What Is Genetic Ancestry Testing?
Finding out about our ancestry can be a thrilling process. It not only gives us an insight into our family’s past but also tells us a lot about our extended family. It’s a new way of looking at your past that often holds a few surprises. If you’re not sure about how & what the ancestry DNA test tells about your ancestry, then here is a quick run-down on a few details that you can look forward to:
The genetic ancestry test, also known as genetic genealogy is a way through which people can learn loads of intriguing things about their genealogy, or family history. DNA variations are studied to detect clues regarding where a person’s ancestors might have come from in the past. People of particular backgrounds also share specific patterns of genetic variations. The closer the individual or families are related, the more will be the variations that they share.
For genealogy, there are three types of genetic ancestry testing:
1. Y Chromosome Testing -
Y Chromosome or the Y-DNA is passed down exclusively from father to son. The variations in the Y-DNA can be tested to explore the ancestry of your direct paternal line. The test is done by linking you with other descendants of a shared common patrilineal antecedent. This test is usually done to discover if two families sharing the same surname are related or not.
2. Mitochondrial DNA testing -
In a mitochondrial DNA test, one can trace the matrilineal ancestry through their mitochondria. This type of testing can be used by either gender as the mitochondrial DNA is passed from mother to her children. It yields information concerning the direct female ancestral line. Through one’s Mitochondrial DNA haplogroup, the primitive group of people from whom one’s matrilineage descends can be identified.
3. Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Testing -
Single Nucleotide Polymorphism or SNPs are the most common types of genetic variation. This test is a form of genotyping in which large numbers of variations across a person’s entire genome are evaluated. The results of other people who took the same test are then compared with your test results to provide an estimate of your ethnic background. This test is preferred over the other two tests since they do not record the comprehensive ethnic background of a person.
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