When your DNA is analyzed by the testing company, not only do you get possible matches but also an ethnicity estimate concerning where your ancestors are from.
From our last post, an ethnicity estimate compares your DNA to a reference panel to determine where your ancestors lived. First, ethnicity regions are the most well-known part of an ethnicity estimate. That is the part that comes with percentages, like 25% Scotland. They often encompass one or more countries and can reach back more than 20 generations.
The communities portion of the ethnicity estimate represents people who share a significant number of matches with each other and likely descend from a common group of people. Looking at these results can give you an idea of where your ancestors may have come from. These results reflect about 5-20 generations ago.
For example, when a customer takes a DNA test, the company scientists compare pieces of DNA to see which reference group each piece of DNA closely resembles. The percentages are calculated from the totals. Let us say you receive your estimates and it shows 20 percent from France. Your research doesn’t show anyone from France. Check the maps and the polygons that appear on top of them.
The polygons show shared genetic history doesn’t necessarily match modern borders. There’s a history of movement from one country to another. You have a map of shared genetics that is starts in France but reaches beyond. The ethnicity estimates provide insight on where your ancestors might have lived but also the path they may have traveled, the historical origins.
Since DNA is passed down randomly and decreases by each generation removed from you, ancestry you have been told you have may not show up in your results. Remember, the results are only as good as the reference group and the algorithm the company uses. But you can use DNA as part of your research and may help you trace your ancestors and where they were from. Our next DNA post will talk about matches. See our previous post on DNA terms.
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