Ancestry vs. 23andMe: How to Pick the Best DNA Testing Kit for You

I tried the AncestryDNA kit. It comes with a saliva collection tube and cap, a return bag, and a prepaid return label box. To register the kit, I downloaded the Ancestry app and scanned the barcode on the side of the collection tube. You can also register your kit online and simply enter the number manually.

Once you create an account, the app will ask for your consent for several things, including processing your sample, storing it for future testing, and participating in research. The research includes conducting surveys and questionnaires, which AncestryDNA says it will use to better understand human history and health.

I refused to consent to sample storage or participation in the study. AncestryDNA will ask you several questions about your health history. You can edit what information is public or private on the site, and how it appears to other users if your DNA matches theirs. You can review all the information before continuing.

read more: In the future, even your DNA will not be sacred.

Ancestry does not use the standard Y chromosome or mitochondrial DNA methods that most other companies use. As a result, little is known about how Ancestry actually analyzes DNA.

After spitting into the tube, I mailed the kit and confirmed it was shipped on the app. The app “tracked” the kit’s journey from receipt to processing at the lab before notifying me that the test results were ready.

Results include AncestryHealth and Ethnicity Estimate reports. AncestryDNA also shows you how similar your DNA is to other users. I flagged my aunt, who also used the site, as a next of kin. The app allowed us to compare our ethnicity estimates and also gave us the option to message her.

read more: What AncestryDNA taught us about the complex world of DNA, privacy, and genetic testing

Strong Points:

• You may refuse to have your sample stored or participate in research.
• AncestryHealth reports are categorized into Notable Health Results, Health Results, and Wellness Results. Reports include information about cancer risk, carrier status for diseases such as cystic fibrosis, and blood health.
• Health reports provide information such as vitamin levels.
• AncestryHealth can flag potential health conditions based on shared family history or mutations detected in a DNA sample.
• you, Ethnicity estimation reportThis tells you which region of the world your ancestors are most likely related to. This area on the map was color-coded along with other areas to which my DNA was linked. The AncestryDNA region list includes over 1,000 regions where samples are tested, so you can also see where your DNA gave no results.

Cons:

• The genealogy side and the DNA side required two separate apps. When you work in a browser, the desktop version keeps everything in one place.
• Health tests are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

I tried the Health and Ancestry kit, which comes with a saliva collection tube and cap, a return bag, and a prepaid return label box. Like AncestryDNA, 23andMe also required kit registration (in-app or online) before testing. I downloaded the app and scanned the barcode on the side of the collection tube. You can also enter the code manually.

Similar to AncestryDNA, the 23andMe kit also asked for consent for several items when creating an account. You could save samples for future tests, participate in research, get health reports, and share step data from your fitness app for a more comprehensive view of your activity. . I declined everything except the health report.

Ancestry is different from 23andMe do It is FDA-approved as a risk screener for a small number of genetic conditions and diseases. If you are primarily interested in DNA testing for this purpose, 23andMe is a better choice.

The app tracked the journey of my sample to the lab and the DNA extraction process. The app tested 216 populations to generate the report.

23andMe lets you view your results in a timeline, so you can see approximately how many generations ago your most recent ancestors came from each region. For example, my results revealed only a small amount of Ashkenazi Jewish background, but the timeline showed that their relatives would have lived five to eight generations earlier. Results can also be viewed as a chromosome painting, showing where on the chromosome a particular region was matched and how widespread that region is.

There were many aspects of the results to explore. For example, 23andMe provided detailed information about each region where my DNA matched. When you tap on a country icon, 23andMe tells you about the region’s history and migration patterns over time, and provides resources to learn about its culture, how to book an Airbnb in your destination, and other features. He gave it to me. You can also search for potential relatives among 23andMe users, and I was able to find my mother’s cousin.

Strong Points:

• 23andMe is FDA approved for risk screening.
• The 23andMe health report included predisposing factors, carrier status, health status, characteristics, and health action plan. Test for predisposing factors such as Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, and celiac disease. The lab will test for specific genetic mutations.
• The wellness report included interesting items such as whether you are a deep sleeper, how much you are likely to move during sleep, your genetic weight, and other factors.
• The reported characteristics are of particular interest. These detailed my chances of having a certain eye color, hating coriander, getting freckles, hating the sound of eating, being susceptible to mosquito bites, etc.

Cons:

• As with AncestryDNA, 23andMe specified that test results do not indicate a diagnosis or guarantee that you will not be diagnosed with the disease in the future.