AncestryDNA Traits provides insights into your genetic tendencies toward 75+ physical and behavioral traits. Keep reading to learn more about AncestryDNA Traits.
You can learn a lot from your DNA test results, including certain physical and behavioral traits to which your genetic makeup predisposes you. Some DNA markers are associated with specific traits, which means if you have that marker in your DNA, you may be prone to having that particular trait. AncestryDNA offers Traits, a feature that can show you which traits you are likely to have based on your own DNA data.
According to AncestryDNA’s white paper on traits, they “choose traits based on customer interest, the influence of genetics on the trait, existing scientific research, and confidence in [their] predictions for a given trait.” Their method for predicting customers’ traits based on their DNA uses prediction models that fall into two categories: those based on DNA markers that have been identified by existing scientific literature (they call these literature traits), and those based on genetic-trait association analyses performed by the AncestryDNA science team (these are called polygenic risk score, or PRS traits).
AncestryDNA Traits
There are currently more than 75 AncestryDNA Traits available (see #1 in the image below). The traits are sorted into five different categories:
- Performance
- Sensory
- Personality
- Nutrient
- Appearance
Some examples of these traits include alcohol flush, hair type, athletic ability, cilantro aversion, if you’re a morning or night person, and if you have typical levels of vitamin D. You can view all the traits at once (as shown below) or you can filter to view one category at a time (#2 in the image below). If you’re not sure what a certain trait means or you want to read more about it, AncestryDNA Traits Learning Hub offers articles that explain some of the science behind each trait.
Besides the traits report you’ll receive, there are three other features available which we’ve outlined below.
Traits by parent
For each DNA marker, you receive two versions of each marker, one from each parent. Using your DNA matches, AncestryDNA assigns which parent you inherited it from, and measures how much DNA from each parent has influenced a particular trait in you (#3 in above image). However, if you don’t have many DNA matches, AncestryDNA may not be able to determine which parent a trait came from. (Click Edit parents to reassign parent information.)
Compare your traits to friends and family
You can also compare your own traits with friends and family, even if you’re not related. AncestryDNA Traits allows you to share your traits (and you can choose which traits you allow others to see) by inviting others who have access to Traits to view your traits and compare. To invite someone to view your traits, you’ll go into the DNA tab in Ancestry, click on Traits. In the top right, you’ll click on Invite to compare (#4 in above image), where you’ll then be asked to invite your DNA matches or others by email to compare your traits with one another.
If you don’t want to share your traits, you can click on the option to update your DNA settings (see #5 above) and the screenshot below.
Compare your traits to broader populations
AncestryDNA Traits may invite you at different times to compare your traits to broader populations. At the time of writing, there is a “Compare traits with world-class athletes” section (see #6 above), which pitches several of your relevant traits–from athletic ability to competitiveness to goal setting–to those of internationally known athletes. (In this same Compare screen, you can compare your ethnicity regions and communities (under Journeys) to other matches who are sharing that information.)
How can you get AncestryDNA Traits?
There are three ways you can access AncestryDNA Traits.
- Purchase Traits with an AncestryDNA test
- Purchase Traits as an upgrade to an AncestryDNA test
- Subscribe to AncestryDNA Plus or a family history membership
If you have Traits as part of a membership, you’ll only have access to Traits, as well as Traits by parent, for the duration of your subscription. Traits by parent is only available with an AncestryDNA Plus or family history membership.
Ancestry offers several paid membership levels with various features. Read more about each membership level to see if it’s worth it for you to subscribe.
Is AncestryDNA Traits worth it?
The traits on your report may not always reflect reality. For example, your traits report may say you have curly hair, but maybe you really have straight hair. That doesn’t mean the report is wrong, but the genes that are looked at for the particular trait don’t necessarily tell the whole story. Environmental factors can also play a role in your traits, and scientists are still learning how your environment and your genes (some of which we still don’t know about) all play a factor.
Keeping this in mind, AncestryDNA Traits may still be worth it for you if you want to learn more about how your genes may have influenced some of your behavioral or physical traits, AncestryDNA Traits can be a good option. And it’s sure a fun family history conversation-starter with your relatives!
Want to know more about where your ancestors came from? You’ll need to understand your ethnicity results. We can help with our free guide for understanding your ethnicity results.
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