Inside Out
What It Is: Admittedly, an offbeat choice for a gift, but an incredibly cool one nonetheless. Meet 23andMe, a genetic screening service that looks at your DNA and provides a comprehensive breakdown of your genetic makeup – information you’re aware of but may never actually know unless you go through this type of testing, which isn’t really ‘required’ for most of us. With 23andMe’s service, you’ll learn all kinds of crazy insights, like whether you’re at risk for passing on an inherited condition, your genetic risk factors, how you respond to certain drugs, and your general genetic makeup (like whether you metabolize caffeine quickly or if you have the trait for male pattern baldness). You’ll also get a breakdown of your genetic ancestry.
The benefits? Well it’s a pretty cool service to take advantage of if you’re planning on starting a family. But it’s also a neat idea for anyone looking to manage their health more directly. If you’ve ever wondered why your body reacts in certain ways, a test like this can give you the answers – and help you anticipate future health challenges and considerations. Really when you gift 23andMe to someone, you’re gifting them with the power of knowledge, and more control over their health.
Who It’s For: Your sibling, that’s planning to start a family. Your parent, that is obsessed with all things ancestry. Your spouse, who wants to understand their family’s health history.
What It Costs: $199 for the screening kit and actual testing. You can access your results and track testing progress online.
Where It’s At: Visit 23andMe.com to learn more.
BONUS entry into my Yarok giveaway, which is also all about your health. Tell me in the comments below – would you spring for the chance to receive an amazing DNA breakdown?
Canadian Gift Guide 
I would absolutely consider getting a DNA breakdown – I think it would be fascinating.
This sounds very interesting. If I could do it……. I would.
Doreen lamorueux
dorcontest at gmail dto com
I would- but I’d only want to know the things I could act on. I wouldn’t want to know if I was going to get Alzheimer’s or something serious like that.
I’m long past having to worry about my genetics – I’ll pass.
no I wouldn’t
I would not trust the results. This is too expensive.
This is not for me. Genetics is so much more complicated than what they are presenting here.
I would but only because I’ve been enjoying entering genealogy info on wikitree.com lately and they have space to enter such DNA tests. I don’t particularly want the health info unless there’s something I could do about it.
This sounds really interesting but I’m not certain I’d trust the resultsBut I would ask my daughter the Cytogeneticist what thoughts she’d have on such a thing.
Although this sounds fascinating, I don’t think I’d spend the money.
Yarok bonus entry: I wouldn’t spring for the chance to receive an amazing DNA breakdown after seeing a Marketplace review of such products. Maybe one day when the technology is better but right no need. Thanks
This sounds great, but it is quite expensive! I would really have to think about it- thanks!
This is so awesome! A few of my family members are planning on doing the ancestry DNA testing but this would be so interesting and useful too! I always want to have as much information about my health as possible.
If it was truly $200 with no hidden costs or agendas, I would definitely go for it.
I’m skeptical about it is so I might pass.
Personally, I would pass but I can see my grandchildren using this in the future.
It sounds interesting, but also paranoia inducing. No thanks.
I would definitely consider it.
I think it’s a cool idea.
it’s a really cool idea…not sure who I would gift it to though….