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DNA Testing 101.com

Consumer Information on Genetic DNA Testing

Ancestry DNA Testing

Although everyone on the planet shares a common ancestry, humans started migrating out of Africa about 150,000 years ago. Over time, different ethnic groups developed specific genetic markers, called haplogroups, unique to each geographic region. There are three different DNA markers that are used in DNA testing to determine your ancestral makeup. These can be used to determine if you are of African, Asian, European or Native American descent and your Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) value.

  • Autosomal DNA. This marker determines the vast majority of our ethnic makeup, and is comprised of DNA in all cells except the X-chromosome, Y-chromosome and mtDNA.


  • Y-DNA. Y-chromosome markers are passed from the father to his sons (but not his daughters) and are called paternally-linked. Y-DNA testing is particularly useful in geneology studies as it follows a particular surname line.


  • mt-DNA. Also called mitochondrial DNA, mtDNA markers are passed from the mother to all her children and are called maternally-linked. Also useful for determining the female lineage of males.



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