Update: Please note that the Genographic kits are no longer available, but the Family Tree DNA products are. You can click here to order.
There have been a lot of questions lately about what to order from whom and why relative to the Geno 2.0 kit and the Family Tree DNA products. I’ve but together the following table as a “cheat sheet” that includes the basic reasons that people order one versus the other, or both.
In a nutshell, if it’s genealogy you’re interested in, then you want to order the Family Tree DNA products because they provide you with specific mutation locations, the mutation values and a list of matches to other people based on those mutations. The Geno 2.0 tests are more anthropological (deep ancestry) in nature. In some cases, specifically the Y-line testing, these tests go hand in hand.
Product Desired | Family Tree DNA | Geno 2.0 |
Y-Line | ||
Markers for genealogy, matches with other people in a genealogical timeframe | 12, 25, 37, 67 and 111 markers and values, includes matches and other tools | No |
Haplogroup assignment | Included with purchase of above markers at a general level. Can then order additional SNP tests or Geno 2.0 to obtain deeper results. | Extensive – deepest available within industry and inclusive of SNPs discovered through November 2011 |
Ethnicity of that specific line based on haplogroup assignment | Yes | Yes |
Maps, haplogroup origins | Yes | Yes |
Mitochondrial DNA | ||
Mutations for genealogy, matches with other people in a genealogical timeframe | mtDNA (HVR1), mtDNAPlus (HVR1+HVR2) and full sequence mutations, includes matches and other tools. | No |
Haplogroup assignment | Included with purchase at general level. Full assignment at deepest level with the full sequence. | Yes, deepest level. |
Ethnicity of that specific line based on haplogroup assignment | Yes | Yes |
Maps, haplogroup origins | Yes | Yes |
Autosomal | Family Finder | |
Ethnicity percentages for all ancestral lines combined* | Yes | Yes |
Cousin matches | Yes, list of matches provided with common surnames if information provided by tester | No |
Download of data | Yes | Yes |
Transfer to Family Tree DNA | N/A | Yes – must be manually initiated |
Social Networking Tools | No | Yes – not at initial release |
*Note that the ethnicity percentages will be calculated using different base populations and the results will likely be somewhat different. The National Geographic product is using new SNP data gathered through their field work within the Genographic Project. So while this information is provided in both tests, I would not presume it will be the same nor that it is duplicative.
This table isn’t meant to be a description or comparison of every feature in the various tests, but the decision criteria to purchase one type of test versus the other.
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DNA Purchases and Free Transfers
- Family Tree DNA
- MyHeritage DNA only
- MyHeritage DNA plus Health
- MyHeritage FREE DNA file upload
- AncestryDNA
- 23andMe Ancestry
- 23andMe Ancestry Plus Health
- LivingDNA
Genealogy Services
Genealogy Research
- Legacy Tree Genealogists for genealogy research