Have you heard of DNA.LAND?

October 27, 2015 – Know your genome. Help science.

That is the message you find when you first click on the link to DNA.LAND, a place where you go to learn about your genome, and while learning about it you help scientists make discoveries to benefit all of humanity.

But you can’t get started unless you have submitted to a DNA test at an accredited lab. Right now accredited DNA testing sites for DNA.LAND include 23andMe, Family Tree DNA, AncestryDNA or GEDMatch. DNA.LAND upon registration gives you instructions on how to do a DNA upload. You are also asked to provide some background on your ancestry and health. Once done then you become part of a not-for-profit community affiliated with Columbia University and the New York Genome Center and will be making a valuable contribution to our understanding of genetics and disease. At the same time you will be given the option to find relatives based on genetic matches.

The relative finder gives you a report (see image below) on the nearest 50 matches sorted by degree of relationship based on shared DNA segments. If the number of shared segments is high the likelihood of a match is good. You receive a name and email address of matches and the degree of relationship between you and them. They also receive a similar report so either of you can decide on whether or not to connect. The report also classifies shared DNA segments as ancient or recent helping you to understand whether the relationship is one of distant kinship or a potential lost close cousin.

DNA.LAND even gives you a contribution badge based on your degree of involvement in delivering information through the filling of questionnaires about you, your parents and your known ancestry. The badge you get compares you to others in the community. Nothing like a sticker to get someone involved.

If you have already submitted your DNA samples to 23andMe, or other testing sites referenced above, why join DNA.LAND? The site states it has no for profit motive, that it is purely academic and research oriented. It also states that analysis of your existing DNA sample may yield additional genetic information not previously reported that could prove invaluable in determining whether your genome profile indicates potential future problems. So that $149 U.S. you spent when you sent in your DNA sample to these testing sites will yield the kind of detail that could of cost $1,000 or more in a retest.