DNA Ancestry Test

Trace your ancestral roots

DNA Ancestry testing can help you to trace your paternal and maternal lineages. When you order the test, a buccal swab collection kit is sent to you to collect a DNA sample quickly and painlessly from inside the mouth. The full genetic report is included with every test.

Description: There are two types of DNA Ancestry tests available: Y-DNA STR marker testing for tracing paternal lineage and mtDNA sequencing for tracing maternal lineage.

Trace your paternal ancestry using Y-DNA: All males carry Y-DNA which is inherited along the paternal line. Y-DNA testing allows you to trace the ancestry of your direct paternal lineage (your father’s, father’s, father’s… paternal lineage). Using your Y-DNA test results, you can find out whether you are linked to any other male individual along your direct paternal line, search a global database to seek long lost paternal line relatives from around the world, compare against indigenous populations from around the world to see which population is the closest match to your Y-DNA type, compare against famous people in history, and find out which ancient Y-DNA Haplogroup you belong to. Please note that only males have Y-DNA so only males can take the Y-DNA test. Females wishing to trace their paternal lineage must test the Y-DNA of a male relative along their direct paternal line, such as a brother, father, male cousin, uncle, etc.

Y-DNA test method: PCR analysis of short tandem repeat (STR) markers in the Y-DNA. 20 to 101 Y-DNA STR markers can be tested.

Trace your maternal ancestry with mtDNA: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is DNA that is found in the mitochondria of cells. Both males and females have mtDNA so both males and females can take the mtDNA test. mtDNA testing allows you to trace the ancestry of your direct maternal lineage (your mother’s, mother’s, mother’s… maternal lineage). Using your mtDNA results, you can find out whether you are linked to any other individual along your direct maternal line; you can search a global database to seek long lost maternal line relatives from around the world; compare against indigenous populations from around the world to see which population is the closest match to your mtDNA type, compare against famous people in history, and find out which ancient mtDNA Haplogroup you belong to.

mtDNA test method: Sanger Sequencing of the entire region of mtDNA tested. Regions that can be tested using Sanger Sequencing include HVR1, HVR2 and Coding Regions. If all three regions are tested, it is considered an mtDNA full sequencing test.

Can females take the Y-DNA test? No, only males have Y-DNA so only males can take the Y-DNA test. Females wishing to trace their paternal lineage must test the Y-DNA of a male family member such as a father, brother, male cousin or nephew who is on their direct paternal line. Both males and females can take the mtDNA to trace their maternal lineage.

Can females take the mtDNA test? Yes, both males and females inherit mtDNA from their mother so both males and females can take the mtDNA test to trace their maternal lineage.

DNA Database Usage: Our laboratory is a proud sponsor of the DNA Ancestry Project, a global database for tracing your ancestry and finding family matches. The database is 100% free with no subscription fees.

If I test 20 Y-DNA STR markers, can I test more markers at a later date? Yes, if you test 20 markers, you can choose to test more markers later.

What is the significance of mtDNA HVR1, HVR2 and Coding Region sequences? mtDNA is unique because it is passed down strictly along the direct maternal line (from mother to child). Only females can pass their mtDNA down to their children, so even though both males and females have mtDNA, only females can pass their mtDNA down to the next generation. The maternal line inheritance pattern of mtDNA means that your mtDNA is inherited directly from your matrilineal ancestors (mother’s, mother’s, mother’s.... maternal lineage). The matrilineal inheritance pattern of mtDNA means that all people who have descended from the same maternal lineage as you will have exactly the same mtDNA as you.

If I test only the HVR1 region, can I test more regions at a later date? In total the mtDNA has 3 regions: HVR1, HVR2 and Coding Region. If you test only the HVR1 region, or only the HVR1 and HVR2 Regions, you can choose to test the remaining region(s) at a later date.