a definite positive for me. I guess whether one thinks of it as positive or negative may be affected by the reason for doing the test.

I have taken genetic testing and learned a lot about my family history. Since my profile was available for matches I was among the first to get a call from an unknown niece a few years ago. She was in her late 40s and had been searching for her biological father for a very long time. Her first question was do you have any brothers were were in Vietnam during the Vietnam War? Well, I have only one brother and yes, he served in Vietnam.

When I contacted my brother to let him know there was a match. This young woman had given me photos of her mother from the war years and a photo of my brother. I had no doubt she was family and neither did he. He and his sons were proud to welcome her into the family. His wife passed away a few years ago so was not around when this surprise became known. I have no doubt she would have been equally welcoming to this newly found daughter.

Our family's story has a positive ending but I've heard of others that find their biological parent and then suffer terribly when they are rejected. (yet again) I find those stories really sad.

I think having that ability is positive. I've had it done twice (and my dog once!) for verification of my ancestry origins. I think it's a great tool.