Strange things happen when companies try to market to genealogists. The obvious choice would be for a company to offer to make your family tree into a beautiful piece of artwork. It would make a certain amount of sense for a company to make customized t-shirts or coffee mugs with a surname printed on them. Sometimes, though you end up with some really bizarre items, instead.
You have probably heard of companies that sell DNA testing kits. These have been marketed to genealogists for two primary reasons. The company can analyze your DNA and point out other customers whose DNA indicates that the two of you are related in some way. This could be a good way for a genealogist to fill in more parts of his or her family tree.
Or, these tests can use the information in your DNA to inform you about potential health issues you may need to watch out for. These kinds of results are somewhat controversial and may, or may not, be completely reliable. In the past, direct to consumer DNA tests were suggested to genealogists as a tool that could be used to create a family medical history.
How about a DNA kit that tests for just one, very specific, thing? A company called Atlas Sports Genetics makes a product called Atlas First. This is a direct to consumer DNA testing kit that is recommended for athletes. It looks for certain markers on the ACTN3 gene. Those that have one or two copies of the R577X variant are said to be genetically predisposed to be good at certain kinds of athletic events.
I suppose a genealogist could convince a relative who happens to be very athletic to have his or her DNA tested with this kit, but I cannot imagine what relevant information it would hold. I would not suggest using this type of kit to test the athletic potential of one’s children.
Want to know the pedigree of your puppy? Skymall sells a Canine Genealogy Kit. A sample of your dog’s DNA can be taken from a cotton swab that you rub against the inside of your dog’s cheek. The results are analyzed, and soon, you will learn which of 63 different breeds are a part of your dog’s genetic profile.
Like other DNA test kits, this one will provide some information about your dog’s ancestry, as well as some medical or health conditions that you should watch out for, all based on the information found in the DNA sample. The results come with a Ancestry Analysis Certificate that displays the details.
Would you like a magic wand? Amazon sells a product called a Magic Wand Portable Scanner. It is small enough to be easily put into a purse or backpack, and carried with you on your next trip to the library, courthouse, or other archive. It runs on two AA batteries. Simply swipe the Magic Wand over the document you want to make a copy of, and the scanner will make a clear, beautiful, copy of it for you later. Hook up the scanner to your computer to retrieve the information after you have returned home.
Image by David Kessler on Flickr