AncestryDNA is a new DNA testing service that utilizes some of the latest autosomal testing technology to revolutionize the way you discover your family history. This service combines advanced DNA science with the world’s largest online family history resource to predict your genetic ethnicity and help you find new family connections. It maps ethnicity going back multiple generations and provides insight into such possibilities as: what region of Europe are my ancestors from, or am I likely to have East Asian heritage? AncestryDNA can also help identify relationships with unknown relatives through a dynamic list of possible DNA member matches.
Your AncestryDNA results include information about your genetic ethnicity predictions and provide you with DNA matches, linking you to others who have taken the AncestryDNA test. Your results are a great starting point for more family history research, ?and it can also be a way to dig even deeper into the research you’ve already done.
The AncestryDNA test uses microarray-based autosomal DNA testing, which surveys a person’s entire genome at over 700,000 locations, all with a simple saliva sample. Additionally, the new online interface integrates state-of-the art tools for you to utilize your DNA results for family history research.
Your DNA may hold information to help make new discoveries about your family’s past, your cultural roots, as well as confirm information in your family tree. Using your DNA test in combination with Ancestry.com gives you hints that can guide your investigations and connect you with new relatives. These new relatives may have additional information, a piece of your family story to tell or photos to share.
Your DNA test results also provides information that’s more relevant and recent—targeting your family history a few hundred or even a thousand years ago, as compared to the Y-chromosome or mitochondrial DNA tests, which have a 10,000 to 50,000 year time focus.
Yes, women and men can take the AncestryDNA autosomal test since we all carry the DNA that is being tested. In fact, men and women are tested in the same way for the same number of markers.
Unlike some other DNA tests, which only analyze the Y-chromosome (and can only be taken by a male to look at your direct paternal lineage) or mitochondrial DNA (can be taken by a male or female but only looks at your direct maternal lineage), AncestryDNA looks at a person’s entire genome at over 700,000 locations. To learn more about the differences between the DNA tests you can click here.
It’s more comprehensive. Unlike the Y-chromosome or mitochondrial DNA test, AncestryDNA uses an autosomal DNA test that surveys a person’s entire genome at over 700,000 locations. It covers both the maternal and paternal sides of the family tree, so it covers all lineages. 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. Learn more about the differences between the DNA tests here.
The test is gender neutral. Both men and women can take the AncestryDNA test and are tested in the same way for the same number of markers providing the same level of detail in the results.
It predicts your recent genetic ethnicity. Thanks to advances in DNA technology we’re able to compare your DNA to samples from around the world, to find out more about your family’s background and ethnic history—not ancient history, but the people and places that matter to you.
Enhanced DNA matching. Unlike the Y-chromosome or mitochondrial DNA tests, the new AncestryDNA autosomal test looks at a much broader range of your DNA, which helps identify matches throughout your entire family tree—along both your paternal and maternal sides.
The information is more relevant and recent—targeting your family history a few hundred or even a thousand years ago, as compared to the Y and mtDNA tests, which have a 10,000 to 50,000 year time focus.
Improved website. AncestryDNA has a significantly enhanced personalized site experience with interactive tools and features to make your family history search even easier.
Your AncestryDNA test results will normally take about 6-8 weeks to process from the time that the lab receives your DNA sample. Please note that you must also activate your DNA kit online in order to begin processing.
If you have not received your AncestryDNA results after 8 weeks, please contact customer service at 1-800-262-3787 and we’ll help you out.
When your DNA results are ready, you will receive an email from AncestryDNA notifying you, with a link to view your results. Your results will also be available online in your secure Ancestry.com account here: http://dna.ancestry.com/status.aspx
Autosomal DNA testing includes the other 22 pairs of chromosomes that aren’t the X or Y chromosome that determine your gender. Autosomal testing allows you to find family across all lines in your family tree. That means both men and women can take the test, and the results are not limited to just the direct maternal or paternal lines.
The AncestryDNA test analyzes your entire genome—all 23 pairs of chromosomes—as opposed to only looking at the Y-chromosome or mitochondrial DNA (which makes other types of tests gender specific). Your autosomal chromosomes carry genetic information from both your parents that’s passed down through the generations
Using autosomal testing, AncestryDNA surveys over 700,000 locations in your DNA, all with a simple saliva sample.
The AncestryDNA test is available for purchase online at AncestryDNA.com or dna.ancestry.com. The AncestryDNA test is not yet available for purchase outside of the United States.
The AncestryDNA test is not yet available for purchase outside of the United States. We hope to make it available outside of the U.S. in the future although we do not have a date for this yet.
Please note: for those who live outside of the U.S. and choose to purchase the test on the U.S. site, the use of the dna.ancestry.com site and the DNA products offered are subject to United States law and the AncestryDNA Terms and Conditions and AncestryDNA Privacy Statement.
Ancestry.com DNA, LLC (‘AncestryDNA’) is a member of the Ancestry.com family of companies, the world’s largest online resource for family history.
The ethnicity map is a quick and easy way for you to visualize and interact with your DNA results. The fields of color on the map correspond to the colors in your ethnicity results pie chart. If you have a family tree on Ancestry.com linked to your DNA results, you’ll see pins on the map indicating the birth location of your ancestors as seen in your family tree. Some pins have a graphic with two people, this represents more than one person in that location. The map is interactive, so be sure to click around and zoom in to see more details.
If you and your DNA match both have family trees linked to DNA results, the different colored pins on the map indicate the birth locations of the ancestors in your tree (up to about 10 generations of direct line ancestors), the birth locations of ancestors in your DNA match’s tree, and overlapping birth locations that appear in both family trees. Some pins have a graphic with two people, this represents more than one person in that location. There is a legend at the bottom of the map to help you understand what the different colors of pins refer to on the map.
You can link your Ancestry.com family tree to your DNA results on your personal status page. Just click on Manage Test Settings and then scroll down to ‘Family Tree Linking’ to link your DNA results to a family tree. Currently, you can only link one tree to your DNA results.
Most people may have a percentage with ‘uncertain’ in their genetic ethnicity results. This means that small traces of a specific genetic population have been found in your DNA, but the probability levels were too insignificant to pinpoint it to a specific ethnicity. This is not uncommon, and as more genetic signatures are discovered with a higher confidence level, we may be able to update this ‘uncertain’ percentage of your ethnicity over time.
Your family tree may go back hundreds of years, but there could be more to your family’s story that’s just out of reach of paper documents and conventional research. AncestryDNA can reach back hundreds, maybe even a thousand years, to tell you things that aren’t in historical records—things you might have never known otherwise.
Although our ethnicity algorithms and prediction models will continue to improve over time, there are a few reasons why your ethnicity may not be exactly what you expected: 1. Your genetic ethnicity may go back further than your family tree. 2. While your ancestors lived in a certain country, there may have been genetic influence from other places. 3. You don’t necessarily share common DNA with all of your ancestors. Read more
1. Your genetic ethnicity results go back hundreds of years. In some cases, the markers in your DNA may reveal ethnicities that go back hundreds, even a thousand years. This could differ from what you have documented in your family tree. So keep in mind that there may be some ethnic differences in your more recent family history as compared to generations ago.
2. Ethnic groups moved around. Because people move over time, (and when they do they take their DNA with them), a group may contribute DNA to other groups at different times. So ethnic groups can be defined by time and place—not just location. For example, if you have German or British ancestors in your family tree, it’s a possibility that your genetic ethnicity may be partly Scandinavian. The Viking invasions and conquests about a thousand years ago are likely responsible for occurrences of Scandinavian ethnicity throughout other regions. And there are similar examples for other ethnicities. With your results, we provide historical information describing migrations to and from the regions to give you a broader picture of the origins of your DNA.
3. Your DNA is inherited through the generations. Each parent gives each of their children exactly half of their DNA. But the assortment of genes or markers is going to be unique to each child. That’s why most siblings look and act differently. Similarly, your parents will give you a different assortment of the markers that we use to predict your ethnicity. So if you factor this out over the course of several generations, the relative contribution of any one ancestor to your genetic make-up (for height, eye-color or ethnicity), can vary and may not be detectable.
During this BETA period we are looking for feedback to make AncestryDNA even better. Please tell us if your results are not what you expected.
The type of DNA that is being tested looks at ethnicity across both maternal and paternal lines. It does not currently isolate ethnicity results to only your maternal or paternal line.
AncestryDNA uses advanced scientific techniques to produce your results. We measure and analyze a person’s entire genome at over 700,000 locations. During the testing process, each DNA sample is held to a quality standard of at least a 98% call rate. Any results that don’t meet that standard may require a new DNA sample to be collected.
Then we compare your DNA to one of the most comprehensive and unique collections of DNA samples from people around the world, to identify overlap. As our database of DNA samples continues to grow, you could receive updates with new information.
Our DNA matching confidence percentage is a number from 0-100% and is meant to help you identify which matches to focus on—the higher the confidence the more likely that they are more closely related to you. Our confidence levels are determined by the amount of common DNA two people share with one another. To do this, we measure over 700,000 markers in the DNA to analyze the number and length of continuous strands that align. Over time, as we continue to understand more about different populations, these confidence levels will improve.
If you have taken one of the Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA tests, you still have access to your results. You can access them here: http://dna.ancestry.com/viewConsole.aspx or on the AncestryDNA homepage.
The AncestryDNA test may predict if you are at least partly Native American, which includes some tribes that are indigenous to North America, including the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The results do not provide a specific tribal affiliation. (Please note that your AncestryDNA ethnicity results cannot be used as a substitute for legal documentation.)
DNA samples are tested in a secure third-party testing lab in the United States.
If you are the person who purchases and activates your test on our website, then only you will have access to your DNA results. In some cases, a kit can be given to someone else. Then both the purchaser and activator of the kit can have access to the results.
Your privacy is very important to us and we are committed to protecting your DNA. For more information on privacy at AncestryDNA, please visit the AncestryDNA Privacy Statement at http://dna.ancestry.com/legal/privacyStatement.aspx. For a more general discussion of privacy on Ancestry.com, see the Ancestry.com Privacy Center.
Raw DNA data is the data that’s generated in the lab from your DNA sample, before it is processed or “translated” into usable information for family history research. The AncestryDNA test produces over 700,000 pieces of data that we use to calculate your DNA results and match you to others. The data includes SNP (single-nucleotide polymorphism) locations and the genetic code found at SNPs in your DNA. Genetic information is encoded in your DNA as a mixture of four nucleotides indicated by the initials A, T, C, and G. Each SNP has a combination of two alleles that encode your DNA at that location and determine your unique attributes.
The information that you’ll receive with your AncestryDNA raw data will include the ‘rs’ ID where possible, chromosome, and the base pair position on the human reference genome (GRCh37). The genotype (the observed alleles at each position) will be provided on the forward strand. The raw DNA data provided has passed the AncestryDNA data quality filters and has returned results from more than 95% of our customers, presented no more than one mismatch in duplicated runs and passed the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test.
An example of raw DNA data looks like:
| rsID | chromosome | position | allele1 | allele2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rs4477212 | 1 | 72017 | A | A |
| rs3094315 | 1 | 742429 | A | A |
| rs3131972 | 1 | 742584 | G | G |
| rs12124819 | 1 | 766409 | G | G |
Some users have inquired about downloading their raw DNA data, because it can be interesting to scientists and genetic genealogists who would like to extend their research. There are tools available on the web that are developed by academics or enthusiasts, for the purpose of analyzing and comparing raw DNA data. If you choose to upload your data to an outside organization, we recommend you look for specific guidelines in place that respect your privacy.
For your protection, make sure to confirm that the organization or an outside site adheres to the following privacy and security measures:
• A privacy policy or statement that outlines the steps the company takes and the steps you should take to secure your data.
• Look for an IRB (Institutional Review Board) that ensures ethical compliance on how your data is used.
• The option to delete your data at any time. Be aware that some sites you might upload your raw data to, have no options for deleting or removing your raw data.
• Has a secure website that’s login/password protected and utilizes SSL encryption.
If you’d like to download a copy of your raw DNA data, here are the steps to follow once you are on the AncestryDNA site:
1. From the AncestryDNA status page click the link ‘manage test settings’.
2. On the ‘manage test settings’ page click the ‘Get started’ button on the right under ‘Download your raw DNA data’.
3. Enter your password. This will trigger an email that will be sent to your email account on file, which will include a link to confirm download of the DNA data.
4. Open the email and click the ‘Confirm data download’ button in the email.
5. On this download page click the button “Download Raw DNA Data”.
6. The file will then download to your computer.
Important Security Information: Once you receive the downloaded raw DNA data that downloaded copy will not be protected by our security measures. For more information read AncestryDNA Terms and Conditions and AncestryDNA Privacy Statement.
The raw data is formatted as a text file with about 700,000 rows of information. Because the file is very large, we compress it prior to the download. The file you download is a .zip file which can be viewed on your computer.
How to unzip a file using Windows:
Do one of the following:
• To extract the entire contents of the compressed folder, right-click the folder, click ‘Extract All’, and then follow the instructions.
• Double click the compressed folder to open it. Then, drag the file or folder from the compressed folder to a new location.
How to unzip a file using Mac:
• Double click the file to unzip it.
If you choose to upload your AncestryDNA raw DNA results to another website, they will look different for a number of reasons. Other companies do not use the same algorithms, database or methods to translate the data. Only AncestryDNA has access to the unique information available on Ancestry.com, including the family trees and records to help power the accuracy of the results. In addition, the proprietary algorithms that we use to calculate results are based on documented family trees and a one-of-a-kind, comprehensive database of DNA samples from around the world.
If you choose to download your raw DNA data and want to understand more about how to read it, the following information may be helpful.
Raw DNA data is provided in a TAB delimited text file. This file contains a header describing the data and five columns of information. Each line corresponds to one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). A SNP is a single site in the genome that is known to vary across individuals. Our genotyping assay measures what nucleotide is present at each of over 700,000 SNPs on both the paternal and maternal copies of the genome. The possible observations are A for adenine, C for cytosine, G for guanine, T for thymine, or 0 for missing data. Column one provides the SNP identifier (rsID where possible). Columns two and three contain the chromosome (1-22, X, and Y) and base pair position of the SNP using human reference build 37.1 coordinates. Columns four and five contain the two nucleotides observed at this SNP. The specific letters present are called alleles and the pair of alleles observed at a SNP is called the genotype. Every SNP we examine is bi-allelic, meaning there are only two possible alleles present. This means that there are three possible genotypes at each SNP. For example, if a SNP contains either C (cytosine) or A (adenine), then the possible genotypes are C C, A A, or A C (allele order is irrelevant so C A is the same as A C). Each chromosome is composed of two complementary strands, often called forward and reverse, and alleles may be reported on either strand. For example, a SNP genotype that is G G on the forward strand will be C C on the reverse strand. Likewise G A on the forward strand is C T on the reverse strand. It is essential to know the strand on which your data is reported. For the AncestryDNA product, we report data for the SNPs on the forward strand with respect to the human reference genome.
If you choose to download a copy of your raw DNA data, you are responsible for protecting that downloaded copy. While we protect your information in our systems, once you receive the downloaded raw DNA data, that copy will not be protected by our security measures.
Your raw DNA data is secured by a number of security measures while in our possession. For example, your DNA sample is identified only by a bar code—even our testing laboratories don’t have your identity. We also store all DNA data in encrypted databases to ensure restricted access, even within the company. In addition to these protections, AncestryDNA adheres to the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act or “GINA” which makes it illegal for health insurance companies, group health plans and most employers to discriminate against you based on your genetic information. These protections will remain for the copy of your raw DNA data that we possess. But you will need to secure the raw DNA data if you choose to download it.
No, your DNA matches do NOT have access to your raw DNA data. We have many protections in place to ensure your genetic data is secure. Only people with access to your test results can initiate the data download. You can learn more about these privacy settings here.