There are a number of reasons people from all walks of life are choosing to store their DNA. Storing DNA is a good way to prepare for the future when genetic testing becomes more affordable, new genes are discovered, and genetic technologies continue to advance. 

Understand Your Family’s Medical History

You may not have the same medical condition as your parents or other biological relatives, but as genetic technologies continue to advance, analyzing your relatives’ DNA may make it possible to find the genes responsible for the disease in your family. When you know the genetic variations present in your family, you and your children can use genetic testing to learn more about your own risks of developing the disease. The more information you have, the easier it can be to take action for prevention and treatment.

It is particularly useful if DNA from both sides of the family are stored, for example, mother and father, grandmother and grandfather, and so on.

Understand Your Inherited Physical Characteristics

While some genetic mutations lead to serious illnesses, other physical traits are determined by genes as well. We may not yet know the genes that account for every human characteristic, scientific advances will identify more genes in the future. Storing DNA can help ensure that you get the answers you want as soon as genetic technology makes it possible.

Understand Your Family Tree

DNA is a powerful tool for genealogists looking for clues to their ancestry beyond paper records. Storing a relative’s DNA yields vital information that can supplement the information that is gathered from your own DNA. You will be able to learn more about your family pedigree and ethnic migration patterns from an analysis of DNA. To learn more, visit Ancestry & Genealogy Testing.

There are additional reasons some people choose to store DNA:

• To help protect against illegitimate claims on an individual's estate.
• To help identify missing persons, including people in high-risk professions, such as men and women in the military, law enforcement personnel, and firefighters.