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Our verdict: I was really impressed with how many reports Genomelink provided me—and how deep the analyses were. Uploading my raw DNA data was also really easy, which I appreciated since I don’t consider myself all that techy.
Genomelink gave me a better lens into the following:
When I looked into the company further, I was also impressed by how they back up all of their reports with lots of research.
My favorite feature on the app was the one called “Time To Sleep.” Time To Sleep stood out to me because it assessed my genetic risk of developing insomnia.
The report focused on the influence my genetics has on my typical late-night bedtime. This report made perfect sense to me as someone who considers themselves a night owl.
Overall, I thought Genomelink was a fun way to get to know myself even more without having to spend on another DNA test. This is good for anyone who has already taken one in the past and wants to upload their raw data from another company to find out more.
Genomelink is a DNA data upload site with an office in Berkeley, California. The company analyzes your raw DNA from 23andMe, AncestryDNA, and MyHeritage.
The company doesn’t offer DNA test kits. But it offers heaps of DNA analysis reports, some of which you can get for free.
We recommend this DNA app store because it has over 250 traits reports on wellness and identity insights.
We read hundreds of reviews online about Genomelink products and services. Here are a few common points we noticed.
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To make things clear, Genomelink doesn’t offer DNA tests. However, 4it does different raw DNA data analyses, which you can access through subscriptions.
Genomelink offers both free and paid services.
Genomelink has a free plan that gives you instant access to 50 genetic trait reports. The free feature also includes cross-referencing your genetic data with another person of your choice.
The Genomelink Unlimited Plan comes with readily-available reports for over 312 traits.
With this subscription, you’ll receive a weekly email— Genomelink’s latest “Discovery Trait” report.
It relays new and entertaining quirks based on up-to-date scientific research. Consider them interesting trivia about yourself (I sure did).
The free plan lets you access basic services. However, an upgrade to the unlimited plan lets you explore additional features.
An example of the extra features is the option to compare Genomelink traits with up to five other people. It only comes with an unlimited plan.
| Price | $14 per month |
| Collection type | DNA data uploading |
| DNA analysis method | Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) |
Genomelink’s app told me that it could tell me more about my ancestry, health, and personality traits.
My main experience is with the Trait reports, and that was easily my favorite part. However, I’ll still touch on the other reports to provide an overall view of how extensive Genomelink reports are.
One thing to note: I definitely liked the feature that asked me if a trait was accurate to me. I thought it was really cool that it asked for confirmation, and I believe it uses that confirmation to inform its algorithm better.
Genomelink says that it’s constantly adding to the list of genetic traits it looks at. It assesses the traits based on one or various genetic variants.
Genetic variants are permanent changes in the DNA sequence that compose a gene. They can have a large or small effect on a trait.
Genomelink rates each trait with a reliability score. The reliability score has three categories: suggestive, reliable, or highly reliable.
Genomelink can collect feedback data from you for each trait when you receive your reports. One of the best parts of this is that Genomelink will ask you to confirm a result from your report. This helps them continuously improve the accuracy of their analyses, which I appreciated.
For example, a certain analysis found that I am highly likely to eat fried dishes less frequently, something I didn’t notice until it was pointed out to me. No wonder I’m not so big on fried chicken!
I was asked to confirm if this result describes me. I thought it was really cool that the Traits report went this far to confirm its results.
The traits report is further divided into five easy-to-understand subcategories.
Here, I found insights into my body’s nutrition status and how it handles certain foods.
The Food and Nutrition report discussed these:
Clicking on a trait report showed my:
I was impressed by the number of food analyses—a total of 54 features listed under the Food and Nutrition traits alone. It also showed me which nutrients I may be lacking or at risk for deficiency.
Here’s a peek at my Food and Nutrition page:
I can say that my results were about 70% accurate. Not everything on there was something true to me—or at least, not something I totally observed right away.
It highlights the impact genetics has on your cognitive functions, such as:
Genomelink looked into 22 different characteristics under my Intelligence category. Here’s what my report looks like:
Most of my results were remarkably on point.
For example, the report showed that I have a stronger facial recognition ability. I’m pretty good with faces—names, not so much. Still, I can tell you where I saw a guy in a movie before.
Whenever I watch a movie or TV show, I can always place an actor’s face in context. I also have no trouble recognizing people I know when I run into them.
Unfortunately, the report also revealed my struggle with multitasking.
In the Physical Traits report, Genomelink looked at 94 traits linked to my physical appearance.
Some of the insights it covered were:
While I was in denial for a bit, it did hint at my potential for male pattern baldness. This was something I was worried it would confirm. While I can’t fully confirm it now, it is something that runs in my family, so it’s a big possibility.
It’s also interesting to learn that I’m less likely to snore, as I haven’t really had the opportunity or means to observe that.
In this section, Genomelink explored how my genes influence some aspects of my behavior, such as:
My Personality Trait reports look like this:
I received 63 reports when I took the test, most of which were accurate to me.
For example, I think of myself as an easy-going person, so it makes sense that my anger trait is pretty low. Although I’m not sure I’d totally agree with the highly sensitive personality, as I’d like to think I’m pretty level-headed.
This is why it’s best to ask your friends and family to confirm your results too. They may have seen sides of you that you haven’t quite considered as part of your personality. While I definitely thought I was a more agreeable person and was shocked at the result Genomelink gave me, my friends kind of agreed that the opposite was more of the case.
Sometimes, we aren’t aware of our temperaments and qualities, especially the not-so-pretty ones. I think it’s always best to get an outside perspective on them.
This is the last section under the Traits report. Genomelink examined the genetic markers influencing my ability to burn fat and build muscles. I kind of dreaded this one, as it’s not my favorite thing to consider, but it was still pretty cool to discover the factors that contributed to how fit I could get.
The analysis featured in this section included some helpful and unique information about my body, such as:
The sports traits section reports around 21 attributes related to physical activity and exercise.
My results under the Sport attributes report were a little shocking. For instance, the Sports section reported that I would likely show good sprint performance. Since I had never tried sprinting before, the analysis surprised me. It’s because I’ve never thought of myself as a big runner.
Despite this, the fact that it said that I may not be as likely to mark a marathon personal record stung a bit—even if I don’t run much. Just a small ego bruise, all good.
Genomelink curates a variety of genetic genealogy services, including:
Under the Ancestry report are different kinds of DNA ancestry analyses.
Genomelink let me choose from 13 ancestry breakdown reports. Each of them covered unique geographical regions or ethnicities.
Genomelink has extensive health-related DNA analyses covering different areas of wellness, such as:
I opted for the Nutrition Advice category.
Combining genetics and nutrition analysis revealed which vitamins I need to focus more on. It also informed me of the signs of deficiencies in each respective vitamin.
For instance, the report told me I needed to increase my intake of vitamin A. It listed the symptoms of vitamin A deficiency, which include:
I thought this was spot-on, as I do have pretty dry skin from time to time. Eczema is also something that flares up for me. This did make me a little worried, but reminding yourself that DNA test results are not diagnoses. They can, however, give you a headstart on dealing with health conditions.
This prompted me to see a dermatologist and find healthy ways to incorporate more Vitamin A with the help of my dieatitian.
Genomelink had two pretty fun analyses that stood out to me. Genomelink may add more features in this category.
Genomelink formed the Personality report based on the Big Five or Five-Factor Model. The Big Five model is a prominent personality theory in Psychology.
It says that everyone has a unique mix of the five general traits:
These traits affect every facet of your life. This is why the Big Five or Five-Factor Model is a widely used framework in the career counseling field.
Genomelink’s Personality Report assesses the careers that are likely suited to your personality. It utilizes the most recent genetic studies about the big five personalities to do so. It’s what makes the Personality report a standout analysis.
As Genomelink mentioned, you may not need to look further than your DNA to decide which career path to take.
As I showed you earlier, my big five showed that I’m pretty open-minded, more prone to neuroticism, and conscientious. However, being agreeable isn’t my strongest suit. What’s cool is that it does update this over time as Genomelink refines its analyses, so your extraversion now may not be the same in the future.
Genomelink’s Political Report aims to understand your political views. It runs an in-depth analysis of these economic and political preferences:
The analysis compared my political beliefs’ DNA-based and quiz-based results—or the nature vs. nurture comparison. It aimed to assess how likely my DNA influences your political views.
According to the company, the Political Report could predict your political leanings. It uses political-related genetic markers.
The potential applications of this kind of DNA testing in our daily lives are yet to be discovered. However, there’s no doubt that DNA testing for political affiliations is an exciting area of research.
Genomelink’s API (Application programming interface) enables developers to integrate the DNA data you give them into their apps. Their API is incredibly user-friendly and customizes apps that are tailor-fit to your information.
This is how Genomelink is able to generate unique reports from your DNA data despite not having an actual DNA test. The apps developed are all based on your unique genetic makeup.
Think of it as a group of apps specially made to represent and encapsulate you. It’s pretty cool, if you ask me, and provides some really unique insights.
Genomelinks claims it is as accurate as any DNA testing service out there. However, always take accuracy with a grain of salt, as mistakes can happen.
Genomelink claims their analyses presented the most likely outcome for each trait. The results are based on the digital DNA data you uploaded.
However, the accuracy of your Genomelink results depends on three factors:1
Gene expression is a complex process. It refers to when our cells translate the instructions in our DNA into functional products, like proteins.2
Gene variations can alter traits’ appearances. It’s the reason why some traits that appear in other persons may not show in those who share the same genetic sequence.
External aspects can also affect your traits which could change the accuracy of your results. They include:
The reliability of each trait is based on research and genetic studies. Genomelink classifies reliability into three:
The company admits there’s still much to learn and that not all studies are dependable. Genomelink will update its results to reflect these changes as genetic science grows.
The results are still pretty reliable, however. I found most of them to be accurate. While some were inaccurate, Genomelink gives you percentages, which are not necessarily invalid.
Just remember that your test results shouldn’t replace the advice of a doctor, nutritionist, or personal trainer.
First, you must use your email address to sign up for a Genomelink account. Be sure to remember your login details or your email and password.
After creating an account, follow these steps to get your traits reports:
Genomelink currently only accepts raw data from AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, and 23andMe.
Genomelink services are available on their website. It should only take you a couple of minutes to purchase a subscription since their website is easy to navigate.
You can use Genomelink for free if you’re curious about the 50 included free traits.
However, a premium plan can give you access to more traits and other analyses and get weekly updates. It’ll cost you $14 a month.3
The cost for each report ranges from $29 but may cost more whether or not you have a subscription. The annual cost of a subscription that includes all of the reports costs up to $300.
Let’s look at how Genomelink fares with other DNA data uploading sites.
| Genomelink | Sequencing | |
| Cost | $24 and up or $14 per month | $9.99 to $49.99 per month |
| DNA data | Can upload raw DNA data from 23andMe, AncestryDNA, or MyHeritage | Can upload raw DNA data from any DNA testing company |
| Offers genetic testing | No | Yes |
| Type of DNA sequencing | Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) | Whole genome sequencing (WGS) |
| How many reports | 7 | 10 |
| Regular reporting updates | Yes | Yes |
Genomelink and Sequencing.com are widely regarded DNA testing services offering comprehensive report options.
Despite the similarities, the two companies have main differences.
Sequencing.com accepts raw DNA data from more DNA testing companies. It can also provide testing services if you don’t have your raw data yet.
On the other hand, with Genomelink, you need to have your raw DNA data already— it doesn’t have DNA testing.
Plus, it only accepts raw DNA data from the big companies, AKA: AncestryDNA, 23andMe, and MyHeritage.
Yes. I definitely think Genomelink is a good deal. I thought it was an excellent platform for in-depth analyses of my raw DNA data. I learned a lot, even if it wasn’t all totally accurate (or even if there were things there I didn’t want to fully believe yet).
Genomelink test is a great option for people who are curious about their:
We spent hours of thorough research, reading reviews, and scouring the web. We also tried some features ourselves. After much effort, our team came up with the criteria for rating Genomelink.
We looked at the company’s research and development procedures. We wanted to ensure their reports were based on the most recent findings in the relevant fields of science.
According to Genomelink, its servers are set up with HIPAA-grade security. This means all servers meet federal standards for protecting patient information. The HIPAA also regulates the use of these DNA data in employment or insurance claims.
The company promises not to use or sell your DNA data without your explicit consent. Additionally, it may share some of your info with third parties and medical research partners. However, they only do so with your consent.
If you feel unsafe, you can delete your data from their servers. They give you complete control and ownership over your information in this way.
Genomelink’s services cost more reasonably than other DNA analysis platforms. And the company offers good value for money with its comprehensive analysis and in-depth reports.
Our research revealed that most users were satisfied with the services offered by Genomelink. The website is easy to use, and the reports are easy to understand, adding up to their positive experience.
Most of them also find customer support much to their delight for being accommodating and available 24/7.
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