Dna Tests: Estimating Ethnicity and the Limits of Genealogy Research

DNA tests offer an estimation of ethnicity by comparing DNA with data from diverse regions. This provides a statistical estimate of ancestral origins. According to geneticist Harald Ringbauer in "Stiftung Warentest Finanzen", it's often not precise enough for genealogy but interesting if it aligns with known family history. Genetic relatives can only find each other if both have submitted their DNA profiles to the provider. "MyHeritage" offers the best database for European users, while "Ancestry" focuses on Great Britain and North America. Many regions of the Global South are underrepresented due to fewer people being tested. DNA matching faces limitations with distant cousins (fourth degree relatives or further). Geneticist Ringbauer from the Max-Planck-Institut Leipzig notes that such relatives often share no detectable DNA. Tests may show them as 'not related' even with a common lineage in the family tree. "Stiftung Warentest" warns that providing saliva reveals highly sensitive data, impacting not only oneself but also family. They advise using a pseudonym and neutral email for genealogy portals. It's crucial to check the provider's data policy beforehand. Data protection was only assessed for two portals, as the other three are not based in the EU. These three do not specifically target the EU market. Therefore, they cannot be measured against the requirements of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).