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Difference between Geni DNA, MyHeritage DNA, and 23andMe DNA tests

Clayton Jefferson Dewberry

April 26, 2016 13:47

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So, what is the difference? I see Geni has a test for Y-DNA37 + mtDNAPlus - $198.00 MyHeritage has a test for 23andMe's Personalized DNA Kit - $199.00 23andMe has a test for $199.00 What's the difference - are they all the same? I use use Geni and have a paid subscription to MyHeritage as well. Thanks!

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  Bill Barnes May 18, 2016 01:46

  It is difficult to compare as there are a number of different tests you can do and the above seem to be a mix of them all (apples and oranges):

  • Y chromosome testing, which only men can take and targets the male line. This comes in two forms - STR and SNP. The former can look at more recent links (down into potentially genealogical eras - you can test for a number of STRs: 12 to 111, the smaller number tend to be more recent genealogically but if you have a common Y chromosome, like I have, then it might not be that illuminating) and the latter goes deep all the way back to Africa but can also locate more recent mutations in your family line.
  • Mitochondrial DNA (myDNA) testing, which targets the female line, although the test can be taken by everyone. The advantage of mtDNA is that it mutates on a regular basis and so the various branches and splits from "mitochondrial Eve" in Africa can be estimated.
  • Autosomal DNA (atDNA) testing, which is often called a cousin finder as it can get you back 4 or 5 generations. This is the most common test and is available from a number of companies (FTDNA, Ancestry and 23andMe).

  As you can tell from the name, the Geni test you mention tests mitochondria and Y STR DNA and they do this through one of the leading providers Family Tree DNA (who I have tested through and am very happy with), but this post also says they can offer you a good deal on FTDNA's autosomal test, Family Finder:

  https://www.geni.com/blog/new-on-geni-dna-tests-for-genealogy-379224.html

  However, the page they link to just redirects to the home page:

  https://www.geni.com/dna-tests

  It doesn't matter as you can order direct from FTDNA, but I'd recommending waiting for the end of year sales which have deep discounts (and vouchers you can use for further money off):

  https://www.familytreedna.com

  MyHeritage offers a number of tests - 23andMe's autosomal test and a range of FTDNA's:

  https://www.myheritage.com/dna-tests

  You can compare the main autosomal testing but they are all largely similar and you can export the data and add it to third party companies (like GEDmatch), so the main difference is price and other extras - FTDNA have some excellent tools, Ancestry can compare your DNA to your family tree and 23andMe have offered medical analysis (and still do in the UK):

  http://isogg.org/wiki/Autosomal_DNA_testing_comparison_chart

  It is a good idea to have a read around to familiarise yourself with what is available - the ISOGG wiki is a good start and there are handy blogs out there whcih monitor the field (Google: genetic genealogy).

  Then, you need to ask yourself what questions you have that DNA can answer. Do you have a brickwall on your paternal line? Are you having trouble pushing some lines back beyond 3 or 4 generations?

  A good starter is an autosomal test and you can add others in as you feel they are necessary. I went for an atDNA and Y-37 STR test as my first foray and will be looking into upgrading my STR test (because I fall into R-M269, which is the most common in western Europe) and doing SNP testing (probably the BIG Y).