Ancestry vs. 23andMe: Decide the Greatest DNA Testing Package for You

I attempted the AncestryDNA package, which comes with a saliva assortment tube and cap, a return bag and a pay as you go return label field. To register the package, I downloaded the Ancestry app and scanned the barcode on the aspect of the gathering tube. You’ll be able to register your package on-line too, and simply manually enter the quantity. 

Once you make an account, the app asks to your consent on a number of gadgets, together with consent to course of your pattern, to retailer the pattern in order for you future testing, and to take part in analysis. The analysis contains taking surveys and questionnaires that AncestryDNA says it’s going to use to try to raised perceive human historical past and well being.

I declined to consent to retailer my pattern or take part in analysis. AncestryDNA asks just a few questions on your well being historical past. You’ll be able to edit what info turns into public or non-public on the positioning, and the way you need to seem to different customers in case your DNA matches with another person. You may have a chance to assessment all info earlier than continuing.

Learn extra: Within the Future, Not Even Your DNA Will Be Sacred

Ancestry doesn’t use the usual Y-chromosome and/or mitochondrial DNA methodologies most others use — so we all know much less about the way it really analyzes DNA. 

After spitting within the tube, I mailed off the package and confirmed that it was despatched off within the app. The app “tracked” the package’s journey from being acquired on the lab to processing and extra earlier than it advised me my outcomes had been prepared. 

Your outcomes will embrace an AncestryHealth report and an Ethnicity Estimate report. AncestryDNA additionally tells you which of them different customers your DNA carefully matches. It flagged my aunt, who additionally used the positioning, as Shut Household. The app let me examine our Ethnicity Estimates and gave me the choice to ship her a message.  

Learn extra: What AncestryDNA Taught Me About DNA, Privateness and the Advanced World of Genetic Testing

Execs:

• You’ll be able to decline to have your pattern saved or take part in analysis.
• The AncestryHealth report was damaged down into Notable Well being Outcomes, Well being Outcomes and Wellness Outcomes. The experiences embrace details about most cancers dangers, provider standing for ailments like cystic fibrosis and your blood well being. 
• The wellness experiences offer you info in your vitamin ranges, amongst different issues. 
• AncestryHealth can flag potential well being situations primarily based on the household historical past you shared or by variants detected in your DNA pattern. 
• You get an Ethnicity Estimate report, which exhibits which areas on the planet your ancestors had been probably linked to. This space on the map was color-coded, together with the others that my DNA was linked to. The AncestryDNA Areas listing has over 1,000 areas that your pattern is examined towards, so you will see the place your DNA did not flip up outcomes, too. 

Cons:

• The household tree side and the DNA side required two separate apps. The desktop model retains it multi functional place when you work on a browser. 
• The well being screening doesn’t have Meals and Drug Administration approval. 

I attempted the Well being and Ancestry package which got here with the saliva assortment tube and cap, a return bag and a pay as you go return label field. Like AncestryDNA, 23andMe additionally required package registration (in-app or on-line) previous to testing. I downloaded the app and scanned the barcode on the aspect of the gathering tube. You can even manually enter the code.

The 23andMe package requested for consent on a number of gadgets after I made an account, as AncestryDNA did. I may retailer my pattern for future assessments, take part in analysis, get well being experiences and had the power to share my step knowledge from a health app for a extra complete take a look at my exercise. I declined all besides the well being experiences. 

Not like Ancestry, 23andMe does have FDA approval as a danger screener for a handful of genetic situations and ailments. If you happen to’re primarily thinking about DNA testing for this objective, 23andMe is the higher alternative. 

The app tracked my pattern’s journey to the lab and the DNA extraction course of. The app examined 216 populations to generate the report.

23andMe can show the leads to a timeline, so you may see roughly what number of generations in the past your most up-to-date ancestor got here from every area. For instance, my outcomes turned up a tiny little bit of Ashkenazi Jewish background, however my timeline indicated that the relative would’ve been alive 5 to eight generations in the past. You can even view your outcomes as a Chromosome Portray, which exhibits the place in your chromosomes a selected area matched and the way prevalent it’s.  

There have been plenty of aspects to discover within the outcomes. For instance, 23andMe gave me extra info on every area my DNA matched. If I tapped on the icon for every nation, 23andMe advised me in regards to the historical past of the area and the individuals’s migration patterns over time and in addition offered assets to study in regards to the tradition, methods to ebook an Airbnb to go to and different options. I may additionally search out attainable relations amongst 23andMe customers and located my mom’s cousin. 

Execs:

• 23andMe is FDA-approved as a danger screening.
• 23andMe’s well being experiences included predispositions, provider standing, wellness, traits and a well being motion plan. Predispositions examined for Parkinson’s illness, Sort 2 diabetes, celiac illness and extra. The lab would take a look at for sure genetic variants.
• The wellness report included attention-grabbing gadgets like whether or not or not you are a deep sleeper, how a lot you seemingly transfer in your sleep, genetic weight and different components.
• The traits reported are significantly attention-grabbing. These detailed how seemingly I used to be to have the ability to have a sure eye colour, hate cilantro, have freckles, hate consuming sounds, get bitten extra by mosquitos and different issues. 

Cons:

• Like with AncestryDNA, 23andMe specified that the take a look at outcomes weren’t a analysis or a assure that you just would not be identified with a illness later.