How much does the Ethnicity DNA Test cost?
The Ethnicity DNA Test (AncestrybyDNA 2.5/DNA Identity Profile)
is only $395, call 800-523-3080 to order, order on-line, or
download the order form and fax or mail in your order. Don't
forget to take a look at our other informational genetic testing
products now as you receive significant discounts when ordering
tests at the same time.
What is race?
Race is complex, and in general usage, is both a cultural and
biological feature of a person or group of people. Given the
fact that physical differences between populations are often
accompanied by cultural differences, it has been difficult
to separate these two elements. Over the past few decades there
has been a movement in several fields of science to oversimplify
the issue declaring that race is "merely a social construct".
While, indeed this may often be true, depending on what aspect
of variation between people one is considering, it is also
false for many particular instances of differences between
the populations of the world. One clear example of a biological
difference is skin color. Culture or environment has almost
no effect on the level of pigmentation in a person's skin.
Yet there are dramatic differences across populations. Pigmentation
is, however, only skin deep and really quite simple in light
of the complex environments in which we all live and how these
affect our individual and group quality of life.
It is clear that the human species is relatively young. As a
species, we most likely originated in east Africa 100,000 years
ago, and diverged as groups to settle the globe. During these
migrations, and in the time since, there has been some degree
of independent evolution of the populations that settled the
various continents of the world. The simplest evidence of this
evolution can be seen in the differences in allele frequencies
at genetic markers. Generally, we see that alleles found in one
population are also found in all populations and the alleles
that are the most common in one are also common in others. These
similarities between populations highlight the recent common
origin of all populations. However, there are examples of genetic
markers which are different between populations and it is these
markers, called Ancestry Informative Markers (AIMs), which can
be used to estimate the Ancestral origins of a person or population.
What is BioGeographical Ancestry (BGA)?
BioGeographical Ancestry (BGA) is the term given to the biological
or genetic component of race. BGA is a simple and objective
description of the Ancestral origins of a person, in terms
of the major population groups. (e.g. Native American, East
Asian, Indo-European, sub-Saharan African, etc.) BGA estimates
are able to represent the mixed nature of many people and populations
today. In the US, as in many other countries across the globe,
there has been extensive mixing among populations that had
initially been separate. In the fields of human genetics and
anthropology, this mixing is referred to as admixture. BGA
estimates can also be understood as individual admixture proportions,
which take the form of a series of percentages that add to
100%. For example, a person in question may be found to have:
75% Indo-European; 15% African; 10% Native American ancestry,
or they may be found to have 100% Indo-European ancestry.
How is BioGeographical Ancestry estimated?
The test uses an especially selected panel of Ancestry Informative
Markers (Aims) that have been characterized in a large number
of well-defined population samples. These markers are selected
on the bases of showing substantial differences in frequency
between population groups and, as such, can tell us about the
origins of a particular person whose ancestry is unknown. For
example, the Duffy Null allele (FY*0) is very common (approaching
fixation or an allele frequency of 100%) in all sub-Saharan
African populations and is not found outside of Africa. Thus,
a person with this allele is very likely to have some level
of African ancestry. After the analysis of these Aims, in a
sample of a person's DNA, the likelihood (or probability) that
a person is derived from any of the parental populations and
any of the possible mixes of parental populations is calculated.
The population (or combination of populations) where the likelihood
is the highest is then taken to be the best estimate of the
ancestral proportions of the person. Confidence intervals on
these point estimates of ancestral proportions are also being
calculated.
How can BGA estimates be used?
An objective assessment of the biological component of human
ancestry is possible and that such research could enrich our
lives in a number of ways:
Understanding health disparities. Are there genetic contributions
to the higher rates of hypertension and diabetes in African Americans
or the higher rates of dementia in European Americans? If not,
then what are the cultural or environmental differences that
underlie the prevailing differences? Studies of these and other
diseases require independent, objective measures of BioGeographical
Ancestry (BGA).
Estimates of BGA can help reconnect individuals separated by
adoption, or some other event, with their ancestral populations.
Even if a person is not particularly motivated to reconnect with
ancestors, he or she can uncover the past of their family either
to verify family legends or to search for forgotten roots.
In the near future, we hope to allow customers to compare their
ancestral proportions to others in their family, town, city,
or state who have chosen to participate. Because it is based
on DNA, and unlike the census, this new tool will provide the
most accurate demographics data that is possible. We will call
this our "personal demographics" tool.
What is the medical significance of BGA estimates?
The medical significance of BGA estimate is negligible. Although
some diseases are found at different frequencies in populations
across the globe, hardly any are restricted to one group. The
usefulness of BGA estimates, in biomedical research, comes from
epidemiological analyses where many individuals are analyzed
together to make very general statements about differences in
risk. Even though these results can be very significant, they
have almost no meaning regarding the level of risk for any one
person in the population.
How is BGA analysis different from mtDNA and Y-chromosomal ancestry
analysis?
There are several commercially available tests of mtDNA and Y-chromosomal
markers, which have been promoted as a means of learning one's
ancestral origins. Although these tests could provide information
regarding the provenance of some of a person's ancestors, they
are very limited. For example, one generation ago a person has
two ancestors, one mother and one father; five generations ago,
a person has 32 ancestors; while 10 generations ago, a person
has 1024 ancestors. Ten generations is roughly 250 years and
within the time frame of genealogical interest, especially when
we are considering the settlement of North America, because they
only look at two (2) chromosomes. Y-chromosomal analysis and
mtDNA analysis each could only provide information on a very
small proportion of a person's ancestors. Our test relies on
sequences throughout your genome, so we can say more about a
greater number of your ancestors.
Can BGA provide more specific information about ancestry?
Scientists are in the process of developing a new series of Ancestry
Informative Markers that will provide more insight into where
within a particular continent a persons' ancestors were most
likely derived. This test is expected to be available later
in 2003.
My proportions were 95% IndoEuropean and 5% East Asian, and
the East Asian part surprised me. How reliable is the 5% part
of the profile?
The 5% East Asian means you most likely share sequence identity
with East Asians. From having run over 1,700 tests we know to
expect a 3% error in your profile, almost all of it originating
at the genotyping step. In rare cases where we have repeated
analyses for a person over many runs, we have observed an error
rate as high as 5%, but this is rare - 2-3% is the norm. Nonetheless,
to be conservative, it is probably best for customers to take
values less than 5% with a grain of salt. They may be significant,
but they may not be. The confidence contours on your triangle
plot show this to be the case - at these low levels, there is
always overlap with 0% for this ancestry proportion. However,
if you have a profile with a low percent for a group, and it
interests you, there are two things you can do to confirm its
significance - which brings us to the next question
How can I confirm the significance of a low percentage of admixture,
such as 4% Native American or 3% African?
There are two ways for you to confirm the value of this estimate:
You may have access to historical records or other provenance
that leads you to confirm or refute the admixture. For example,
if your records suggest that you have a grandparent of East Asian
heritage and you register with the test as of 5% East Asian,
the two observations combined make a stronger case for East Asian
ancestry than either on their own.
You can obtain the admixture proportions for your father and
mother. Lets say you register with 4% African and you want to
know whether this 4% is in error or is accurate. You obtain the
admixture proportions from your parents and each is 100% IndoEuropean.
Chances are the 4% was a result of genotyping error. However,
if your mother was 15% African and your father was 100% IndoEuropean,
your non-zero percentage of African is likely to be an accurate
indicator of African ancestry. This is similar to option A),
where you are relying on two different sources of information
to help you hone in on the most accurate answer possible. Virtually
every test we have performed on family trees has confirmed these
types of low levels. For example, Dr. Frudakis registers with
about 11% Native American, and his Father registers with about
20%, his mother about 8% and his sister about 16% Native American.
Given the knowledge from his mother, father and sister, the 11%
takes on a new level of significance.
I think I have American Indian heritage, but my test results
show that I am 100% Indo European.
There are two possibilities, and the first possibility is one
that many people do not like to hear. We don't mean to offend,
but it is a possibility that your suspicion is unfounded. If
you are certain that this is not the case, the second possibility
is that one of your distant ancestors was indeed American Indian
but their genetic contribution to your composition has been diluted
over the generations. This is a function of the genetic law of
independent assortment and probability, and it depends on how
admixed and how distant an ancestor the person is. What your
results show is that, using our pan-genome test, there is no
evidence of Native American ancestry in your DNA. In the future,
it may be possible (with more sensitive and expensive tests)
to detect your very dilute Native American ancestry.
I think I have American Indian heritage, but my test results
show more East Asian than Native American admixture. Am I wrong
or is the test wrong?
Neither - your results are probably reflective of one way this
test will help reshape notions of our common history. The result
is certainly not an indication that the test is inaccurate. Using
our test, most individuals suspecting minority (<50%) American
Indian heritage confirm with Native American admixture. Likewise,
the test results for each of several hundred individuals of known
minority (<50%) African, East Asian or Hispanic ancestry have
confirmed with the appropriate admixture. However, about 10%
of the individuals who believe they have American Indian register
as having East Asian as well as Native American ancestry. Even
more surprising, some register with East Asian ancestry but no
Native American ancestry at all! This result has stirred something
of a controversy.
If you are reasonably certain the ancestor was not him/herself
admixed and was recent in your family tree, there are two other
possibilities. Some of the cases we have processed are probably
explained by Aleut heritage and others are probably explained
by admixture that occurred on the North American continent prior
to European colonization.
Aleuts were the latest to arrive across the Bering straight
and physically, they resemble East Asians more than other Native
American peoples. Our test is enriched for markers that have
changed in frequency as the human species migrated to colonize
the planet, and there are an adequate number that distinguish
East Asian from Native Americans as evidenced by the fact that
we detect only Native American admixture in Hispanics and most
American Indians. However, what if Aleuts arrived by boat or
over ice after the disappearance of the land bridge? Would not
the molecular distance between Aleuts and East Asians be lower
than between Aleuts and other Native Americans? This is a distinct
possibility, and since a test such as ours has never existed
before, our results may be teaching us something about the anthropology
of the Aleut group.
The remainder of the cases may reflect significant and recent
East Asian admixture with Native Americans prior to European
colonization. Although highly speculative, this is a very interesting
possibility because several recent publications have propounded
the idea that East Asians were the first to "discover" North
America based on archaeological data ("1421: The Year China
Discovered America by Natalie Danford, William Morrow & Co;
January 7, 2003). Furthermore, Asian and Native American ancestries
are evident in Russians and other Europeans (Science Magazine "Genetic
Structure of Human Populations", fig. 1 k=6 references that
Russians and the Adygei both have more non-European ancestry,
primarily East Asian and Native American, in the first figure
and then more Central Asian in the second figure). This idea
is controversial, but if this is true, it may explain your result
to a certain extent. Even so, we simply do not know yet the verity
of this, which tribes harbor East Asian admixture, or even whether
there is a tribe-to-tribe difference at all. As we learn more,
we'll update this FAQ list…
I thought I was purely of Scandinavian origin, but my results
show minor East Asian admixture. How is this result possible?
We have found that many individuals reporting pure Scandinavian
ancestry register with detectable East Asian admixture as well.
This result may obtain through contribution of the Lapps, indigenous
Scandinavians who share physical features, culture and common
history with Northern Asian populations. Because this is the
first ancestry test ever developed to query all of the human
DNA, these results represent original interpretations of the
structure inherent to modern day populations and may have exciting
implications for our understanding of our anthropological history
of the Scandinavian region. If your results show significant
East Asian admixture (greater than 5%), you should rest assured
that at the level of DNA you share some greater affiliation with
East Asians. Even though we cannot go back into time and prove
exactly how this affiliation came to be, the history of the Scandinavian
region gives us an important clue. One excellent example of a
genetic study showing that a particular Scandinavian population
has East Asian ancestry, was carried out by Rick Kittles and
collaborators on a several sample of Finish from different regions
of Finland (Kittles et al. 2000).
Kittles RA, Perola M, Peltonen L, Bergen AW, Aragon RA, Virkkunen
M, Linnoila M, Goldman D, Long JC. (1998) Dual origins of Finns
revealed by Y chromosome haplotype variation. Am J Hum Genet
62:1171-1179.
Start unraveling the mystery of your DNA and heritage today,
call 800-523-3080 to order your Ethnicity DNA Test for only $395,
order on-line, or download the order form and fax or mail in
your order. If you are interested in seeing a sample report,
visit our sample report page.
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of the use and application of any of the content of this web
site.
The information presented on this site is intended as general
health information and as an educational tool. It is not intended
as medical advice. Only a physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare
professional should advise a patient on medical issues and
should do so using a medical history and other factors identified
and documented as part of the health professional/patient relationship.
