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Discover the family story your DNA can tell

Discover the family story your DNA can tell


Auckland, New Zealand, 2 June, 2015 – AncestryDNA – part of Ancestry, the world’s largest online family history resource, has launched in New Zealand today revolutionising the way Kiwis discover more about themselves and their family history, and how they connect with relatives they didn’t know existed.

AncestryDNA uses advanced DNA technology to reveal genetic ethnicity and uncover new family connections with other people who have taken the test. When combined with Ancestry’s existing database of over 16 billion records and 60 million family trees globally, this creates the ultimate family history resource.

People from all over the world have migrated to our fair shores and now call New Zealand home. The international database will thus be of huge benefit to Kiwi users, with tales of exciting discovery waiting to be uncovered. The database will continue to grow even further when AncestryDNA launches in other countries later in 2015.

Following earlier releases in the US, UK and Ireland, AncestryDNA now has a database with DNA samples from over 850,000 people, many of whom have discovered fascinating and sometimes surprising information about their own heritage.

The Science

The AncestryDNA test uses microarray-based autosomal DNA testing, which surveys a person’s entire genome at over 700,000 locations via a simple saliva sample. Analysis of the DNA data provides a prediction of the locations of ancestors from 26 separate world-wide populations including Great Britain and Ireland, Europe, Scandinavia, Asia and South and North Africa.

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In contrast to Y-chromosome or mitochondrial DNA tests, which only test one line of your family and generally provide information about ancestry several thousand years ago, the AncestryDNA autosomal test targets the last few hundred or thousand years. With New Zealand being such a young country, this is of key importance, as it enables people to learn more about their more recent family history.

AncestryDNA can also help people identify relationships with unknown relatives through a list of possible DNA member matches. These results are a great starting point for additional research, collaboration, and to help people expand their family trees.

Ancestry subscribers across New Zealand will also have the opportunity to use new online interface tools to link their DNA results with their existing family trees and research. With millions of family trees online at Ancestry, more people than ever before will now be able to connect with new relatives and share their results.

Catherine Ball, Vice President, Genomics and Bioinformatics at Ancestry, comments: “New Zealand is such an important market for this product. The state-of-the-art technology finds relatives who share ancestors within the last few hundred years, which will help those in such a young country discover more about themselves than ever before. Also, and most excitingly, when used in conjunction with existing Ancestry services, the testing provides an exciting opportunity to discover and connect with new relatives – wherever they are based across the world. As more customers are added to the network, this network of connections will only continue to grow.”

Brad Argent, Commercial Development Director, Ancestry, comments: “AncestryDNA provides people with a unique and engaging experience that helps them make amazing discoveries about their family history – it’s the perfect marriage of history and science. We can’t wait to hear about the stories that come out of New Zealand – as a melting pot of all different cultures, we know there are some amazing discoveries waiting to be made.”

Costing AU$149, plus shipping, AncestryDNA test results take from 6-8 weeks to be delivered. Tests are available for purchase at www.dna.ancestry.com.au

ENDS

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