DNA: The Building Blocks of Life.

When you first look at your DNA results, you might be surprised, particularly if you compare your results to your siblings. After all, if you have the same parents, then your DNA should be pretty close. Right?

DNA: The Building Blocks of Life.

When you first look at your DNA results, you might be surprised, particularly if you compare your results to your siblings. After all, if you have the same parents, then your DNA should be pretty close. Right?

DNA: The Building Blocks of Life.

When you first look at your DNA results, you might be surprised, particularly if you compare your results to your siblings. After all, if you have the same parents, then your DNA should be pretty close. Right?

You probably already know that you inherit half of your DNA from your father and half from your mother.

You probably already know that you inherit half of your DNA from your father and half from your mother.

But your DNA carries so much information that there can be a lot of variation in what gets passed on.

Why don’t we look at it a different way?

But your DNA carries so much information that there can be a lot of variation in what gets passed on.

Why don’t we look at it a different way?

Let’s use names and letters as a metaphor for the DNA that family members share.

Imagine someone whose DNA “name” is ANDREW.

Imagine someone whose DNA “name” is ANDREW.

But when he and his wife, SANDRA, have children, he can only pass on half of that name to each child. In one son’s case, we’ll say that he passes on the D, the E, and the W.

But when he and his wife, SANDRA, have children, he can only pass on half of that name to each child. In one son’s case, we’ll say that he passes on the D, the E, and the W.

SANDRA passes on the letters A, D, and R, and those six letters combine to give their son the genetic “name” EDWARD.

SANDRA passes on the letters A, D, and R, and those six letters combine to give their son the genetic “name” EDWARD.

Meanwhile, another couple, GRAHAM and ELAINE, have a daughter named ANGELA. She inherited the G and two As in her name from her father and the E, L, and N from her mother.

Meanwhile, another couple, GRAHAM and ELAINE, have a daughter named ANGELA. She inherited the G and two As in her name from her father and the E, L, and N from her mother.

You still with me? Alright, let’s take it a step further.

You still with me? Alright, let’s take it a step further.

Let’s say a few years down the line, EDWARD and ANGELA get married and have kids of their own. Their DNA mixes to produce three children.

Let’s say a few years down the line, EDWARD and ANGELA get married and have kids of their own. Their DNA mixes to produce three children.

What’s interesting, though, is that even though all three of these children have the same two parents and the same four grandparents, the DNA they inherited is distinct.

What’s interesting, though, is that even though all three of these children have the same two parents and the same four grandparents, the DNA they inherited is distinct.

Some information shows up in every grandchild…

Some information shows up in every grandchild…

…but other pieces are nowhere to be found.

…but other pieces are nowhere to be found.

Of course, actual DNA is much more complex than this example. Here, we’re just looking at six-letter names, while the DNA we look at to make up your "genetic name" has hundreds of thousands of letters.

Of course, actual DNA is much more complex than this example. Here, we’re just looking at six-letter names, while the DNA we look at to make up your "genetic name" has hundreds of thousands of letters.

Of course, actual DNA is much more complex than this example. Here, we’re just looking at six-letter names, while the DNA we look at to make up your "genetic name" has hundreds of thousands of letters.

That’s why testing lots of people in your family can be helpful. Your father’s results might show an ethnicity that yours didn’t. Your sister’s results might connect you to even more cousins.

That’s why testing lots of people in your family can be helpful.

Your father’s results might show an ethnicity that yours didn’t.

By looking at your DNA results alongside your family’s, you can achieve a more complete view of your genetic history.

Your sister’s results might connect you to even more cousins.

By looking at your DNA results alongside your family’s, you can achieve a more complete view of your genetic history.

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As our database of DNA samples at Ancestry grows, we continue to hone our technology to recognize even more connections and bring more people together—and bringing people together is what Ancestry is all about.