There is more than one way to track down your ancestors. Many genealogists spend time searching for vital records and documents that will help them connect one ancestor to another. Others purchase home DNA kits in order to discover relatives whom they are genetically related to but have never met. Here is a quick comparison of many of the DNA kits that come from different companies.
Ready to get your DNA tested? There are plenty of different DNA kits out there that can do that for you. Each of them require you to send in a sample of your DNA. Many of them use the information in your DNA to locate relatives that you may not be aware of. Which one should you choose? Here is some information to help you decide.
Ancestry.com has a kit called AncestryDNA, which is currently in beta. You have to get on a list, and wait for it. Once you send in your DNA sample, it will take 6 – 8 weeks to receive results. It costs $99.00 to purchase if you are a subscriber to Ancestry.com. It seems that you must be a subscriber to Ancestry.com in order to access the information from your DNA.
DeCODEme has a DNA kit called deCODEMe Complete Scan. It costs $1,100. It will calculate your genetic risk for 47 conditions and traits. Your DNA will be collected by a cheek swab. This DNA kit will not give you genealogy information. It is only for health information.
23AndMe has the 23AndMe DNA Spit Kit that is currently on sale for $299.00. Your DNA will be collected in a saliva sample. You will get over 200 online health and traits reports. It also gives you information about relatives you might not be aware of, and your global heritage. You are not required to subscribe to 23AndMe in order to use the DNA kit.
MyHeritage has a bunch of different DNA kits. They range in price from $99.00 to $289.00. There are kits for males and kits for females. You can learn about your maternal or paternal ancestral origins, your haplogroup, and more. The more expensive a kit your purchase, the more genealogy information it will yield. You do not have to pay a subscription fee in order to use the DNA kits.
Family Tree DNA has a Family Tree DNA test kit. Your DNA will be taken from a cheek swab sample. It will match your DNA with other people, whom they call “Genetic Cousins”. There are several different DNA kits to choose from. Prices range from around $20.00 to nearly $900.00. Their website implies that they are connected to the National Geographic Genome project.
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