We deliver a mouth swab sample kit to you
Fast, easy & harmless saliva sample collection
Return kit to LAB for PROCESSING
Your DNA sequence data is analysed and interpreted
A detailed report of Your DNA results will be sent back directly to you.
(*The process can take from two to up to four weeks)
BACK to BASICS
Here we explain some of the basic principles and some of the terminology that you will need to understand
What is Genetic Ancestry testing?
DNA is the code to all life. It is the roadmap to what makes us up. It stores the information (much like a computer's hard drive) for everything - like the colour of our eyes and skin to how tall we can be, and can even give us an idea of which diseases and allergies we are at risk for. DNA has specific markers that even allow us to trace peoples’ family lines; where they came from, how they migrated and where they ended up, at you, living and breathing, today.
Human origins
Genetic and fossil evidence shows that modern humans first appeared in Africa roughly 200 000 years ago. The earliest humans, Homo sapiens, left Africa, travelling North into Europe then Asia between 125,000 and 60,000 years ago, marking the earliest successful "Out of Africa" expansion and migration.
What is a Haplogroup?
DNA tests look for matching markers between two individuals, and if they match, it would indicate a genetic family connection. Much like ‘clans’, haplogroups are specific population groups of our ancestors, who inhabited different parts of the globe at specific times - which has been determined using fossil evidence together with the power of genetics.
What is a Marker?
A marker is what we physically sequence and analyse in our tests. Markers are found in your DNA and allow us to pinpoint YOUR origins. Known as SNPs for short, single nucleotide polymorphisms, are the most common type of genetic variation. Each SNP is a marker that points to a new branch on the tree of Life, which extends back to our first human ancestors, back in Africa. These SNP markers match to other people found on a database and are used to tell how closely related they are.
Which markers are used
We analyse the mutations of two specific pieces of DNA that provide an indication of DEEP ancestry, dating back thousands of years. These are the Y-chromosome (paternal) and mitochondrial DNA (maternal ancestry) markers.
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The Y-chromosome: Each male inherits their Y-chromosome (which is what determines male characteristics) from their father, and his father from his father - stretching back in time for many generations. An advantage of this male-exclusive transmission is that males retain the surnames of their fathers, so the Y-chromosome is useful in surname/family studies.
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Mitochondrial DNA: Just as we can follow the paternal line, we can do the same for the maternal line using Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). It is inherited from our mothers, and is used as a marker of our maternal ancestral line (your mothers' mother’s line...).
As a female, why can't I directly test my Paternal ancestry?
Unfortunately only males can test their direct paternal line. This is because males carry the Y-chromosome. A female may learn about her paternal ancestry if a direct male relative is tested. By testing a brother, we can discover both paternal and maternal ancestry lineages. If a brother is not available the female individual's father or uncle could be tested instead - in order to determine information about the paternal ancestral line.
Are the test results made public?
The test and the results are completely confidential. When sampled, you are provided a sample ID which guarantees anonymity and the results are emailed directly to you in pdf format.
Do I need to give blood?
No blood will be needed. No needles or discomfort. Our test uses a harmless mouth swab. You can even take the swab yourself, in the comfort of your own home.
If you have any further questions feel free to contact us