How to DNA Testing for Ancestry for DNA & Genetic Genealogy - Step by Step
Step-by-step guide to DNA Testing for Ancestry for DNA & Genetic Genealogy. Includes time estimates, tips, and common mistakes to avoid.
DNA testing for ancestry can reveal biological connections, migration patterns, and clues that traditional records may miss. This step-by-step guide shows you how to choose the right test, analyze your matches, and turn raw DNA results into usable family tree evidence.
Prerequisites
- -A DNA testing kit from a major autosomal testing company such as AncestryDNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage, or FamilyTreeDNA
- -A user account with your testing company and access to your DNA results dashboard
- -A basic family tree with known parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents if available
- -Names, dates, and locations from family records, census records, obituaries, or vital records for comparison
- -A spreadsheet, research log, or genealogy software to track matches and hypotheses
- -Willingness to wait several weeks for lab processing and additional time for match analysis
Start by identifying what you want to learn. If your main goal is finding relatives and building a family tree, an autosomal DNA test is the best starting point because it identifies matches across both sides of your family within the past 5-7 generations. If you are investigating a direct paternal or maternal line, consider adding Y-DNA or mitochondrial DNA testing later for more targeted lineage research.
Tips
- +Pick the company with the largest relevant match database for your research region or adoption search goal
- +Read the company's privacy settings before purchasing so you understand matching and data-sharing options
Common Mistakes
- -Ordering only an ethnicity-focused test when your real goal is identifying biological relatives
- -Assuming all DNA test types answer the same questions
Pro Tips
- *Test the oldest living relatives first whenever possible, because they share more DNA with earlier generations and produce stronger match lists for tree reconstruction.
- *Use centimorgans, shared matches, and documented trees together, because no single DNA clue should determine a relationship on its own.
- *If you are solving an unknown parentage case, separate paternal and maternal matches early using a known close relative or platform labels to avoid confusion.
- *Revisit your top unexplained matches every few months, because new trees, newly tested relatives, and database growth often unlock earlier dead ends.
- *Keep a written hypothesis log with each possible ancestral couple, the supporting DNA evidence, the conflicting evidence, and the next record set to search.