by Chris Goff

DNA is an interesting science. As a Scottish lass, I am part of a study on Scottish DNA. Come to find out, I have a lot of Irish in me. It’s all in my DNA.

I’m also Swedish, Bohemian, northern European (which includes England and Wales), French, German, Eastern European (which covers the old U.S.S.R),  and Native American. With three of four ancestors tracing back to the American Revolution, perhaps I’m more American than anything else.

It’s all in my DNA.

One thing DNA can tell you is what your propensity is for certain genetic disorders. I’ve had breast cancer, but I don’t carry the BRCA genes. I may carry the adrenaline junkie gene, but I’m also deathly afraid of heights. And not all disorders come to fruition, seeming more a suggestion than absolute. 

So where does nurture versus nature come in?

Genetically I should be one-quarter Swedish. I come close when you look at my DNA. But I was raised by the only daughter of a Swedish woman named Esther. My grandmother loved her heritage and passed that love down to both my mother and I. Emotionally, I’m closer to one-half Swedish. 

My mother embraced her Bohemian side. My father, a McKinlay, was all about being Scottish—except for the side that was a little bit French. None of my ancestors truly embraced the Native American, though my cousin envied the fact I was the one who ended up with the gene. Makes me unique. 

Like I said, it’s all in my DNA. How about you? Are you a perfect match to your DNA or does nurture also play a role?

For other blogs on this topic, see: