Trace your ancestry back ten generations with Living DNA

Many of us are fascinated by our family history. We’ve all drawn out family trees during school years and spent countless hours admiring black and white photographs of our grandparents. But do you really know where you came from?

Since time travel is not an option, we have discovered the next best thing: Living DNA.

Developed by world-leading scientists and academics, Living DNA has created a heritage test that can unlock a person’s genetic code and their link with the past. In fact, this is the world’s first genealogy test that pinpoints an individual’s antecedents to 80 worldwide regions, including 21 areas in the UK. Users can not only trace back over 10 generations, but also see how their ancestry has evolved over time and where sharers of their DNA group are located today.

This incredible journey begins when you order a kit, priced at £99, containing everything needed for a DNA swab, and providing lifetime membership of Living DNA’s online platform. Once a sample has been received, the company’s labs use the latest technology to analyse over 680,000 “markers”, ensuring the most sophisticated of outcomes. Of course the are other companies offering a similar service, so it’s easy to have another DNA testing, too.

Results cover up to three areas of DNA: family ancestry, motherline and fatherline, presented through interactive diagrams. These are easy to understand and often reveal surprising findings. Whilst 50% of our DNA is passed down from our mother and 50% from our father, we also receive variable amounts from our more distant ancestors, which is where things get interesting!

Living DNA has developed a unique method that reveals the diversity of your lineage as you go back through time. This allows you to see how we are interrelated and comprise a remarkable mix of DNA from around the world. The test also looks at your motherline haplogroup (a collection of related family lines you are connected to through your mtDNA). Intriguingly, we share a common ancestor with everyone in our haplogroup. The journey that these ancient ancestors could have taken as they spread across the globe, as well as the countries in which your haplogroup is most commonly found today, is also presented.

It is safe to say that Living DNA provides an exciting and thought-provoking service. Why not give it a try yourself?

Rebekah Absalom
Photos: Courtesy of Living DNA

For further information on Living DNA visit here.