DNA Testing Guide
Section titled “DNA Testing Guide”Simple guide to the main DNA tests used in ancestry research.
1. Y-DNA
Section titled “1. Y-DNA”- Passed father to son only
- Only males can take it
- Traces your father’s father’s father
- Goes back thousands of years
- Best for deep male lineage and surname history
2. mtDNA
Section titled “2. mtDNA”- Passed mother to all children
- Everyone can take it
- Traces your mother’s mother’s mother
- Goes back thousands of years
- Best for deep maternal ancestry
3. Autosomal DNA
Section titled “3. Autosomal DNA”- Inherited from both parents
- Everyone can take it
- Covers all family lines
- Accurate for the last 5-7 generations
- Best for finding cousins, close relatives, and ethnicity
Summary
Section titled “Summary”| Test Type | Lineage Traced | Depth | Who Can Take It | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Y-DNA | Father to father to father | Thousands of years | Males only | Deep male line, surnames |
| mtDNA | Mother to mother to mother | Thousands of years | Everyone | Deep maternal line |
| Autosomal | All family lines | 5-7 generations | Everyone | Relatives, ethnicity, matches |