Ancestry tests: how do tests that reveal the origin of your ancestors work and how much do they cost?

A person’s traits and their predisposition to certain diseases are written into each individual’s genetic table. And although this information is extremely complex to analyze and interpret, it has long been commercialized kit that trick a genealogical map and provide data on the body’s metabolism.

DNA tests are used to detect similarities between people comparison of biological samples, in order to establish, such as the paternity test, if there are blood ties. The degree of accuracy is very high and the results are highly accurate.

Industry giants like Ancestry.com, MyHeritage, and FamilyTreeDNA promote their services online, post results through their website, and even offer tutorials on how to search for relatives in phone books or post results on social media.

Locally, there are several companies that offer this genotyping service, such as BitGenia (from $ 18,000), EasyDNA (from $ 150) and Genera Lab, whose price is the most affordable: $ 11,999 for the full version and $ 7,979 for lineage alone.

To take a dip in the past, the ancestry test offers a roadmap on the path taken by the paternal and maternal families from the first descendant, through the Analysis of mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome.

In this blood chain, an individual’s Y chromosome is usually identical to that of the father, paternal grandfather, that grandfather’s father, and so on. Although over the generations these genes can undergo slight mutationsbecoming different from the ancestors.

“One of the goals of those who take a lineage test is to find out which regions of the world their ancestors come from. The reasons can be many, from simple curiosity to the desire to search for historical documents or plan a trip. Therefore, the more precise these results are, the better ”, explains Ricardo di Lazzaro Filho, CEO of Genera.

What are the ancestry tests

DNA analysis is based on a saliva sample. The taking, which is carried out by the person concerned, is easy and painless and lasts less than 3 minutes. To do this, rub two swabs inside the mouth. Full instructions are inside the kit. At the end of the process, the samples must be sent by post.

In this way the DNA is extracted and then inserted into their database to compare it with the genome of other customers who have paid for the same service and thus establish similarities and differences and be able to make an ethnic map.

“Once the samples enter the laboratory, the results can be obtained within 40 working days. The information is confidential, with exclusive access to the customer. Only with your consent will contact data be made available on the relevant search platform. In case he is not authorized to appear on the platform, none of the data will be revealed ”, indicates Lazzaro Filho.

Most of these biotech companies offer a number of panels with different combinationsso that they can choose to study the presence or absence of specific markers or to detect a greater predisposition to suffer from certain diseases.

“The DNA code includes key information about health and predispositions to genetic diseases. The panel to which the client has access analyzes 20 variants associated with the development of diseases such as heart attack, Parkinson’s and cancer. With the results and always with the help of a specialized professional, it will be possible to better plan the future ”, says Filho.

Although these genetic mappings do not constitute a medical diagnosis and should not be used for adoption of practices without professional advice, the user accesses key information about their metabolism that can be used to improve the quality of life.

Another fact not to be missed is that environmental conditions, socio-economic factors and lifestyle are highly relevant to health. Like this, genetic information is not definitive and it should only serve to change habits that could be harmful.

In turn, many experts question the veracity of this information. The main criticism is that this type of test does not compare the DNA with those who have lived in the past, but with people who are in the company’s database. So the reading it can have different results depending on the company that runs it.

What is DNA

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the material that contains hereditary information in humans and almost all other organisms. This complex molecule is produced in every cell of the body and in every strand of DNA contain information in the form of codewhich determines the individual traits and characteristics of each person.

One of its most notable properties is that it can replicate or make copies of itself. Each DNA strand in the double helix can serve as a template for duplicating the base sequence.

This is critical when cells divide, because each cell must keep an exact copy of the DNA present in the old cell.

SL