I took a DNA test...I did NOT expect this!

Summary

In this video, Bree shares her personal experience with AncestryDNA, revealing her diverse ethnic background and the surprising results of her DNA test. She discusses her biracial identity, her family's history, and her excitement in discovering her genetic roots, which include regions like Nigeria, Scotland, and Italy. Bree's husband Yannick also joins to reveal his own DNA results, which show a similarly diverse mix. The video highlights the fascination of exploring ancestry through DNA testing and encourages viewers to explore their own genetic heritage.

Takeaways

• 😀 Bree is a YouTuber who shares beauty, health, and adventure content, and in this video, she talks about her AncestryDNA results.
• 😀 She has often been asked about her ethnicity and typically answers that she is biracial, with a Black mom and a white dad.
• 😀 Bree's background includes African-American, Native American, German, Irish, Italian, and Norwegian ancestry, with the Norwegian roots being particularly significant on her dad's side.
• 😀 She became interested in family history research through Ancestry.com, which she finds fascinating and addictive, though she cautions that it requires a subscription.
• 😀 Bree shares her perspective on the privacy of sending DNA to companies like AncestryDNA, saying that modern technology already tracks a lot about us anyway, so she’s not concerned about privacy.
• 😀 The DNA testing process involves sending in a spit sample and answering a series of questions, including waivers regarding how the DNA can be used.
• 😀 Bree’s AncestryDNA results reveal her ethnic breakdown: 25% England & Northwestern Europe, 20% Nigeria, 20% Scotland, 6% Ivory Coast & Ghana, 5% Northern Italy, and more.
• 😀 Surprising results include 2% European Jewish ancestry, which connects to a family story involving Bree’s grandmother, whose father may have been Jewish, hidden due to WWII.
• 😀 Bree's results also indicate some lesser-known ethnicities like Mali, Portugal, and Senegal, and she discovers that some of her early ancestors came from North Carolina.
• 😀 Yannick, Bree's husband, shares his results, which are similarly diverse, with roots in Spain, Indigenous Americas, Nigeria, and the Middle East, among other regions.
• 😀 The couple is both surprised by the diversity in their backgrounds, with Yannick noting that his results showed a strong African and Indigenous presence, which he hadn’t expected.
• 😀 Bree and Yannick’s story emphasizes how DNA testing can reveal surprising and fascinating details about one’s heritage, and they encourage viewers to explore their own genetic backgrounds.

Q & A

What was Bree's primary motivation for taking the AncestryDNA test?

Bree was motivated to expand her family tree and gain more accurate insights into her ancestry. She had already been doing family history research on Ancestry.com and wanted to integrate DNA testing to enhance her findings.

How does Bree feel about the security of sending her DNA to AncestryDNA?

Bree acknowledges concerns about privacy but believes that the information collected by companies, like Facebook and Instagram, is more invasive. She views sending her DNA as less risky compared to other personal data that is already widely tracked.

What was Bree’s surprise ethnicity result?

Bree was surprised to learn that she has 20% of her ancestry from Nigeria, as she had never known the specific African roots in her background before.

How did Bree's family history influence her understanding of her ethnicities?

Bree's family history, especially on her father's side, was well documented. She grew up knowing her ethnicities and was taught them at a young age by her mother, which helped her answer questions about her heritage.

How did Bree react to discovering European Jewish ancestry in her results?

Bree was fascinated by the 2% European Jewish ancestry revealed in her results. It triggered a personal connection, as her grandmother never knew her father's identity, and it is now believed he was likely Jewish.

What percentage of Bree's ethnicity comes from England and Northwestern Europe?

Bree's results show that 25% of her ancestry comes from England and Northwestern Europe.

What is the significance of Bree’s Norwegian ethnicity in her results?

Bree's maiden name was Norwegian, which tied directly into her ancestry results, confirming her familial connections to Norway.

What are some of the regions where Bree’s ancestors originated from, according to her DNA test?

Bree’s DNA test revealed a variety of ethnicities, including regions like Nigeria, Scotland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Ghana, France, and Germany, among others.

What did Bree find most interesting about using Ancestry.com for family research?

Bree found it fascinating and enjoyable to track her family lineage using Ancestry.com. She described the process as a fun and addicting game, allowing her to discover new connections and history about her family.

How did Yannick’s results compare to Bree’s, and what surprised Bree about his ancestry?

Yannick’s results were more diverse than Bree’s, with significant percentages from Spain, Indigenous Americas, and Africa. Bree was surprised by the diversity in his results, particularly the unexpected Middle Eastern ancestry.