Genetic ancestry is based upon a person's DNA, which can be traced back to the genetic sequences of their ancestors. So, if a person's ancestry report says they are 34% East Asian, then that means that person has genetic DNA most similar to the population of many of the people living in that geographic location now.

How far back your ancestry DNA tests go depends upon the type of DNA being tested, the type of DNA test used, and the test's sensitivity. Most people can learn about their maternal and paternal ancestry as far back as six to ten generations.

23andme is as accurate as AncestryDNA and also provides the migration paths for maternal and paternal lineages. But its DNA database is smaller than AncestryDNA's, and the company monetizes the biomedical data of customers who opt in to research.

They give different results Because of the aforementioned different kinds of DNA the tests examine, the results you get also differ. AncestryDNA just provides an ethnic breakdown of your DNA through an interactive map, while 23andMe does this and much more.

The Emmy Award-winning documentary series "Who Do You Think You Are?" features celebrities as they navigate through incredibly personal journeys to unlock the mysteries of their ancestors. Whether inspiring, courageous, or tragic, what's discovered is sure to change each participant's life forever.

Today, Ancestry is considered a major technology company rather than a genealogical company. Though the company has done numerous amount of collaborations with the LDS church's non-profit organization Familysearch.org, it has never been owned by the church itself.

In 2001, Mormon billionaire James Sorenson started one of the earliest genetic test kit companies, Relative Genetics, in part due to his religious interests. It was later bought by Ancestry.com, another Mormon company. While today, Ancestry is a publicly traded company, it uses LDS church records and the IGI.

The alleged idea was that church members could use such records to identify and posthumously baptize ancestors, who might join them in the afterlife. The Church has claimed that its longtime interest in digitizing historical records isn't some religious plot but an effort to connect people with their past.

Enjoy your Ancestry account! As a free Registered Guest, you can access some of the features on Ancestry. However, a membership could help you make more discoveries and build your family tree(s) beyond what you already know. Different memberships give you access to different records.

genealogy The study of ancestry records and other aspects of a family's history. People who work in this field are known as genealogists. generation A group of individuals (in any species) born at about the same time or that are regarded as a single group.

about 150 years Native American tribes hold dear the concept of seven generations planning, that the impact of decisions should be considered out seven generations into the future, about 150 years. The idea is that our decisions today should consider the potential benefits or harm that would be felt by seven future generations.

At the usually accepted value of four generations per century, ten generations would place the common ancestor only 250 years in the past, in the mid-18th century, suggesting a further search in records of that period for evidence pointing toward the relationship.

Our top picks:

• Best Overall DNA Testing Kit. AncestryDNA Genetic Test Kit.
• Best Value DNA Testing Kit. MyHeritage DNA Test Kit.
• Best DNA Testing Kit for Deep Results. Nebula Genomics Deep Genetic Test Kit & Microbiome Analysis.
• Best DNA Testing Kit for Health. 23andMe Health + Ancestry Service.
• Best DNA Testing Kit for Regions.

Best for Most DNA Matches: AncestryDNA. Why we chose it: AncestryDNA has one of the most extensive databases of all DNA test kit providers, with 56,280 profiles worldwide. AncestryDNA testing functions separately but is a subsidiary of Ancestry.com, a well-established online genealogical resource.

Though it's possible that it's a mistake, it's extremely unlikely. Relationship predictions are almost always accurate for people who are second cousins or closer.

Our top picks:

• Best Overall DNA Testing Kit. AncestryDNA Genetic Test Kit.
• Best Value DNA Testing Kit. MyHeritage DNA Test Kit.
• Best DNA Testing Kit for Deep Results. Nebula Genomics Deep Genetic Test Kit & Microbiome Analysis.
• Best DNA Testing Kit for Health. 23andMe Health + Ancestry Service.
• Best DNA Testing Kit for Regions.