March 2014 – Edmund Loh

I Am 95.6% Chinese

Posted on March 25, 2014March 25, 2014 by Edmund

Three weeks ago I went to collect my DNA Kit from Calvin Woon‘s and Patricia Lin‘s office in Singapore. I paid for the 23 And Me DNA Kit and since they do not ship to Malaysia, I asked Calvin and Pat to use their mailing address as Singapore is the closest country that the DNA Kit is shipped to.

I went to Calvin and Pat’s office in Singapore to fill the sample with my saliva on the spot and submitted it back to the 23 and Me genomes lab in the US on the same day via DHL Express.

So What Is 23 And Me?

23andMe provides ancestry-related genetic reports and raw genetic data. The scientists at the lab will run tests on your saliva and from it, they can tell what your DNA says about you and your family, tracing your lineage back 10,000 years and discover your history from over 750 maternal lineages and over 500 paternal lineages.

Well, that’s what it says on their website.

Scientific research reveals that the idea of a ‘pure race’ is a myth. While many of us may identify to a specific race based on majority of our physical attributes, it is hard to believe that we are a product of generations of flawless ‘breeding’ strictly among our own kind. For example, are the Chinese, well, 100% Chinese?

I bought this DNA Kit from the 23andMe Lab out of curiosity as I’d like to see if it’s truly possible to trace my ancestry. After all, my mother could trace only up to her own grandmother from her mother’s side, and we know almost next to nothing about my father’s side.

Three weeks later and I just got an email from them saying that my complete 23andMe ancestry reports are ready to view! That’s pretty fast; I was expecting to wait for another month or two. 🙂

So here is an overview on my Ancestry composition:

That’s just the overview. Each of these sections are followed by detailed, lengthy explanations which I am still trying to ‘brain them’. Nonetheless, interesting! 🙂

If you want to find out about your own ancestry, you can give it a go starting at $99.

http://www.23andme.com/

Note that they don’t ship to Malaysia; the closest is Singapore, which is why I needed to get help from my friends in Singapore with their office address.

Animal Release Ritual

Posted on March 21, 2014March 21, 2014 by Edmund

Elle and I went to the Taman Jaya park yesterday evening to release some animals and insects! We initiated our annual ritual after the heavy downpour. Right after releasing the last bird, we stumbled upon a resting turtle by surprise! Haha, my stars are truly aligned with that of the turtles.

MH370

Posted on March 8, 2014April 7, 2014 by Edmund

ADDED: MH370 memorial at Sunway Pyramid on 26th March 2014.

Today is a tragic day for fellow Malaysians, family members and relatives of the passengers who were aboard the ill fated MH370 flight bound for Beijing. It’s been more than 20 hours yet there is still no sign of the aircraft. The search is ongoing but the incident is already recorded in the nation’s history as the worst aviation disaster.

I am glad the authorities were transparent with the incident and are doing everything they can to search for the missing aircraft and many more netizens pouring out their prayers, concerns, encouragement and sharing of grief.

Then we also have keyboard warriors who trivialize the disaster. Spreading rumors and conspiracy theories because it’s a “pertandingan siapa lebih cepat post berita”. Blaming MAS (they have a near-flawless record of accidents). Politics, religion and race? Uncalled for.

For the sake of the passengers, I really DO HOPE they are safe even though the chances of survival are less than slim by now.

As a regular traveller, this comes across as SHOCKING. Never before in history of Malaysian aviation that a disaster of this scale occurred. And the scary part? This could have happened to ANYONE.

In as much as it’s a blow to the nation, I think we have learned something today. Life is short, live it to the fullest. For you will never know when your final hour comes.

Until then, let the authorities do their job and the rest of us can only hope for the best.