Which DNA Test Should I Take for Genealogy And Where

DNA tests have become a popular tool for genealogists looking for additional evidence to help corroborate or expand their family tree. Increased test options and several different testing companies offer options, but also confusion for genealogists. Which DNA test will best help you answer the questions you have about your ancestry? DNA tests are offered by several different testing companies, and each works a little differently. Most tests are sent with a cheek swab or small brush which you rub on the inside of your cheek, and then send back to the company in the provided sample container. Other companies have you spit directly into a tube, or provide a special mouthwash that you swish and spit. Regardless of the collection method, however, whats important for the genealogist is which part of your DNA is being examined. DNA tests can help you learn about your paternal and maternal ancestry. There are also tests that can help you determine whether you are of African, Asian, European or Native American descent. Some of the newer genetic tests can also provide some insight into possible inherited traits and disease risk. Y-DNA Tests Used For: paternal lineage onlyAvailable To: males only Y-DNA tests specific markers on the Y-Chromosome of your DNA known as Short Tandem Repeat, or STR markers. Because females do not carry the Y-chromosome, the Y-DNA test can only be used by males. It passes down directly  from father to son. The specific set of results from the tested STR markers determines your Y-DNA haplotype, a unique genetic code for your paternal ancestral line. Your haplotype will be the same as or extremely similar to all of the males who have come before you on your paternal line -- your father, grandfather, great-grandfather, etc. Therefore, once you have tested your Y-DNA STR markers, you can use your haplotype to verify whether two individuals are descendants from the same distant paternal ancestor, as well as potentially find connections to others who are linked to your paternal lineage. A common application of the Y-DNA test is the Surname Project, which brings together the results of many tested males with the same surname to help determine how (and if) they are related to each other. Learn more: Y-DNA Testing for Genealogy mtDNA Tests Used For: Deep (distant) maternal lineageAvailable To:  all females; males testing their mothers maternal lineage Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is contained in the cytoplasm of the cell, rather than the nucleus, and is only passed by a mother to both male and female offspring without any mixing. This means that your mtDNA is the same as your mothers mtDNA, which is the same as her mothers mtDNA, and so on. mtDNA changes very slowly so it cannot be used to determine close relationships as well as it can determine general relatedness. If two people have an exact match in their mtDNA, then there is a very good chance they share a common maternal ancestor, but it can often be hard to determine if this is a recent ancestor or one who lived hundreds or even thousands of years ago. You can also use an mtDNA test to learn more about your ethnic ancestry, or to trace your maternal lineage to one of the Seven Daughters of Eve, prehistoric women who shared a common maternal ancestor named Mitochondrial Eve. A range of mtDNA tests are available that analyze different regions of the mtDNA sequence. It is important to keep in mind with this test that a males mtDNA comes only from his mother and is not passed on to his offspring. For this reason, the mtDNA test is only useful to females, or for a male testing his mothers lineage. Learn more: mtDNA Testing for Genealogy Autosomal DNA Tests Used For: Ethnic ancestry, plus relative connections on all branches of your family treeAvailable To:  all males and females Autosomal DNA (atDNA)  tests look at genetic markers found in the 22 chromosome pairs which contain randomly mixed DNA from both parents, basically all chromosomes except the sex chromosome, although some testing companies provide data from the X chromosome as part of this test as well. Autosomal DNA contains almost the entire genome, or blueprint, for the human body; where we find the genes that determine our physical characteristics, from hair color to disease susceptibility. Because autosomal DNA is inherited by both men and women from both parents and all four grandparents, it can be used to test for relationships in all family lines. As a genealogy application, autosomal testing was originally introduced as a tool for determining biogeographical origins, or the percentage of various population groups (African, European, etc.) that exist in your DNA. Labs are now, however, offering  extended family autosomal testing, which can help verify biological relationships through the grandparent generation, and potentially point to ancestral matches back as far as five or six generations, and sometimes beyond. Learn more: Autosomal Testing for Genealogy Which DNA Testing Company Should I Use? The answer, as in many areas of genealogy, is it depends. Because different people test with different companies, many of which maintain their own databases of tested individuals, you will achieve the greatest chance of useful matches by either being tested, or sharing your DNA results, with as many companies as possible. The big three used by the vast majority of genealogists are AncestryDNA, Family Tree DNA, and 23andme. Geno 2.0, sold by National Geographic, is also popular, but it tests purely for ethnic heritage (deep ancestry) and is not useful for learning about possible ancestors during a reasonable genealogical timeframe. Some companies do allow you to enter results from outside DNA tests into their database, while others do not. Most allow you to download your raw data, and if the company does not offer this feature you may be better off looking elsewhere. If you can only afford to be tested by one company, then the International Society of Genetic Genealogists (ISOGG) has fairly up-to-date charts and information in their wiki for comparing the testing offered by different companies to help you choose the right company and test for your goals: Y-DNA testing comparison chartmtDNA testing comparison chartAutosomal DNA testing comparison chart