Originally there was one direct to consumer DNA company who
stood out, namely Family Tree DNA. Then
came 23andMe and finally AncestryDNA.
These were the three major DNA testing companies for the genealogist and
other interested parties for years.
However, new kids are moving to the block, and with a new focus on
bio-geographical comparisons (admixtures) and one of those players is Living
DNA!
Living DNA, a British company, does have an office in
Louisville, Kentucky. You order a test
kit with two swab samples (no fluid) and mail it back to Eurofins Genomics (a
partner) in Kentucky. The testing is
done in Denmark.
Testing results is an admixture (those “ethnic” percentages
based on your autosomal DNA). The
company also provides the mitochondrial haplogroup and the Y-DNA haplogroup. Although there is currently no matching
feature nor chromosome browser, those will be provided in the near future.
What is unique about this company is that they provide testing
to 80 world regions, and their focus is to test enough customers so they can
pin-point locations within a country for your ancestors. It allows you to see percentages and map
locations for just your mother’s line, father’s line or both as well as some
information on your haplogroup, a migration map and phylogenetic tree for each
parent. Of course, this means it will be fine-tuned as more people test. This test is especially helpful with those
who have ancestors in the British Isles and Ireland. You can view these 21 regions (so far) on
their website going back in our ancestor up to ten generations.
I know 38 of my 64 fourth-great-grandparents (which is 6
generations from me), and I only know about ten of those who are immigrants
prior to 1800. As all but one of my
KNOWN ancestors were in the US by the early 1800s and that one arrived in 1838,
I know a few general locations from where those immigrants came. This type of test can help me determine where
to search outside the U.S., but there are no guarantees that my ancestor lived
in the specific area listed by any company’s bio-geographical comparison until
I find that ancestor in the location.
However, it is interesting and may be most helpful to see what detailed
variety my DNA sample can show. I know
my admixture will vary over time as more people test and more analysis can be made.
Know that this admixture (being compared with
bio-geographical populations) has been the very reason some people test; that
is, many who are not necessarily genealogists, but who may become interested in
their lineage. The more detail that a
company can provide for the customer, the greater the interest by the public. The more testing, the more advances we will
see in the genetic genealogy field and that will benefit us all.
I always recommend that everyone test with a variety, if not
all companies, in order to find matches in different databases. As soon as this company gets its matching
feature and its chromosome browser (to view the individual segments we share
with our matches), the more this company will be able to compete with the
others.
Click here to order a test.
Jump in the new gene pool! You may be my cousin!
Emily
