How is the AncestryDNA® test different from other DNA tests?
There are many ways AncestryDNA® is different—and more useful—than some other types of DNA tests. Here are 10 reasons why an AncestryDNA kit may give you more meaningful results.
1. AncestryDNA is more comprehensive.
Unlike the Y-chromosome or mitochondrial DNA test, AncestryDNA® uses an autosomal DNA test that surveys a person’s entire genome. This comprehensive test looks at over 700,000 locations in your DNA, covering both the maternal and paternal sides of the family tree. The Y-DNA test only reflects the direct father-to-son path in your family tree, and the mtDNA test only reflects the direct mother-to-child path in your family tree.
2. The AncestryDNA test is gender neutral.
Both men and women can take the AncestryDNA® autosomal test because both carry the same 22 pairs of chromosomes. People are tested in the same way for the same number of markers.
3. AncestryDNA has a larger sample size to predict your recent genetic ethnicity.
Ancestry has more than 25 million DNA samples, which enable us to compare your DNA saliva sample to samples from around the world. Combined with advances in DNA technology, this helps us discover more about your family’s genetic background and ethnic history—not ancient history, but the people and places that matter to you.
4. AncestryDNA has enhanced DNA matching with other AncestryDNA test takers.
Because the AncestryDNA autosomal test looks at a much broader range of your DNA, it means your DNA test results can help identify shared matches throughout your entire family tree. You’ll find matches along both your biological paternal and maternal sides.
5. SideView™ technology provides more insights about your DNA results.
Proprietary technology developed by Ancestry®, called SideView™, automatically sorts your DNA according to which half you inherited from each parent. This gives you a more complete picture of which parent you inherited each of your matches, ethnicities, communities, and traits from.*
6. Additional scientific perspectives on your AncestryDNA test results.
Gain a more detailed understanding of your DNA inheritance by reviewing results of the “chromosome painter” tool.* See where in your DNA each of your ethnicities is found and which parent you inherited that ethnicity from.
7. Ancestry DNA Communities focus on the recent past.
The DNA communities part of the AncestryDNA test results identifies places your ancestors may have lived about 5-20 generations ago. DNA communities represent people who share a significant number of matches with each other because they likely descend from a group of people with a common history—people who came from the same region of a country or even a county. These insights can help you focus on historical records that align with those locations.
8. A powerful combo—AncestryDNA, Ancestry® public family trees, and Ancestry® record collections—can help you extend your family tree.
AncestryDNA results, when added to your Ancestry account, can suggest DNA matches from among more than 100 million public trees—potential new people to add to your family tree. Suggestions from the Ancestry proprietary tool, ThruLines®, along with additional research in the Ancestry record collections—60 billion online records—may also help you finally break through a proverbial brick wall in your search for ancestors.*
9. AncestryDNA Traits highlight different aspects of your genetic background.
Might wavy hair, an aversion to cilantro, or playing a musical instrument be part of your genetic inheritance? This optional add-on of the AncestryDNA test can provide an interesting perspective about genetically inheritable personality, fitness, appearance, nutrient, and sensory traits.
10. Ancestry provides a highly personalized site experience.
Your AncestryDNA test results, combined with the variety of Ancestry proprietary tools, can provide you with a significantly enhanced and personalized experience. You can gain more detailed insights about your genetic background and it can help you further your family history search.
*Some DNA features require an Ancestry subscription.
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