AncestryDNA – DNA Q&A

No matter if you are 100% or partly Asian, it can be interesting to learn where your ancestors came from exactly. This is because there are almost 50 countries found in Asia, which is the biggest continent on the face of the planet as well as home to some of the oldest nations known to man. If you would like to learn more about your family tree, keep on reading this article. The good news is that there are plenty of ancestry or genealogy sites on the web these days. Running out of options is virtually impossible. Below you will come across some of the best DNA tests for Asians: TeloYears23andMeAncestryDNAMyHeritage DNAGPS Origins But before you order a DNA test kit from a particular website, it is important for you to know that it does not come cheap. These days, you can expect to pay anywhere from $49 to $99 — sometimes even higher if there are more pieces of information that the website puts on the DNA test results. In addition, every ancestry or genealogy site out there comes with its own set of pros and cons. That is why it is a good idea for you to do your homework first prior to choosing an ancestry or a genealogy site out there and then buying a DNA test kit from it. DNA Test Results are Partly Based on the Database There are various factors for you to consider when deciding which ancestry or genealogy site you should put your trust in. Perhaps on the top of your list is the price. Having your family tree figured out by means of your DNA does not come with a cheap price tag. It is for the fact that the technology used for testing the DNA of a person requires the use of sophisticated laboratory instruments as well as the participation of an individual who is suited for the job. Also a major role player in terms of the cost is the popularity of ancestry or genealogy tests these days. We all know that the higher the demand, the higher the price. Websites that test DNA to find out lineages are first and foremost companies that need to rake in incomes for them to stay up and running. No one can blame you for considering buying a DNA test kit from a very popular website. One of the reasons why you keep on hearing or reading about the company is that so many people are going for it. Nothing can tempt you to have your DNA tested and your family tree completed more than seeing the amazement on the faces of your family and friends upon reading their DNA test results. It is even likely for them to encourage you to get your DNA tested right away so that you, too, may learn more about your past for you to have a better understanding of who you are today. Generally speaking, it is a great idea for you to pick an ancestry or a genealogy site that is preferred by many. No, this is not because of jumping on the bandwagon or just going with the flow. Here is one of the main reasons why it is usually recommended for a person who would like to get his or her DNA tested to go for the most popular website: it has a DNA database that is generally bigger. This is because the DNA test results of its every single customer in the past are kept in a server in the form of a digital file. Such can work to your advantage because a bigger database lets you find lots of your biological family members. As a result of this, you can have a detailed family tree which is essential for having a more impressive view of your lineage. On the other hand, you may find only a few relatives you did not know you had if you opt for a website that is not that known or trusted. You can put the blame on its relatively small DNA database. Yes, it may be easier on the pocket to have your DNA tested by a less popular ancestry or genealogy site. However, you may wind up feeling frustrated as the DNA test results may not be as complete and informative as you thought it would be. Before you pay for a DNA test kit from a well-known website, there is an important matter that you first need to know about. If you are Asian who is interested to learn more about your Asian roots, it is not just the size of the DNA database that you should keep in mind. Also a must for you to take into account are the DNA races or ethnicities that are making up the DNA database of the website. Most Ancestry or Genealogy Sites are More Popular Among Whites As someone who is completely Asian or has some Asian blood running through your veins, there is an important fact you need to know. And that's just because the ancestry or genealogy site of your choice is popular does not necessarily mean that it is the right one to go for. It is true that it may have a massive DNA database, but most of the entries may not provide you with what you are looking for exactly. Did you know that a lot of the most well-known ancestry or genealogy sites these days have DNA databases that are mostly made up of entries of DNA of Caucasians or white people? No, this does not mean that whites are more curious individuals and thus they wish to learn more about their family trees better than everyone else. Regardless of the race, it is very interesting for anyone to find out about his or her ancestors. Discovering where your roots came from can answer so many questions in your mind. Some of the most common ones include why do you look that way, why is your personality like that and why are you fond of a certain culture. The reason why a lot of ancestry or genealogy sites out there have DNA databases that mostly contain Caucasian DNA entries is that many of these websites were established in the US. So in other words, their services were first made available where there are many white people. According to the US Census Bureau, the majority of the people in the US are whites — 60.4% to be exact, according to the agency's population clock for 2019. Well, it has always been that way. And that is why when ancestry or genealogy sites first came into being in the US a lot of the people who paid for their DNA test services were Caucasians. There were of course other US residents who paid for the services of those websites who were not whites or were only partly Caucasians. However, the fact remains that the majority of the initial customers were white people. Ancestry or genealogy sites that opened in the US, after some time, expanded to various countries in Europe. It is no secret, however, that most of the people living in Europe are Caucasians as well. Needless to say, still much of the additional DNA entries in the DNA databases of these websites when they were starting up were whites. This is why even up to now the DNA databases of some of the most well-known ancestry or genealogy sites out there are primarily made up of the DNA of Caucasians. As a matter of fact, it is said that about four-fifths of people who have undergone DNA tests for the sake of knowing more about their lineages were living in the US, most of which were whites as well as had European blood in them. So what does this all mean to a 100% Asian or partly Asian who would like to learn more about his or her family tree? Well, his or her DNA test results may fail to provide helpful pieces of information as to his or her roots. Again, it has something to do with the fact that the DNA databases of a lot of ancestry or genealogy sites are composed of the DNA of Caucasians. Without enough DNA entries coming from Asians, then it is less likely for an Asian person to come across relatives and learn more about his or her lineage. Not Really a Big Problem If You Have Chinese or Japanese Blood If you think that paying for a costly DNA test from a well-known ancestry or genealogy site is the only way for you to learn more about your roots, think again. There are actually other ways to have your family tree built without sending a tube of your saliva or a swab with your cheek cells to a DNA laboratory. Most especially if you are Chinese or Japanese, whether 100% or just party, it is possible for you to have a much better idea on your ancestry just by checking out records. It is common knowledge that Chinese and Japanese people look upon their ancestors highly. Because of this, they try to keep their memories alive by means of festivities. We are all aware of the fact that a lot of these celebrations are meaningful and usually colorful. Keeping records of the existence of their ancestors is also a step that they take. And it is exactly due to the presence of these highly revered records why it can be easy for any person who is Chinese or Japanese to get to know more about his or her lineage. So in other words, something as simple as checking out records may help you to trace your Chinese or Japanese roots. In fact, you will find it trouble-free to get to know the name of your family members from 40, 50 or even more generations. Armed with a keen eye, this method allows you to learn more about your past without the need for you to get your DNA tested by one of the many ancestry or genealogy sites existing these days. However, there is a downside to this approach. It is no secret that Chinese and Japanese cultures in the past were primarily patriarchal. So in other words, their society years ago was ruled or dominated by men. This is why as someone with Chinese or Japanese blood you may have a hard time learning more about your relatives on your mother's side. It is very much likely for every record coming from various sources to contain only male lineages. You may find it difficult to find records that come with detailed accounts of female members of the society back then. It is due to this exactly why in most instances it is a much better idea for you to simply purchase a DNA test kit from the ancestry or genealogy site of your choice. It may not come free of charge and the DNA test results may take 6 to 8 weeks to be released. Sometimes it may take longer than that if the ancestry or genealogy site of your choice is testing a lot of completed DNA test kits. However, this helps to make sure that you will learn about both sides of your family. But then again, it is definitely a must for you to purchase a DNA test kit from the right company found on the web. Just like what was talked about earlier, not all ancestry or genealogy sites these days have enough Asian entries in their DNA databases. Putting your trust in the right ancestry or genealogy site is a definite must for the attainment of results that can provide what you want to learn about your lineage. Ancestry or Genealogy Sites Highly Recommended for Asians If you are really bent on finding more about your ancestry by means of a DNA test, fret not. It is true that most ancestry or genealogy sites tend to have DNA databases that are mainly made up of the DNA of white people. However, some of them are in fact recommended for people who are 100% Asians or have a certain amount of Asian blood in them. Checking out one ancestry or genealogy site after the other can be time-consuming. To help save your time and energy, we did all the digging and prodding for you. We made sure that the companies we will mention below will meet your needs exactly. Various factors were considered in choosing them. They include their features according to their websites, as well as critic and customer reviews. Without further ado, let's take a look at some ancestry or genealogy sites that are considered as suited for Asians: TeloYears Most people know that TeloYears is a company that tests DNA to figure out health risks. Doctors confirm that there are some medical conditions or diseases that can be passed by the parents to their children. Needless to say, some health-related issues can be embedded in the genes, and this is what health DNA tests are looking for. Well, TeloYears does more than just identify a person's health risks. It is also revered for its ability to provide Asians with the ancestry details that they want to get their hands on. According to the company itself, it has the largest DNA database that is made up of an assortment of ethnicities. They include Asians most especially. What's more, TeloYears says that it employs more advanced DNA testing technologies. Such is what makes it possible for the company to identify the roots of an Asian. As a matter of fact, it is even capable of taking account subgroups and regions in the DNA test results. But there is something you need to know about the DNA test that TeloYears provides. Instead of testing your saliva or cheek cells, it takes a look at your blood. This is why its DNA test kit includes a finger prick apparatus. Worry not because it is really safe and easy to use. The test kit comes with detailed instructions, which can also be found on the company's website. 23andMe Unlike TeloYears, the company referred to as 23andMe is known through and through as an ancestry or a genealogy site. Actually, it is the go-to website of those who wish to know more about their roots. It is definitely one of the most popular companies of its kind. What makes it loved and trusted by many is the fact that it offers a wide variety of DNA testing methods. Yes, different companies offer as well as utilize different ways of testing the DNA of a person for the purpose of learning about his or her lineage. Another reason why 23andMe is popular is that it nearly has over 10 million DNA entries in its DNA database. Needless to say, it is very much likely for you to have Asian DNA matches on your DNA test results. It is important to note, however, that in the past 23andMe received flak from Asian people as well as those with a certain amount of Asian blood in them due to the vagueness of their DNA test results in terms of categorizing these groups of people. But the good news is that the company has taken the steps necessary to deal with such problem. We will discuss this matter more later on in this article. And those who had taken a DNA test from 23andMe are now happier because their DNA test results were updated and are now more comprehensive. AncestryDNA Another ancestry or genealogy site that you may hear or read about often is AncestryDNA. It does not really come as a surprise because it is known to have the largest DNA database on the face of the planet. To date, the company is said to have more than 10 million DNA entries in its DNA database. So what does this mean for someone like you with Asian blood? Getting your hands on more informative DNA test results! With so many entries in its DNA database, it is very much likely for AncestryDNA to come across many DNA matches for you that allows you to build your Asian family tree. It is for certain that most of the DNA entries are still from the DNA of Caucasian customers. But with 10 million plus entries, there is a big possibility that a huge fraction of its DNA database consists of the DNA of Asians. In fact, the company says that it is capable of identifying various Asian regions. They include East, West, South and Central Asia. However, some users say that the company has only a small amount of DNA entries on its DNA database obtained from people coming from East Asia. By the way, one impressive thing about AncestryDNA is that it has been around even before DNA tests for learning about the lineage of a person became popular. Back then, it was focused on providing genealogical data coming from different records. MyHeritage DNA If your goal is to find biological relatives that you didn't know you had, it is a good idea for you to consider opting for a DNA test from MyHeritage DNA. By means of this company, you will find it easier to find and ultimately connect with family members such as cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. It is important, however, that they have also taken a DNA test with the service provider. One more thing that makes MyHeritage DNA a popular ancestry or genealogy site is that it allows Asians to get comprehensive DNA test results. It is not just due to the fact that MyHeritage DNA has more than 1 million DNA entries in its DNA database. The company is also capable of figuring out all kinds of ethnicities from Asia. Some of them are Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Filipino, Malaysian, Mongolian and Indonesian. Do not fret if you have already had your DNA tested by a different ancestry or genealogy site wherein you were not pleased with the outcome. This is because you may submit your previous DNA test results to MyHeritage DNA. Such allows you to find as many of your biological relatives as possible. GPS Origins You may have never heard or read about GPS origins before unlike all the other ancestry or genealogy sites that we have talked about so far. It is true that it may not be as popular as many of its competitors. However, this does not mean that you should cross out GPS Origins on your list. If truth be told, it is very much possible for you to feel happy with the DNA test results of the company. This is most especially true because not too long ago it launched its Asian edition. Needless to say, it allowed the company to widen its DNA database considerably. Thanks to the Asian edition of GPS Origins, a DNA test lets you learn more about your Asian origins. A lot of consumers were very pleased with the company because it provided them with migration history spanning thousands of years. Just like some other companies we have mentioned in this article, various DNA tests are being conducted by GPS Origins. However, a DNA test kit from GPS Origins does not come cheap. It costs nearly $150. As you can see, GPS Origins is not the perfect ancestry or genealogy site, which is something that does not exist because each website has some pros and cons to it. When choosing an ancestry or genealogy site, consider prioritizing any of the companies stated above as they are known to be more ideal for Asian people. Other Ancestry or Genealogy Sites You Might Consider Other than the ones we have just mentioned above, there are also some other ancestry or genealogy sites that you might want to look into. Here are some of the ones worth checking out: NameLowest Price DNA Database Size FamilyTreeDNA$79850,000 Living DNA$79Relatively small (just starting out) HomeDNA$59102 million Full Genomes$645Does not rely on a DNA database A More Detailed Look at TeloYears and 23andMe Before we put this article to an end, let us first devote a little of our time to take a look at two of the ancestry or genealogy sites that we talked about earlier. They are TeloYears and 23andMe. That's because we believe that these two companies are the ones that could give you what you are on the hunt for exactly. According to consumers and experts alike, there is no other company out there like TeloYears. That is because it is the only one that has the ability to break down and identify the Asian ancestry of a person into different regions. But other than that, the service provider is also capable of providing DNA test results that show pieces of information that are broken down into an assortment of ethnic groups. It is for this reason why your DNA test results from TeloYears may include percentages of subgroups such as Miao, Han, She, Hezhen, Lahu, Xibo, Daur, Tu and others that you may have never heard or read about before! Then there is also 23andMe that a lot of people, including especially Asians, cannot stop raving about. Just like what was mentioned earlier, this is one of the most popular ancestry or genealogy sites of today. People from Asia as well as those with Asian blood in them prefer this company especially after it launched its Global Genetics Project. In this venture, 23andMe hands out free DNA test kits to people who have ancestors from various regions on the planet, including those with Asian roots. The goal of Global Genetics Project is to widen the DNA database of 23andMe. Once completed, it will enable the company to provide more detailed DNA test results. Asians as well as other races and ethnic groups are the ones that will primarily benefit from this endeavor of 23andMe. However, there's a bunch of criteria that a person has to meet before he or she is considered as a candidate for Global Genetics Project of 23andMe. First, he or she should have four of his or her grandparents born in a country that is on the list included for the undertaking. Second, the individual should be a US resident. He or she should be able to read and write English fluently as well. Then the person should be more than 18 years of age. Now you can see the reasons why TeloYears and 23andMe are both standouts. With the exclusive features that they have, it's no wonder why a lot of Asians are choosing them over other ancestry or genealogy sites currently around. Of course in the end the right choice should depend on your personal preference. Your pick should also be based on matters such as the cost and accessibility. Definitely, it is a great idea for you to ask your Asian relatives which between TeloYears and 23andMe they have used in the past. Just Before You Go … These days, there is never a shortage of ancestry or genealogy sites. They are very popular currently as many people are taking advantage of direct-to-consumer DNA tests for several reasons. Some of them are wanting to: Know who their real parents areLearn about relatives they didn't know they hadUncover their lineageSimply have some fun and excitement As someone who is Asian or has some Asian blood in you, it is important that you choose the right company. It is for the fact that not all ancestry or genealogy sites out there have plenty of Asian DNA entries in their DNA databases. When choosing from which company you should purchase a DNA test kit, make sure that you consider not only the cost or popularity. Go for one whose DNA database is relatively larger than the competition. That's because it allows for an increased chance of finding DNA matches with other Asian consumers, and some of them could be related to you by blood. Take your time when shopping around for you to be able to get the kind of information that you want.