Why should I take this Ancestry test?
What is a haplogroup?
Will the Ancestry test tell me a specific ethnic tribe/haplogroup?
How does knowing the haplogroup help with genealogy?
How far genetically can you test?
I'm a female, how can I test my paternal lineage?

Why should I take this Ancestry DNA test?
The Pathway Genomics DNA test offers the most precise and comprehensive measurements of genetic ancestry available today. We provide both maternal and paternal ancestry information, so you can learn where your ancestors originated and view their migration patterns across the continents over time. We will also provide you with information about your ethnic makeup, telling you the different cultural backgrounds that are represented in your genetic profile. In addition, Pathway Genomics will supply you with haplogroup identifications of dozens of famous individuals, letting you see if you are genetically similar to, or perhaps even related to people like Genghis Khan or John Adams.

What is a haplogroup?
A haplogroup identifies a set of people with a common genetic ancestor, typically from 10,000 to 150,000 years ago. Pathway Genomics offers the highest degree of accuracy in its genetic testing, allowing you to identify your haplogroup with the most recent common ancestor. In some cases, only a handful of people have been identified within a specific haplogroup. Males will have both a paternal and a maternal haplogroup, since they carry an X and a Y chromosome. Women, who carry 2 copies of the X chromosome, will only have a maternal Haplogroup.

Will the Ancestry test tell me if I belong to a specific ethnic tribe/haplogroup?
In some cases, yes, but not usually. For example, a specific Y chromosome haplogroup has been identified as belonging to the descendants of Genghis Khan, and another to the descendants of an ancient Irish king.

How does knowing the haplogroups help with genealogy?
Knowing your haplogroup means that you share a common ancestor with someone else in the same haplogroup. While the common ancestor will be from 10,000+ years ago, the haplogroups can be used to confirm relatedness to more recent ancestors.

How far genetically can you test?
The haplogroups that have been defined are typically between 10,000 and 150,000 years old. This is approximately the timeframe when modern humans arose in Africa and then spread throughout the world.

I'm a female, how can I test my paternal lineage?
Y chromosomes carry the DNA that is used for identifying paternal haplogroups and ancestry. Since females do not inherit the Y chromosome from their fathers, women can only be tested for maternal haplogroups. Woman can, however, ask a biological brother or father to be tested and share their results.