Celebrating Grandparents Day and the genetic bond we share

Grandparents Day, celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day (September 8), is a special occasion to honor the contribution that grandparents make to our lives.

This day not only allows us to celebrate the wisdom and love of our elders, but also provides an opportunity to reflect on the unique bond shared between grandparents and their grandchildren.

In this blog, we look at the history of Grandparents Day, the genetic connection between grandparents and grandchildren, and the usefulness of grandparent DNA testing.

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The history and significance of Grandparents Day

Grandparents Day was officially recognized thanks to the efforts of Marian McQuade, a West Virginia housewife who advocated for a day dedicated to honoring grandparents.

Throughout the 1970s, McQuade worked hard to educate people on the contributions that senior citizens had made throughout history and in our day-to-day lives.

In 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed the proclamation that established Grandparents Day as a national awareness day.

The day emphasizes the important role grandparents play in family life, acting as a bridge between generations, offering wisdom, and providing love and guidance.

How much DNA do we share with our grandparents?

Grandparent DNA testing is just one of the many at-home peace of mind DNA tests we offer at AlphaBiolabs and can be incredibly useful, depending on your circumstances.

Genetically speaking, we inherit 50% of our DNA from each of our parents. This means that we share approximately 25% of our DNA with each of our grandparents.

This 25% shared DNA represents a combination of genes passed down through the generations, making grandparents an essential link in our genetic chain.

When is grandparent DNA testing useful?

Grandparent DNA testing is most commonly used when a child’s paternity is in question, but the potential father is unavailable for paternity testing.

As a child inherits half of their genetic profile from each biological parent, when the child’s parent is unavailable for testing, we can look to the grandparents to determine what DNA they have contributed to the child’s genetic profile.

The test works by analyzing the DNA profile of the grandparent and comparing it with that of the child, to identify matching DNA markers (loci).

We offer two types of grandparent DNA test at AlphaBiolabs – a standard test, and an enhanced test. Our standard test is already industry-leading, analyzing 25 DNA markers (vs the industry standard of 16-21 markers).

What makes us unique is that we can also analyze up to 45 DNA markers, allowing more genetic material to be analyzed. This strengthens the result and provides you with additional reassurance.

It’s also useful for tests of a more complex nature, such as a grandparent DNA test, where the chance of obtaining a conclusive result is lower than with a straightforward paternity or maternity test. This is because the DNA hasn’t been directly inherited.

Therefore, our enhanced test increases the chance of obtaining a conclusive result, providing you with added peace of mind during what can be an emotional time.

Accredited DNA testing

It’s easy to order your Grandparent DNA test today, direct from our ISO 17025 and BBB-accredited laboratory.

Simply order online and we’ll mail your kit out to you immediately, in discreet, plain packaging, for full confidentiality. The test kit contains enough cheek swabs to test one child and one potential grandparent, plus full instructions on how to collect your DNA samples and return them to our laboratory.

Your secure, password-protected results will be emailed to you within 3 business days, following receipt of your samples into our laboratory.

If you would like to test more than one child and/or more than one potential grandparent, you can select this option when placing your order*. You can also choose to upgrade from our standard test (25 DNA markers) to our enhanced test* (45 DNA markers), for added reassurance.

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Need more information? Call our friendly, discreet Customer Services team on 727-325-2902 or email info@alphabiolabsusa.com.

*Additional fees apply.