3 Uses for Relationship DNA Testing

The phrase “relationship DNA testing” usually brings one thing to mind: paternity testing. While establishing paternity is a common and important reason for getting a DNA test, confirming genetic relationships with other relatives can also yield useful information. At Endeavor DNA, we know that there are as many reasons for getting a DNA test as there are people. Here are three other reasons for relationship DNA testing.

Ancestry Research

Looking into your genealogy and ancestry is a fun and informative activity to do with your family or on your own. Everyone’s family is full of stories about their ancestors, but have you ever wanted to confirm that some of your family’s wilder stories really happened? While DNA can’t prove everything your family has told you true or false, it can tell you what countries your ancestors hailed from and connect you to relatives and family history you didn’t even know you had.

Genetic Diseases

While confirming whether or not you are susceptible to certain genetic diseases is considerably less fun than delving into your family’s history, testing for genetic diseases can provide valuable insights into your future healthcare needs. While DNA tests can’t predict the future, they can tell you if you are biologically related to the members of your family with a history of certain diseases. Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, some cancers, blood diseases, and mental health issues can all be genetic. If you have any doubt about your biological relationship with someone in your family, DNA relationship testing can give you peace of mind or help you plan for the future.

Inheritance Claims

It’s a sad reality, but many people neglect to make a will and die intestate. If you need to prove that you are a recently deceased relative’s next of kin to claim an inheritance, relation DNA testing may be the answer. Confirming a deceased person’s biological heirs if he or she left no will can help in the process of releasing an estate from probate. If there is some dispute over who the deceased’s heirs are or if someone else makes a claim, DNA relationship testing can clarify who has a right to inherit or share in the estate.