Ancestry FAQ
Why am I being prompted to purchase a DNA kit?
In order to generate an accurate Ancestry Report, we need high-quality, complete data. While we do accept third-party files if they meet our data requirements, many of these files — including older SelfDecode kits — don’t contain the haplotype and coverage depth necessary for ancestry analysis.
If you’re unsure whether a particular client file is eligible, please reach out to support and we can assess the file for you.
Do you test paternal lineage?
Currently, we provide maternal lineage (mitochondrial DNA) as part of the ancestry analysis. Paternal lineage (Y-DNA) is not yet included, but we are actively working on updates to expand these offerings.
What’s the difference between global ancestry and mitochondrial ancestry?
Global ancestry reflects a person’s recent ancestral makeup, typically going back 10–15 generations across both maternal and paternal lines. This includes percentage breakdowns tied to various global populations.
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is passed down exclusively through the maternal line, and can trace maternal ancestry back thousands of years. Even if someone’s global ancestry shows 100% European, they may carry mitochondrial DNA indicating a maternal line from a different region.
Encourage your clients to click on the haplotype codes and question mark icon in their report for a deeper dive into both types of analysis.
How do you determine ancestry results?
Our ancestry algorithm compares your client’s DNA to 32 curated reference populations worldwide. On a molecular level, individuals typically share more genetic similarity with people from their ancestral region. We use this to estimate ancestral origins based on genetic proximity to each reference group.
How accurate is the Ancestry Report?
SelfDecode’s ancestry algorithm consistently outperforms the current industry leaders (e.g. 23andMe, Ancestry.com, MyHeritage) based on internal benchmarking.
We use advanced imputation methods and a high-resolution comparison model that offers exceptional accuracy in reporting population-level ancestry.
Why do I need to complete the ancestry questionnaire?
The ancestry questionnaire helps us improve the accuracy of our ancestry and polygenic risk score (PRS) models. When we sequence DNA, we can’t always tell which allele came from which parent — especially in admixed individuals.
If your client has mixed ancestry, completing the questionnaire improves the algorithm’s ability to assign DNA segments to maternal and paternal chromosomes. This doesn’t alter the raw results, but it does refine the interpretation and improves downstream PRS accuracy.
Even if a client believes they know their ancestry, our models often uncover lesser-known contributions from ancestral lines hundreds of years back. It’s worth completing for better insights and clinical guidance.