From Nigerian to Cajun, County Cork to Tulu Nadu, 23andMe can now connect you to 4000+ geographic regions, ethnolinguistic groups, and cultural groups around the world. The most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market has been getting better and better.
23andMe’s Ancestry Composition gives you the power to peer deeper into your genetic origins, connect them to different populations around the world, and to learn more about yourself.
Ancestry Proportions
The backbone of Ancestry Composition is a breakdown of the percentage of your DNA linked to each of 47 populations. We calculate this by comparing your genome to more than 14,000 people with known ancestry. When a segment of your DNA closely matches the DNA from one of the 47 populations, we assign that ancestry to the corresponding segment of your DNA. By separately calculating the ancestry for each segment of your genome, we can compute your overall ancestry composition. This helps connect you to your ancestry back 500 years, before the advent of modern migration.
We’re always looking into new ways to make this breakdown more specific. Although your DNA doesn’t change, our interpretation of it does, which is why Ancestry Composition is a living analysis.
Learn more in our Ancestry Composition Guide
Country Matches
We can also add another layer of insights with clues to the locations of much more recent ancestors. By looking for exact DNA matches between you and individuals with known ancestry from specific countries or regions, we can provide a “Country Match”. Despite the name, these matches can also connect you to smaller administrative sub-regions within countries.
Genetic Groups
Finally, we can connect you through shared genetic ancestry to Genetic Groups. These are groups of people with significant genetic similarity to each other. These groups may share ethnic identities, languages, or other similar characteristics. Genetic Groups include ethnolinguistic groups like the Esan, or cultural groups like Parsis in Western India. Genetic Groups also include regional groups, such as Albemarle Sound African Americans or Halifax Region Early British/Irish Canadians, and historical groups like Mayflower Descendants.
23andMe+ Premium members also receive access to Distant Genetic Groups. “Distant” matches to Genetic Groups reflect meaningful DNA connections to Genetic Groups that may be further back in time, connections through fewer ancestors, or are otherwise harder to detect.
All paths lead to you
In a world where migration and cultural exchanges shape our history, 23andMe’s Ancestry Composition is an unprecedented tool for connecting us with our past. By offering insights into more than 4,000 geographic regions, ethnolinguistic groups, and cultural identities, you can open a window into the complex tapestry of your genetic heritage.
As we continue to refine this analysis, the journey into your ancestry can become richer and more detailed, providing an ever-evolving understanding of where you come from, and how your roots connect to the world.
