AncestryDNA

AncestryDNA is a direct-to-consumer genetic testing service offered by Ancestry, a subsidiary of Ancestry.com. The service analyzes autosomal DNA from a saliva sample collected with an at-home kit to estimate a person’s ethnic origins and identify genetic relatives within the AncestryDNA database. Results are delivered online and include an Ethnicity Estimate, which reports geographic regions where an individual’s ancestors are likely to have originated, and a DNA Matches section that lists people in the database who share segments of DNA.

Methodology and features: The test genotypes hundreds of thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across the genome, typically around 700,000 markers, and compares them to reference populations to produce ethnicity estimates. Beyond ancestry estimates, the platform integrates with Ancestry’s genealogical tools, allowing users to link DNA results to family trees and access features that reveal potential relatives and ancestral connections through shared DNA data.

Privacy and limitations: Ethnicity estimates are probabilistic and can change as reference datasets expand. The service is not a medical test and should not be used to diagnose conditions. Users retain control of their data and can manage sharing settings or delete information. Ancestry DNA data may be used for research with user consent and in accordance with privacy policies.

History: AncestryDNA was introduced by Ancestry in the early 2010s and has since become one of the larger consumer DNA testing services, maintaining a substantial user base and ongoing updates to reference populations.