Does Your DNA Control Your Traits?

Mom is a pessimist who gets mad when I share Dad's optimistic opinions. But is that my fault? Or did I inherit my optimism from Dad?

My 2012 AncestryDNA test gives me access to 93 genetic traits. These are physical, mental, and emotional tendencies built into our genes. And Ancestry can tell you which parent gave you each trait. Check your Ancestry account to see if Traits is available in your DNA menu. It seems new AncestryDNA tests do not include traits unless you pay an extra $20 for your kit. This is from the Ancestry website:

"Some DNA features require an Ancestry subscription. Traits inheritance is not yet available for some customers. Access to Traits is included with AncestryDNA+Traits and in any active subscription."

This month MyHeritage launched their own DNA Traits. Choose Traits from the site's DNA menu to generate your traits report. It works on your MyHeritage DNA test, no matter when you bought it. It also works on another company's DNA test that you uploaded to MyHeritage in the past. You do not need to buy a new test. Right now, MyHeritage DNA Traits are available as an add-on for $19.

What do your DNA traits say about you?

Let's take a look at some of my traits based on my 2012 AncestryDNA test. The categories are not identical on Ancestry and MyHeritage. But I'll choose traits that are similar. Note that MyHeritage gives me only 40 traits.

Sweet or Savory

I love sweets. I crave sweets. When I want a snack, I always go for the sweet snacks.

• AncestryDNA says I'm "somewhat more likely" to prefer sweet over savory. It says this trait comes from my maternal side. (Tell that to the chocolates Dad eats every night.)
• MyHeritage says that I'm only "slightly more likely" to crave sugar. MyHeritage also shows exactly which genes contribute to each trait.

And speaking of DNA tests:

• 4-Tool Combo Solves a DNA Problem
• What Do You Think You Are?
• Do Your DNA Ethnicity Results Make No Sense?

Morning Person or Night Person

Over the years I've evolved into a morning person. I slept very little in high school. I would go to bed, then sneak out to the family room to watch a movie at 2 a.m. In college I hated early classes, but I had no choice. And I got my best creative ideas as I drifted off to sleep.

By age 40 I realized I was no good mentally after 9 p.m. If I did any work after that I was going to make mistakes. By age 50 I started getting up by 6 a.m. and working for a couple of hours before getting dressed. That's still my routine, and I love it.

So if I am an early bird, was I fighting it from age 14 to 40?

• AncestryDNA says I'm "more likely" to be a morning person, and it comes from my paternal side. It's interesting that they say I'm more creative during my non-peak hours. If my genes make me a morning person, it makes sense that my creative inspirations happen at bedtime
• MyHeritage says I'm quite a bit "more likely" to be an early bird.
• AncestryDNA says this trait is about 17% genetic and 83% environmental.
• MyHeritage says it's about 50/50. Either way, this seems to justify how my sleep habits changed over time.

Physical Traits

AncestryDNA shows your likelihood to have a host of physical traits. I like that it shows which parent passed which traits down to you. Some traits are intriguing.

• My lighter eye color comes from Mom's side, which I could have told you.
• The thinness of my hair strands comes from Dad, which I would have guessed.
• My curly hair comes from Mom (I knew that), but it's much curlier than my DNA suggests.
• My light complexion comes from Mom's side, which is also pretty obvious.

I don't have these types of physical traits on MyHeritage. The closest they have if the Fitness category. This covers traits such as:

• endurance
• muscle mass
• power
• strength

I score well only on endurance. I am, to quote Charlie Chaplin in "The Great Dictator", a puny human.

Personality Traits

AncestryDNA says I'm more confident (inherited from Dad). But I'm unlikely to be optimistic (inherited from both parents). I have to disagree, as would my parents. And it says Mom's side makes me more likely to take risks. Oh no it doesn't.

It also says Mom made me an introvert. That's for sure. And MyHeritage DNA Traits agree that I'm quite the introvert.

My DNA seems to want me to play a musical instrument and be quite good at it. I can think of three times in my life when I tried to learn a musical instrument. It did not go well.

One very helpful feature of the MyHeritage DNA Traits is their advice on how to improve in certain areas. Since our traits come from genetics and our environment, we can work to change them. For example, they say my memory is very good. MyHeritage says we can improve our memory performance by:

• being active
• getting enough sleep
• eating well
• exercising our minds through reading, puzzles, and active learning.

I don't have an infallible memory for little details like Dad. Or a word-for-word memory of conversations like Mom. But I read and do puzzles like crazy. And doing genealogy research requires active learning all the time, doesn't it?

MyHeritage DNA Traits and AncestryDNA Traits results provide links to scientific references. This makes it easy for you to learn more.

Can DNA Traits Help Your Research?

Here's what MyHeritage says about these tests: "Trait reports reveal how your genetics influence your personality and characteristics, from taste preferences and sleep patterns to exercise response and more. They don't provide medical or diagnostic information. They offer a fascinating glimpse into many characteristics that make you unique."

Here's what AncestryDNA says about these tests: "These tests have no medical purpose. Nothing in these trait reports are a diagnosis of a health condition or medical disorder. These reports are not a substitute for medical advice. Before making any lifestyle or dietary changes, or if you have any questions about how your genetic profile might relate to your health or wellness, please contact your healthcare provider."

For the most part, DNA Trait results are more entertaining than anything else. But, if you never knew one or both of your parents, your AncestryDNA Traits may be more useful for you. If you wonder where some of your traits came from, AncestryDNA can tell you which parent passed them down to you. (Note the parental side works only if you can separate your closest DNA matches by parent.)

Check your DNA accounts to see if DNA Traits are available to you. You're more than your ethnic pie chart.