Is an ancestry DNA test accurate?

In this article, we look at the accuracy of ancestry DNA testing.

What is an ancestry DNA test?

An ancestry DNA test can help shed light on the history of your ancestors, allowing you to discover where your ancestors may have originated from, and the journey they may have taken thousands of years ago.

DNA testing for ancestry looks for variants in your DNA. These variants can be linked with different populations of people, giving you a greater understanding of your ethnic origin, and the geographical distribution of your ancestors.

There are three different types of ancestry DNA tests: autosomal DNA, Y-chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Each test analyses a different part of your DNA and can shed light on different parts of your ancestral history.

The results of an ancestry DNA test may surprise you, or they could be what you expected, which is what makes ancestry testing so interesting!

How does an ancestry DNA test work?

DNA ancestry testing works by looking at variants (mutations) in your DNA.

Homo sapiens (modern humans) originated in Africa some 200,000-300,000 years ago. Over time, people began to move within and out of Africa, perhaps to search for more resources or to escape unfavourable climates.

Mutations are changes to the DNA that occur naturally over long periods of time. As people migrated to other parts of Africa or the world, mutations in the DNA were isolated within the population in which the mutation occurred.

As people in new populations had children, new variants in the DNA were passed from one generation to the next. Ancestry tests are designed to analyse your DNA to find specific variants associated with different populations, to determine where your ancestors came from.

There are three types of ancestry DNA tests: autosomal, paternal lineage and maternal lineage.

An autosomal DNA ancestry test looks for variants across all your DNA (excluding the sex chromosomes). The results will tell you which population you are most genetically similar to, indicating where your ancestors are likely to have originated from.

Paternal lineage tests look at mutations on the Y chromosome. Since Y chromosomes can only be passed from father to son, and are inherited relatively unchanged between generations, the results will tell you which paternal haplogroup you belong to. The haplogroup provides insight into where your paternal line came from, and potential migration routes of your paternal ancestors.

The maternal lineage test works in a similar way to the paternal lineage test. However, instead of looking at Y chromosomes, this test looks for variants in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA).

Mitochondria is passed exclusively from mother to child, and the results of the test will tell you which maternal haplogroup you belong to, where your maternal line came from, and possible migration routes of your ancestors.

How accurate is an ancestry DNA test?

The results of an AlphaBiolabs ancestry DNA test are 100% accurate based on the samples we receive into our laboratory, and the most recent scientific evidence and research available.

Trying to calculate the age and origin of our ancestors is difficult and relies on lots of different pieces of ancient evidence, as well as modern-day technology.

One of the biggest challenges for scientists to overcome is finding suitable samples that can be used for testing. Ancient remains are difficult to come by, and not all remains provide sufficient DNA samples, usually due to DNA degradation.

However, obtainable DNA samples have been incredibly informative. ‘Cheddar Man’, the oldest human skeleton found in Britain, was preserved enough that DNA samples were obtained. Scientists found that most of Cheddar Man’s ancestry could be traced back to a genetic cluster in Italy. They also discovered that he belonged to paternal haplogroup I2 and maternal haplogroup U5.

Scientists also consider molecular clocks, locations of discovered remains, and any materials found on or near burial sites.

As more ancient evidence is uncovered, and scientific techniques continue to improve, the estimations into the age and origin of ancestry may change slightly to better fit the evidence available.

The results of all AlphaBiolabs’ Ancestry Tests are based on the most up-to-date available research, so you can be confident in your results.

Learn more: What are haplogroups?

How accurate is ancestry DNA testing for matching you with distant relatives?

Ancestry testing can be quite accurate at matching you with distant relatives, and there are many companies that offer such a service.

These tests work by analysing your DNA and comparing it to the DNA of other people on the company’s database. Whenever it finds matches between parts of your DNA and someone else’s, it works out the likelihood of you being related to that person.

The more distantly related you are to someone, the less DNA you share, and therefore the likelihood of you being related decreases.

AlphaBiolabs’ ancestry DNA tests cannot be used to match you up with relatives, and we will never share your DNA results with any third-party organisations or DNA matching services.

Instead, our ancestry tests focus on biogeographic ancestry i.e. where your ancestors are likely to have originated from.

If you’d like to find out more about your ancestral roots, our DNA Origins Ancestry Test is an affordable, quick and easy way to discover where your ancestors came from, with only a simple cheek swab DNA sample required.

How accurate is ancestry DNA testing to determine your geographical origins?

An AlphaBiolabs DNA Origins Ancestry Test is 100% accurate based on the DNA samples you provide to us, and the latest research and scientific evidence available.

For this type of test, we look at variants within your DNA to determine where your ancestors most likely originated from.

Rather than looking for ancestors in the past couple of hundred years, we are trying to establish where your ancestors came from several hundred to thousands of years before the present day.

For some people, the results of an ancestry origins test are exactly what they expected – for others, the results can be quite a surprise!

For instance, you might trace your ancestry back about 200 years and find that your ancestors all lived in one country in Europe. However, the results of a DNA ancestry test might reveal that, thousands of years ago, your ancestors originated from somewhere else entirely!

Scientists look at many different key pieces of evidence to estimate your likely time and place of origin, including the DNA analysis of ancient samples that are thousands of years old.

Where can I buy an ancestry DNA test?

You can order an AlphaBiolabs DNA Origins Ancestry Test, Maternal Lineage Ancestry Test or Paternal Lineage Ancestry Test direct from our accredited laboratory.

With only a simple cheek (buccal) swab sample required, these tests can give you an insight into the journey your ancestors took thousands of years ago, as well as giving you an idea of where your ancestral line may have originated.

The DNA Origins Ancestry Test is suitable for everyone and can determine your biogeographic ancestry.

Our Maternal Lineage Ancestry Test is available for both men and women, as each person inherits mitochondrial DNA from their mother.

The Paternal Lineage Ancestry Test can only be taken by males, as the test analyses DNA markers on the Y chromosome, which is only found in males.

However, if you are a woman who would like to find out more about the paternal lineage of your family, you can ask a close male relative (e.g. father, brother, father’s brother etc) if they would like to take the Paternal Lineage Test. 

For more information about our ancestry testing, speak to our friendly, knowledgeable Customer Services team by calling 01 402 9466 or emailing info@alphabiolabs.ie.