DNA: It's gene-ius - our reporters find out what makes them who they are

We're no different and quickly found that researching the world of genetics and ancestry doesn't have to be difficult or costly.

Our curiosity got the better of us and we went on a mission to investigate our make-up.

An American company, 23andMe, is pioneering new and easily-accessible DNA tests. For just £125 who can find out more about you and your heritage than you could ever have expected.

And all it takes is a sample of your spit. So Weekend set colleagues Lisa Wright, Rob Golledge, and Keith Harrison the challenge to find out who they really are.

And the results may surprise you...

DNA tests may be the fodder of Jeremy Kyle – but they can provide a fascinating insight into your heritage and may even save your life.

There are obvious quirks too, like perhaps finding out if you are related to someone famous.

And there is a genuine fascination about finding out what far corners of the planet your ancestors may once have inhabited.

Erynn Gordon, director of clinical development at DNA testing company 23andMe, explains: "Everybody is looking for something different whether it be for genealogy or health.

"The concept of genealogy fascinates everyone, it's a universal ideal. Just look at the interest there is when a new artefact is discovered or new clues to our past uncovered. We all want to know who we are and until recently very little was known to that affect.

"If you are missing information about your parents or grandparents it can help you fill the gaps."

Health is a major reason for taking the test as the results can point to inherited conditions or traits which may put you at more risk of some diseases.

She says: "For example familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited form of high cholesterol that can attribute to risk of heart disease but can be overlooked.

"Our test will flag up if you have this genetic risk factor.

"Now it is important all your medical advice comes from your doctor, but you can discuss this with them and it can inform them and they may want to look at it or take it into consideration.

"The test is not a diagnosis but highlights risk factors.

"It can also inform your family planning.

"For example you may not know that you are a carrier of an inherited condition like Sickle Cell Anemia.

"If you and your partner both know what conditions you both have it, in discussion with health care professionals it can inform any decisions about family planning."

And the best bit is the test is simple to take.

You register online, answer some questions about your personal details and then spit into a special tube and put it in the post.

In a laboratory across the pond the specimen is analysed and a profile of your DNA created.

Then after waiting patiently for a couple of weeks an email will drop announcing that your results have arrived – cue much excitement.

With the innovative ancestry composition tool, 23andMe breaks down what per cent of an individual's DNA comes from different populations around the world.

The test can inform you about your maternal and paternal lines and even tell what per cent of your DNA came from the Neanderthals.

23andMe can also match customers to relatives – both distant and close – and collaborates with the family history site MyHeritage to provide an enhanced family tree.

But how does it work and what is the science behind it?

Genetic information is inside each of us, in every cell of our bodies and provides a blueprint for what makes us who we are. It tells a story about your past, present and future, informs you about your health, your risk for certain diseases, traits you may pass onto your children and the ancestry you inherit from your parents.

The Human Genome Project, the landmark effort to sequence the DNA of our species, was completed in 2003 after 13 years of research and a cost of £2 billion. Today, sequencing a single human genome can take as little as 48 hours and costs less than £1,000. Yet while that cost of sequencing the human genome has plummeted, the value of that information has soared as we learn more and more about the genetic underpinnings of diseases, traits and human evolution.

Genomics England was set up by the Department of Health in 2013 to sequence 100,000 whole genomes from NHS patients by 2017. This bold project positions the NHS as a world leader in genetic research for patient benefit and demonstrates its commitment to genetic-driven healthcare innovations. By becoming the first country ever to introduce genetic technology in its mainstream health system, the UK is a pioneer in this field.

This climate of discovery and innovation is the perfect environment not only for finding out who we are and where we come from but also in developing treatments, cures and a more personalised approach to patient care.

With my mixed race heritage – my father is from Jamaica, while my mother is a Brummie with Welsh roots – I was interested to see what the results would hold.

So a simple DNA test seemed a quick and easy way to get an insight into what I'm made of.

Spit in a tube, send it off, wait for the results. Simples.

And what did I find out? Well, in all honesty, I'm still trying to process the information and figure out what it all means.