| How Accurate is AncestryDNA? |
| While DNA is generally accepted as a necessary tool, most people still find the whole process a bit complicated. Here are some quick answers to some common questions about one of the main DNA testing companies: AncestryDNA. Why should I test with AncestryDNA? The question we should ask is: Will testing at AncestryDNA help me find my ancestor? The two factors that will most impact this answer will be database size, and genealogy tools. If you are hoping to find that elusive 2X great grandmother, some of her relatives need to have tested. Therefore, it is to your advantage to test where all the other people are testing. AncestryDNA is the largest with over 22 million people in their database. However, finding a DNA match doesn’t do you any good if you can’t then piece together your relationship. AncestryDNA provides family tree hosting services, special tools like ThruLines and the match labeling system to help you identify your connection to your matches. How accurate is AncestryDNA? In terms of DNA matches, the accuracy of your DNA match list is excellent in that it can tell you how much DNA you are sharing with another person, which in turn can help you determine your relationship. In terms of ethnicity results, we need to narrow our definition. Let’s define the accuracy of your ethnicity results as their ability to reflect what you know about your family history. Your accuracy will depend heavily on which populations you are from. If you are Finnish or Jewish, your accuracy is very high. If you are French or German…not as much, but it is getting better. |
