Searches for ancestry DNA tests are burgeoning. Receive one for Christmas? Considering getting one for a loved one’s birthday, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day? You’re not alone. More and more of us are turning to DNA testing companies to not only take control of our health, but to fill out the branches of our family trees, too.
If we’re going deep with it, there’s been a bit of a disconnect in recent years thanks to the pandemic and the rise of social media. Enter: a greater desire to know about who you are and where you come from, to find that sense of connection again.
“We live in a time where people feel increasingly disconnected,” explains Laura House, family history expert at AncestryDNA. “People are seeking real connections and authentic experiences, and family history is an important way for people to meet this need. For example, researchers at Emory University in the US have found that children with a deep knowledge of their family’s history – both the positive moments and the tougher ones – have much greater confidence, resilience and openness to others. Researching your family history can be a healing and grounding experience, and accessible and affordable genetic testing through Ancestry has made it possible for millions of people to take meaningful action to enrich their lives.”
While most people are familiar with using these kits to discover more about their family members, sometimes leading to new connections (hello, cousin Greg in California!), there’s the aforementioned myriad of health benefits, too. Your DNA test results can tell you if you are predisposed to certain conditions, including specific cancers (the BRCA gene, for example, made known by Angelina Jolie), and could help you take ownership of your health. Knowledge is power, as they say.
While it’s worth noting that taking an ancestry DNA test can be a Pandora’s Box and it’s worth considering how prepared you are for different types of news (you can, for example, discover a proclivity for dementia – but with no treatment, your quality of life may be compromised), if you do want to take one, we’re here to help. Ahead, the best DNA testing services of 2024 from 23andme to Ancestry.co.uk – plus all your FAQs.
SKIP TO: How we chose the best ancestry DNA kits | What does an ancestry DNA test really tell you? | What are the different types of ancestry DNA tests? | How accurate are ancestry DNA tests? | How long does it take to get the results from an ancestry DNA test? | Our full reviews.
Meet the expert
- Laura House is a genealogist and family history expert at Ancestry DNA, one of the leading DNA ancestry kit providers in the UK. She has an MSc degree in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies from the University of Strathclyde, and she’s appeared on TV shows like BBC Three’s Stranger in My Family and ITV’s The Queen and Her Cousins with Alexander Armstrong.
The best ancestry DNA kits 2024 at a glance:
How we chose the best ancestry DNA kits:
OK, full transparency: we didn’t try and test every DNA test kit in this edit. Instead, we looked at a multitude of factors that made them great. Firstly, customer reviews, of course – we read them all. Then, we factored in cost, ease of use, and how quickly you can expect results back. We also looked at how the results were presented – were they easy to understand? – plus any other additional factors, like their privacy statements, that might make them stand out from the crowd.
What does an ancestry DNA test really tell you?
DNA ancestry tests have come a long way in recent years, and genetic data can give you a really comprehensive overview of your health. Some of them, such as 23andme’s DNA data test, can give indications on everything from your proclivity for Parkinson’s to whether or not you might have freckles.