Best DNA test in 2020: 23andMe, AncestryDNA tested and more compared

A DNA test can speed up or improve your understanding of your family history – from identifying close cousins ​​to your earliest ancestors. Some tests claim to reveal your “ethnicity” – although this is a delicate, controversial issue. And some services can tell you your genetic predisposition to diseases and physiological traits, from eye color to your tolerance to coriander.

In the past 20 years, DNA testing has become popular through lower prices, higher visibility and improved science. In the past, a do-it-yourself DNA test cost about $ 1,000. But in recent years, the kits have become quite affordable with a variety of DNA testing companies – from pioneers like ancestry and 23andMe to upstarts like Living DNA – Offers a fairly sophisticated analysis of your genome for just $ 75 – or less if you find a deal on Black Friday or during regular vacation discounts all year round.

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There are three types of DNA tests – each with its own strengths, limitations, and reasons.

• A autosomal DNA test is the best investment for most beginners; It can identify relatives between five and seven generations, both maternal and paternal.
• Only men can use a effectively Y-DNA test, Which identifies male relatives on the paternal line going back 60,000 years; If you want to keep track of your family’s family name history, this is the test to use.
• And mitochondrial DNA testing, also known as mtDNA testcan determine genetic relationships on a mother line up to 150,000 years ago; Both men and women can do this type of test.

Once you have been tested, each company will provide you with an analysis of your geographical origin. Some claim to be able to identify a specific country, city, or even a “tribe”. Some also offer “matches” from their DNA databases, which give you a head start in contacting potential relatives and a certain amount of support in family tree research. For example, AncestryDNA offers a subscription service that provides access to hundreds of databases that contain birth, death, and marriage records, census records, newspaper archives, and other historical records.

Some companies sell tests for certain ethnic groups or special kits that are designed to provide information about your optimal skin care system or weight. others offer tests to identify your cat or dog’s genetic makeup. The experts I spoke to doubted the effectiveness and value of these tests and recommended that they be avoided.

While modern DNA testing doesn’t contain blood – either dabbing the inside of your cheek or filling a small test tube with your saliva – there are many reasons to be suspicious of the companies that sell these kits. Your success in DNA test genealogy largely depends on providing highly personal information about yourself and your relatives – from your genetic information to your mother’s maiden name, the traditional cornerstone of password security.

Concerns about data protection and security are justifiedand experts warn of this regulation – especially in the United States – falls far short of technology. And you should know that some DNA testing companies can share data with pharmaceutical companies and Law enforcement agencies. Bottom line: Think critically before voluntarily providing information about your medical history and family relationships with a company or organization.

Continue reading: In the future, not even your DNA will be sacred

DNA testing and genealogy in a broader sense involve a complex mix of genetics, probabilities, and guesswork. The different DNA test services use different laboratories, algorithms, devices and criteria to analyze your genetic material. Although you should expect some overlap between analyzes from different companies, these can differ considerably. There is also an element of critical mass – the larger the company’s database, the larger the sample used to analyze your results, and the more accurate your results should be.

We tried some of the best DNA testing services and evaluated the breadth and depth of their offerings, methods, reputation and price. Check out our recommendations below. And if you’ve done any of these DNA tests, tell me about your experience in the comments below.

Are you looking for more detailed information about DNA testing services in general? Switch to our DNA test kit explorer.

23andMe

23andMe was founded in 2006 and is one of the pioneers in DNA testing for consumers. In 2017, it was the first such service to receive FDA approval as a disease risk screener. It has grown into one of the best-known DNA testing companies – and has been well-funded since it acquired a $ 300 million stake from GlaxoSmithKline, which uses the company’s customer data to research and develop new drugs. Still the company recently announced a round of layoffsciting a slowdown in the DNA testing market, likely due to increasing privacy concerns.

23andMe divides its analysis into three main categories – health, lineage and characteristics. The Test basic lineage and properties, which costs $ 99, includes an analysis of your genome including your regions of origin, your maternal and paternal lineage, and your Neanderthal lineage. Once you’ve signed up, the company’s match database – which contains more than 10 million profiles – will identify you and offer to connect you to people who share your DNA.

The companys DNA health test, which starts at $ 199, adds information about your genetic predisposition to late onset Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other diseases. The service also includes analysis of your status as a potential genetic carrier for diseases such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia, as well as indicators of lactose intolerance and other “wellness” problems. The $ 499 VIP Health and Ancestry package offers priority laboratory processing, world-class customer support, and personalized guidance for your results.

I found the 23andMe website and mobile app to be very easy to navigate and full of interesting, understandable information about my background and health as well as the science of genetics and genealogy. The main dashboard provides intuitive links to explore your ancestors, learn about the genetic risks to health, create a family tree, and connect with relatives. Of all the DNA tests I tried, 23andMe provided the best introduction to my recent and old genealogy, as well as an analysis of my genetic health. The only real downside is that it doesn’t provide integrated access to historical documents.

23andMe, however, offers easy access to a range of privacy settings and consent options. (23andMes Terms of Service and Privacy Policy are the largest, with more than 20,000 words.) You can ask the company to keep your saliva sample indefinitely for future testing or to have it discarded. After logging out the first time I signed in, I changed my mind about giving the company permission to share my data with researchers outside of 23andMe, and I was able to withdraw my consent at the push of a button.

Continue reading: Ancestry vs. 23andMe: Which DNA test kit is best for tracking your family history?

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Ancestry.com – the parent company of AncestryDNA – was founded in Utah in the 1990s and started as a publisher and genealogy company. Since then, there has been a somewhat turbulent corporate life that has been bought, sold, publicly traded, and then bought by private equity groups.

The company’s basic service, which costs $ 99, gives you an “ethnicity estimate” derived from proprietary sequencing techniques. It is noteworthy that the company’s testing outsourced to Quest Diagnostics differs from most other companies that use paternal Y chromosome and / or maternal mitochondrial DNA methods and the specific criteria it uses is less known.

AncestryDNA’s database of 16 million profiles is the largest of all test services. The company also has a powerful tool to search hundreds of historical document databases. However, any well-founded research will quickly bring you to a paywall. Ancestry’s databases are further strengthened through the partnership with Ancestry FamilySearch.org, a genealogical site that is operated by the Mormon Church.

Entry-level membership that provides access to over 15 billion US records will cost $ 99 or $ 25 a month for six months after a free two-week trial. “World Explorer” membership for $ 40 a month expands your access to international records, and “All Access” from $ 50 a month includes full access to Ancestry’s historical and contemporary database with more than 15,000 newspapers and military records from around the world.

AncestryDNA offers a personalized health report with “actionable insights”, access to genetic counseling resources and an online tool that can help you map your family’s health across generations. However, the results are not diagnostic – though the test must be approved by one of the company’s doctors – and they have no FDA approval. For the time being, 23andMe retains the advantage when it comes to introducing DNA tests for health risks and genetic screening. However, the AncestryDNA service is particularly well suited to use an introductory DNA analysis for in-depth historical research and to create a family tree.

With AncestryDNA you can download your complete DNA profile and upload the raw data to other tools. You can also control your privacy settings fairly well, although the options aren’t as detailed as others.

Continue reading: What AncestryDNA taught me about DNA, data protection and the complex world of genetic testing

FamilyTreeDNA

FamilyTreeDNA was founded in 2000 and offers a comprehensive suite of reports and interactive tools for analyzing your DNA and creating a family tree. With a credible claim to “the world’s most comprehensive DNA matching database”, FamilyTreeDNA offers all three types of tests – autosomal DNA, Y-DNA and mtDNA. And it is the only company that owns and operates its own test facility: the gene-by-gene gene laboratory in Houston.

The company’s entry-level package for “family ancestors” costs $ 79 – though it is often reduced to $ 59. The test results provide information about your ethnic and geographic origin, identify potential relatives and provide access to the company’s extensive DNA database. I paid $ 275 for a comprehensive DNA test that included analysis of my mtDNA and Y-DNA tests – tests that cost $ 119 and $ 159, respectively, if you bought them individually – and for the “Family Finder”, the company’s autosomal test.

Although the user interface is a bit more complicated than on other websites, FamilyTreeDNA offers the most comprehensive suite of introductory tools of all the providers I have tested. Matches are displayed for each type of test – I received more than 22,000 for my autosomal DNA test – a chromosome browser, migration maps, haplogroups and connections to reference populations of the ancestors, information about mutations, and a link that you can use to download them Your raw data. Suffice it to say that there are numerous topics on which you can get to know yourself, your family and your health.

FamilyTree also offers a range of high-end tests for those who want to dig deeper, including a range of Y-DNA tests that track the path of your male ancestors and the history of your last name. The company also allows you to upload raw DNA data files from other services and transfer your autosomal information to its database to expand your universe of matches and relationships.

From a data security and data protection perspective, there are a few things that I find attractive about FamilyTreeDNA. The company carries out its own DNA tests in-house and processes and stores your sample in its laboratory. A prominent feature on the front page of his website is the promise that the company will never sell your DNA to third parties. However, like most other companies, FamilyTreeDNA can use your aggregated genetic information for internal research and respond to law enforcement requests – unless you choose not to.

Other DNA testing options

The three services above are our first choice. But they weren’t the only ones we tested. What follows are some additional options, none of which eclipses the 23andMe, Ancestry, or FamilyTreeDNA in any significant way.

My legacy

MyHeritage, based in Israel, was founded in 2003 and, like a number of other services profiled here, started as a genealogy software platform. Over time, the company acquired a number of historical databases and finally added DNA tests in 2016. (MyHeritage outsources its DNA analysis to FamilyTreeDNA.) 2018 My legacy Experienced a security breachDisclosure of email addresses and hash passwords of more than 92 million users.

MyHeritage offers a free service that includes some basic family tree creation and access to excerpts from historical documents. It won’t get you too far.

The basic DNA testing and analysis service, which starts at $ 79, includes the usual tariff – a report of your genetic makeup in the company’s 42 supported races, the identification of relatives and relationships with them where possible. All in all, I preferred FamilyTreeDNA to present my DNA information. But MyHeritage highlighted a first cousin living in the US, with whom I shared about 15% of my DNA, and offered to show me her family tree – if I paid an annual subscription fee of $ 209.

Yes, it’s expensive – a free 14-day trial is available – but the company maintains an impressive online database of historical documents that contains 3.5 billion profiles and information about over 100 million subscribers and their 46 million family trees . This huge database is operated by Geni.com, a genealogy social media site that is also the parent company of MyHeritage. According to the New York TimesGeni.com has compiled “the world’s largest scientifically proven pedigree”.

In 2019 MyHeritage started a health screening test similar to that of 23andMe. As part of this effort, the company entered into a partnership PWNHealth, a network of US doctors who oversee the process. I had to fill out a questionnaire on personal and family medical history – there were 16 questions – which was allegedly checked by a doctor. Although the company says it may recommend “genetic counseling” managed by PWNHealth, my health results were simply provided along with my ancestry analysis.

On a positive note, MyHeritage has easy access to a number of understandable privacy settings. Overall, however, the MyHeritage user interface was far less intuitive and more difficult to navigate than others. Although the company’s offering is broad – it is one of the few that offers a comprehensive research database with historical documents, DNA analysis, and health exams – I found the integration between them somewhat clumsy.

Living DNA

Living DNA describes itself as a “DNA service for consumer genealogy that does not sell or share customers’ DNA or data,” which gives you an idea of ​​its priorities – or at least the concerns of its customers. LivingDNA’s UK headquarters can also be a factor in the distinctive mission statement to which it is based the stricter data and data protection regulations of the GDPR.

LivingDNA shares its offers differently than others. A $ 49 starter kit provides a “taster” with an introductory overview of your ancestors in eight geographic regions, access to the company’s genetic matching tool, and some personal fitness and nutrition information. The full autosomal DNA test kit costs $ 99 and extends the percentage breakdown of ancestors to 80 regions. It contains information on maternal and paternal haplogroups. The “feel-good package” contains reports on your physiological tolerance with vitamins, food and exercise. And the $ 149 deluxe package includes all of this.

The most recent parentage results include a breakdown of the percentage by country, the percentage attributable to more detailed regions, and the origin and migration path of haplogroups. In February 2020, LivingDNA launched an African Ancestry DNA test report that included data on 72 regions in Africa and was “five times more detailed than any other test on the market,” the company says. The report is available to existing customers free of charge.

That means the company has one very limited family match database; A company representative declined to give me a specific number, but said it contained less than 1 million profiles. My wife who took the test returned exactly zero matches. So if you want to identify relatives and connect with them, there are better options in the market. Nevertheless LivingDNA has a very good reputation both for the quality of its DNA analysis and for the data protection regulations of experienced genealogists.

For experts only: Sequencing of the entire genome

There are a number of companies – including Full genome, Veritas Genetics, Nebula genomics and Dante Labs – that can sequence all of your DNA, also known as your genome. This level of analysis is only suitable for advanced users. Not only is it expensive – these tests can cost thousands of dollars in some cases – it also requires a sophisticated understanding of both genetics and a number of technical tools that are required to examine and interpret your results.

The cheapest overall genome tests cost about $ 300. For example, Full Genome’s 30X test, which scans every target in your genome an average of 30 times, is considered the standard for clinical analysis. It costs $ 1,800.

For most people, the main reason for sequencing the entire genome is to delve deeply into your genetic health perspective. You can determine your personal risk factors for diseases, drug sensitivity and your status as a carrier. that’s what you could pass on to your children. But there are also many applications for advanced genealogy projects.

All of these efforts can also be done, to a lesser extent, with some of the more affordable options described above. However, sequencing the entire genome provides a much more comprehensive, accurate, and high-resolution analysis.

If you want to dip your toe in this realm. You may want to start with Nebula Genomics. You can also Upload an existing DNA sequence from the Ancestry or 23andMe DNA database and get Nebula’s reports at a reduced price.

DNA test: what you need to know

If you’re using a home DNA testing service, you’re probably looking for one of three things:

Lineage and family history: The first big benefit of a full DNA test is that you get a detailed breakdown of your ancestry, ethnicity, and migration patterns. Spoiler alert: your ethnic background may be radically different from what you think. You will also find out what a haplogroup is.

Relative identification: With your permission, you can use some DNA services to connect with relatives you never knew you had – other people with matching DNA who have used the service and who have also been given permission to engage in possible relationships connect.

Health and disease info: DNA testing can also show the conditions under which you may predominate. It is of course a controversial feature. Knowing that you have a genetic predisposition to a certain form of cancer may make you more vigilant for testing, but it can also lead to increased stress – you need to worry about a possible state of health that may never develop, yourself if you are “genetically susceptible” to this. There is an abundance of false positive and false negative results. Such information should be discussed with your doctor before responding.

How DNA tests work

Afraid of needles and taking blood? Good news: this is not a problem with these tests. All you have to do is spit into a vial or rub a swab in your mouth – all the genetic data required for these tests is in your saliva – and send the DNA sample to the company for analysis.

The reason that a saliva sample works just as well as blood (or hair follicles or skin samples) is that your DNA – short for deoxyribonucleic acid – is present in everyone. It is the basic genetic code that is present in all of your cells that is your key attribute, from the color of your eyes to the shape of your ears and your susceptibility to cholesterol.

The main terms you need to know when comparing DNA testing services are:

SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism): Genotyping is done by measuring the genetic variation. One of the most common is SNP genotyping, which measures the variations of a single nucleotide polymorphism. The more of it a company measures, the more detailed the analysis.

Autosomal DNA tests: An autosomal test that is effective for men and women and that traces lineage through both maternal and paternal bloodlines.

Y-DNA: The Y-DNA test can only be administered to men and returns the DNA through the patrilineal ancestry – basically from father to grandfather to great-grandfather and so on.

mtDNA: The mtDNA is matrilinear and allows you to trace your ancestors back through your mother, grandmother, great grandmother, etc.

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David Gewirtz contributed to this story. The current version is an important update of previous revisions and contains practical impressions of most of the services listed.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a doctor or other qualified healthcare provider if you have any questions about an illness or health goals.