What Does an Ancestry DNA Test Tell You?

Home DNA testing can help you uncover a wealth of information about yourself, your health, your heritage, and your genetic lineage! If you’ve been considering getting an Ancestry DNA test, there are a few things you’ll want to know first.

About Ancestry DNA Tests from Ancestry.com

AncestryDNA is a genetic home DNA testing service provided by Ancestry.com. The company was originally founded to help individuals trace their lineage through public records, historical documents, and other helpful resources. Over time, Ancestry.com grew and became a key source of over 10 billion historical records. Headquartered in Lehi, Utah, this is one of the largest genealogy companies in the world. They now boast 3 million subscribers worldwide, meaning their genetic database is extensive and growing in accuracy each day.

Generally, the larger a company’s DNA database is, the more accurate and in-depth your results will be. Since Ancestry.com has such an extensive database, you will be able to find out more about yourself. Generally, the best DNA tests can tell you your ethnicity estimation, health traits, DNA relatives, migration patterns, and other interesting genetic facts.

What Can You Learn From Ancestry DNA Genetic Test Services?

Well, that will depend on which services you opt for, which testing kit you order, and how far you want to dig into your genealogical results. Ancestry DNA testing primarily focuses on factors related to your ethnicity, lineage, family history, and ancestral heritage. Below, we will go over what is available from Ancestry DNA testing so that you can decide for yourself which DNA testing kits sound like the best option for you.

• Ethnicity Estimation

Your DNA will be used to find clues about where your ancestors came from hundreds of years ago. This means that you will be able to find out which ethnic groups make up your genetic identity. You’ll get an estimate that shows you which ethnicities make up your genetics and what percent of each ethnicity you are.

• Ancestral Migration Paths

With DNA database searches, you will also get to find out where your ancestors lived and traveled from. Visual maps let you track exactly where your ancestors likely lived and how they moved from place to place over the years.

• Close DNA Matches

Since Ancestry DNA gives you a look at your family history and family tree, you can also identify DNA relative matches. Advanced search features compare your DNA results to other AncestryDNA members so that you can find new family connections. Sometimes, this even lets you discover whether you’re related to famous historical figures.

• Genetic Trait Information

While genetic trait identification isn’t the primary focus of Ancestry DNA testing from Ancestry.com, it still lets you gain insight into your own genetic makeup. Their genetic traits tests allow you to learn more about yourself. You can find out which traits run in your family and find out what genetic markers shape who you are.

• Genetic Resources, Family Tree maps, and Community Collaboration

All forms of DNA testing from Ancestry.com let you uncover interesting information about yourself, your lineage, your family tree, your ancestral geography, and even your individual genetic traits. Results from AncestryDNA tend to be very easy to read and understand. With testing services from this company, you’ll have access to a variety of visual aids and maps. Plus, they offer a community with tons of helpful resources and tools that you can use to dig even deeper into your lineage and genetics.

The Different Testing Kit Options from Ancestry DNA

Ancestry DNA testing kits come in two main formats: An AncestryDNA kit and an AncestryHealth Kit. The AncestryDNA test focuses on your family lineage and the AncestryHealth kit shows you more about your physical genetic makeup.

AncestryDNA Test Kit:

• Your Family Origins information and Ethnicity Chart
• Potential DNA Matches
• Lots of Historical and Geographical Lineage Information

AncestryHealth Test Kit:

• A Range of personalized health reports with actionable insights
• Support from their genetic counseling center with additional resources
• A family health history tool to track generations of health traits
• List of personal traits influenced by your genes

Top Test Comparison: 23andMe VS Ancestry DNA

It’s good to know what to expect with the testing service you are using. So what’s the difference, when we talk about 23andMe vs AncestryDNA competition?

Some home DNA test kits trace mainly your ancestral heritage, such as the AncestryDNA home test. Kits like the 23andMe home DNA test kit give you insight into your genetic disposition, health, and inherited traits. Some 23andMe tests even offer chromosomal browsers that can help you discover close relative matches.

Essentially, if you want to learn about your ancestral heritage, AncestryDNA testing kits are the way to go. While their AncestryHealth kit is also great,but if you’re opting for the best DNA health test, you may want to go with 23andMe. The 23andMe company has a larger health and genetics database and lets you learn about your Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA or mDNA). This means that you’ll be able to go deeper into your specific genetic health traits. However, for general traits, ancestry, and family history, AncestryDNA + Traits is probably your best bet.

Putting it All Together

Ancestry DNA testing is an amazing option for anyone who wants to learn all about their heritage and history, family tree, ethnicity, geographical family migration, and potential genetic DNA matches. They have a great website with tons of community resources and visual aids. Testing is easy, and you can uncover a treasure trove of family history and genetic lineage information. Their AncestryHealth test is also impressive in many ways, but it’s not quite as comprehensive or reliable as the health testing offered by 23andMe. Still, for ancestry tracking, this is a fantastic option to consider.