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08Feb 2020 by Compare DNA Kits No Comments

Genetic Genealogy, for FREE?! Amazing results for $0.

Genealogy

If you are anything like me, “free” is probably your favorite F-word. With the free websites and free resources below, you can begin a journey of discovery into your genetic history! These sites and resources utilize a free or “freemium” business model. This means that they give away some or all of their products to entice customers to subscribe or buy into their other products. Luckily for you, the consumer, there are so many sites giving away free information right now that you can actually get a fairly comprehensive analysis of your DNA ancestry without spending a dime! First Things First… Unfortunately, there are no companies that will just give you a free ancestry DNA test kit. To our knowledge, there is only one way to get a free…

06Jan 2020 by Compare DNA Kits No Comments

African Ancestry DNA Testing

Genealogy

If you are on the hunt for your African ancestors, we are here to help you out. This article discusses DNA testing for African ancestry, and the best companies to use for black ancestry. We consider the cost, results, and benefits of each company to help you make the right decision! Before you get started…You need to know some things before you dive head-first into DNA testing. First of all, the services offered by different companies can vary widely in price, mostly because they are measuring different things. [su_row] [su_column size="3/4"] [su_quote]Autosomal DNA tests, offered by the large majority of DNA testing companies, measure the large majority of your DNA. Autosomal DNA is used by companies like MyHeritage and Ancestry to determine your relatively recent common ancestors. The DNA…

15Oct 2019 by Compare DNA Kits 7 Comments

AncestryDNA Vs. MyHeritage

Comparisons

AncestryDNA Vs. MyHeritage - Both of these companies started with software to build and maintain family trees. In the late 2010s, both companies expanded into the DNA direct-to-consumer testing market. Ancestry and MyHeritage now both offer DNA test kits in addition to their family tree subscription services which provide research and documentation of your family history. While both companies focus on genealogy and DNA ancestry testing, each company has recently released new DNA kits focused on health-screening. Check out the executive summary of this Ancestry vs. MyHeritage comparison here, or read the whole thing below! (we made a similar comparison for 23andMe vs Ancestry here). Comparison: MyHritage Vs. Ancestry [su_table] MyHeritage AncestryDNA Can be used for Personal Ancestry Personal Ancestry DNA collection Cheek Swab Saliva Collection Number of SNPs tested…

18Aug 2019 by Compare DNA Kits No Comments

Are you being ripped off? Correlation vs. Causation in Genetic Tests

Genealogy, science

Updated August 18 with information about Microbiome testing. For those of you new to the genetic testing field, you should first have a solid understanding of correlation versus causation. The distinction between these scientific terms can allow you to get the most out of your genetic tests, and truly understand how your genes affect your health and lifestyle. While the two terms are related, the difference between correlation and causation is similar to the difference between an educated guess and knowing the answer outright. Knowing whether a genetic report is based on correlation or causation makes a big difference in how serious you should take the results (or how good is the test kit). First, let’s get an understanding of what correlation and causation actually are. Correlation A correlation…

12Aug 2019 by Compare DNA Kits No Comments

Are Telemore DNA Tests Reliable?

Genealogy, science

What are Telomeres? Telomeres are distinctive structures, regionized in DNA strands which are located at each end. They are caps to prevent the chromosome from deteriorating, somewhat like the plastic shells of a shoelace. They have a repetitive, short DNA sequence and are many kilobases in length. The Telomeres also prevent fusing with neighbouring chromosomes. Telomeres derives from the two Greek words “telos” which means “end” and ”meros” which means “part”. The sequence in human Telomeres is TTAGGG, which is repeated around 2,500 times. There are 194 Telomeres in a human cell, 4 for each of the 46 chromosomes. What are Telomere tests As cells age, its Telomeres gradually become shorter. The average cell will divide around 60 times before it dies. As the cell divides, the Telomeres of course…

18Jul 2019 by Compare DNA Kits 4 Comments

Is your privacy protected when you do a DNA test?

Privacy

You may think that the Privacy Policy of your favorite DNA testing company protects you, your identity, and your personally identifiable information. But, that is simply not the case. Even though most DNA testing companies de-personalize your data, the nature of genetic data itself stores personally-identifiable information. So, just because your name is not on the sample, there are still methods which can be used to identify your genetic code. Further, genetic testing companies are not covered under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This act typically enforces the rule that doctors and health insurance agencies cannot share your personal medical records with first removing all personally identifiable information. And, while the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) does protect you from being excluded from Medicare based on your…

17Jul 2019 by Compare DNA Kits No Comments

DNA Tests for Pets?!

pets

You’ve likely seen the advertisements for at-home DNA tests from companies like 23andMe, AncestryDNA, and a number of other top genetic testing companies. However, did you know that there are also DNA tests available for your pets? This article explores the basics of testing pet DNA. First, we’ll take a look at how it works and what kind of results you can expect. Then, we’ll explore the differences between pet and human DNA testing, the expected costs, and we’ll discuss the value of pet DNA testing overall. Check it out! How Does It Work? Pet DNA tests work just like human DNA tests! The company you order a test from will send you a sample collection kit, which is typically a cheek swab. Swab the inside of your pet’s cheek,…

04Jul 2019 by Compare DNA Kits No Comments

DNA Data Testing: How Accurate and Useful?

science

DNA testing kits are an amazing piece of technology. Just imagine, in 2003 the Human Genome Project was completed. It took scientists BILLIONS of dollars and an entire DECADE to complete. Today, you can have important pieces of your DNA tested for less than $100, or get your entire genome sequenced for less than $1000. Not only this, but you can get the results from the comfort of your home, after sending in a simple DNA sample from your cheek cells. Companies like 23andMe, Ancestry, and Veritas Genetics have sprung up to bring the power of DNA testing to the masses. These companies offer a number of different tests, ranging from what your genetics can tell you about your genealogy to the various disease risks you may carry due to…

25Jun 2019 by Compare DNA Kits No Comments

AncestryDNA Vs. 23andMe: A Comparison

Comparisons

When you compare AncestryDNA and 23andMe you will find that the companies are both excellent at what they do. However, they provide slightly different services which are marketed to different types of users. Ancestry focuses on genealogy testing and analysis, which a whole suite of tools for building and researching your family tree. 23andMe combines a simpler version of ancestry testing with genetic health testing to provide a larger set of information from your genetic material. Both companies excel in certain areas, while both companies also have weaknesses. Check out the executive summary of this Ancestry vs. 23andMe comparison here, or read the whole thing below! we also made a similar comparison of Ancestry vs MyHeritage. Company overview and basic data [su_table] 23andMe Ancestry Can be used for Genetic overview…

14May 2019 by Compare DNA Kits No Comments

At-Home DNA Tests: Taking Action on Your Results

Genealogy

At home DNA tests can provide a large wealth of information about your genetics. Many companies now offer these tests, with a wide variety of results and information being analyzed. Some tests focus solely on ancestry, while others analyze aspects of your genes related to health, disease, fitness, or nutrition. While all of these tests use similar methods of correlating DNA data to various outcomes, not all tests are extremely useful. To get the most out of your DNA test kit, you need to understand what results you are getting, how accurate and predictive those results are, and what you can do in spite of your genetics. Below is a thorough review of many different types of genetic tests, the results you can expect, and what you can do to…