DNA ethnicity results are popular with test-takers. Living DNA charts your ancestral locations over time, so you see where your ancestors were from at different points deep in human history.

Where did I come from? This is a fundamental human question, and it is driving millions of individuals all over the world to have their DNA tested. Now, I know you have heard me say that these kinds of results are just for fun, and don’t hold much genealogical value, but due to some interesting developments in the world of DNA, my previous ascertains of these ethnic origins results might be changing. Here’s one example of how that’s happening.

Living DNA ethnicity timeline

Living DNA is a company based in the UK that launched their DNA product in the fall of 2016. Right now, all they are focusing on is reporting ethnic origins information. But they are doing it in a very different way.

In addition to the standard map that you will see at any genetic genealogy company, Living DNA also offers a tool they call “Through History” and it literally takes you step-by-step back in time to show you how similar your DNA is to others on earth during time periods ranging from 1,000 years ago to 80,000 years ago:

In these images we see a glimpse into my earliest time period, a peek at the middle, and a view of the last. The intensity of the blue on the chart tells you how genetically similar I am to the people in that area. In the first chart, you can see that since I am 100% European, I share DNA with, well, people from Europe! But, as you know, if we go back not very far, I am sharing DNA with people in the Middle East and Russia. As my DNA marches further back in time I can see that I am sharing that DNA with people in a variety of locations, until we get back to the beginning of man, and I am sharing DNA with literally everyone in the world.

So, how does this work from a DNA standpoint? Well, the fact is, not all DNA markers are created equally. Some markers have developed relatively recently in our biological timeline, making them helpful for determining recent relationships and modern populations. Others have been around longer, linking us to early settlers of Europe or even Asia. Still others link us together as a human race and help to track our origins back to a single time and place.

Part of the struggle that these DNA testing companies have is trying to figure out the time and place for each of the markers they test. Certainly part of the puzzle is the ability to look not just at modern day populations, but ancient populations. You may have heard of some recent reports that scientists have completed DNA testing on ancient remains. One example came from Ireland where they were able to determine that the individual tested had ancestry in the Middle East, and another from Russia. The combined efforts of both ancient DNA testing, and your own modern samples unite to help us improve our understanding of our own personal origins, as well help us understand how humankind developed and evolved.

To get the most out of your genetic genealogy populations report, you may want to view your results in the context of a more historical timeline, as opposed to your own genealogical timeline, like what you’ll find at Living DNA.

More tips for looking at your ethnicity results in different ways

There’s lots more to learn about ethnicity results! We’ve compiled our free Ethnicity Quick Start guide to help YOU learn what to do next. You’ll learn applicable tips for how to use your DNA ethnicity results and feel like a pro in no time!

Get A Free Guide to DNA Ethnicity Results

Originally published February 2017 on genealogygems.com.