Compare Technologies
Comparison table for 3 main types of DNA markers.
This chart compares the features, benefits, and limitations of each DNA test type to help you decide on the marker type(s) best suited for your situation.
| Autosomal DNA | Y-DNA | mtDNA | |
| Who can take this test | Males and Females | Males only | Males and Females |
| Ability to identify immediate family members |
Yes Will identify the following biological relatives:
|
No Can find close and distant relatives, but cannot distinguish how you are related. |
No Can find close and distant relatives, but cannot distinguish how you are related. |
| Ability to distinguish relationship types | Yes | No | No |
| Lines traced |
Multiple lines Will detect all immediate family members from all lineages in both the mother and father's sides of the family. |
Traces one line only (father's, father's, father's... line). Will not detect people outside of this single line (i.e. will not detect relatives in your father's mother's side) |
Traces one line only (mother's, mother's, mother's... line). Will not detect people outside of this single line (i.e. will not detect relatives in your mother's father's side) |
| Ability to find relatives on paternal line | Yes | Yes | No |
| Ability to find relatives on maternal line | Yes | No | Yes |
| Ability to find relatives in mutiple lines in the family | Yes. Will identify close relatives in more than one line such as your mother's father and your father's mother. | No. Direct paternal line (father's, father's, father...) only. | No. Direct maternal line (mother's, mother's, mother...) only. |
| Limitations | Cannot find distant relatives. Can only trace immediate family. |
Can only trace along a single line: the paternal line (father's, father's father...). Cannot distinguish relationship type. |
Can only trace along a single line: the maternal line (mother's, mother's mother...). Cannot distinguish relationship type. |
| Chances of finding matches | Low Autosomal DNA searching is very specific. Only your immediate family will show up in search results. Distant relatives cannot be searched using Autosomal DNA. |
High All males who shared a common paternal line as you within the last 150 generations will show up in the search results, so chances are much higher that you will see matches. |
High All individuals who shared a common maternal line as you will show up in the search results, so chances are much higher that you will see matches. |
Compare these three technologies »
DNA Reunion is a free international DNA registry for people from around the world to find family members and family connections using DNA.
If you have not tested yet, order your test at Genetrack.