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Ancestry-Mito Test & Ancestry-Y Test Combo
review on 15 January 2014
by Craig Macpherson
At a Glance
Summary
In conclusion, Nimble Diagnostics delivered the AncestryByDNA™ test as described on their website, but I’m not sure I’d recommend them to a friend. It was a shame that the results arrived so much later than I was expecting, and I wished they had been more personalised. The test I chose was very expensive for the information I received and it felt very generic at times.
Full Review
Nimble Diagnostics were offering an ‘AncestryByDNA™’ test, an ‘Ancestral-Mito' maternal lineage test and an 'Ancestry-Y' paternal lineage test. There was an option to buy the maternal and paternal tests in combination for a discount.
The explanation of the tests seemed basic compared to the others I’d researched and there wasn’t a lot of information on the site. I chose the combination test which would give me an in-depth look at my maternal and paternal lineage.
Product Expectations
The website said I’d receive an analysis of my maternal ‘mitochondrial’ DNA and my paternal ‘Y chromosome’, and that these would determine the maternal and paternal tribes of ancestors that I was descended from. The results would contain maps showing the migratory paths of those tribes over tens of thousands of years, and where these population groups are located today.
Ordering Experience
The order process was simple but you either had to make a PayPal transaction to buy the test, or transfer the funds directly into what looked like a personal bank account – I found this a bit unsettling. The kit arrived within two working days - I took the samples and returned them to the lab but wasn't sent confirmation that they’d been received.
The Results
I received my results seven and a half weeks after sending off my samples – this was three and a half weeks longer than was stated on the site. I received a personalised letter, a two-page PDF certificate on my maternal lineage, a two-page PDF certificate on my paternal lineage, and a 19-page 'Lineage DNA Testing' manual to help me understand my results.
Results Section: Maternal Lineage Certificate
The maternal lineage certificate (shown below) said I was in maternal haplogroup H5 which originated ten to twenty thousand years ago from Southwest Asia and the Middle East. A table of my mitochondrial DNA markers was included, and a small map was presented alongside that showed haplogroup H (of which H5 is a branch) had migrated from Africa into Europe.
The maternal lineage certificate.
The maternal certificate went on to say that haplogroup H dominated the population expansion of Europe and a short history of the various H branches was shown. There was very little information on my specific branch but I was told other historical figures in haplogroup H included Tsarina Alexandra, the Duke of Edinburgh and Marie Antoinette!
Results Section: Paternal Lineage Certificate
The paternal lineage certificate (shown below) said I was in paternal haplogroup R1b which originated twenty-five to thirty-five thousand years ago from central and Southwest Asia. A table of my Y chromosome markers was included, and a small map was presented alongside which showed haplogroup R1b's migratory path.
The paternal lineage certificate.
The paternal certificate went on to say that haplogroup R (of which R1b is a branch) is common amongst European populations, and a short history of the various R branches was included – I was told that most Western European men are in haplogroup R1b.
Results Section: Lineage DNA Testing Manual
The manual explained what DNA is and how it's used for establishing maternal and paternal lineage. Haplogroups were defined and the limitations of DNA testing were detailed. A helpful chart (shown below) had been included to show which lines of my male and female ancestors had been traced for the report.
A chart showing how mtDNA and the Y chromosome are inherited.
The manual also contained a few pages on human history, a short timeline of human events going back one hundred and seventy thousand years (shown below), and a map showing how various population groups had migrated to certain parts of the world.
The Timeline of Human Migration.
The manual went on to explain the maternal and paternal lineage tests in more detail, and there was a terrific chart on mitochondrial DNA (shown below) showing how it had been analysed for the report. Migratory maps for all maternal and paternal haplogroups were presented which were far more detailed than the maps shown on my certificates. The migratory paths of all maternal and paternal haplogroups were described, but I wished there’d been more information on my particular branches.
The different regions of mitochondrial DNA that are analysed for the report.
At the end of the manual a number of books and websites had been listed for furthering my research, engaging with the community, and for finding relatives with my unique DNA markers.
Summary
In conclusion, Nimble Diagnostics delivered the AncestryByDNA™ test as described on their website, but I’m not sure I’d recommend them to a friend. It was a shame that the results arrived so much later than I was expecting, and I wished they had been more personalised. The test I chose was very expensive for the information I received and it felt very generic at times.
See a description of this DNA test from Nimble Diagnostics >