23andMe

23andMe has a mission to help access, understand and benefit from the human genome. By using the advances in DNA analysis, 23andMe wants to help every person have an informed knowledge into their backgrounds.

How 23andMe Works

It is easy to get a complete evaluation of your DNA from 23andMe. There are no needles and no blood test, just a saliva test. They will send you their home based saliva test kit that you will send back to their DNA lab for analysis. Customers just have to follow these three easy steps:

• Order: Choose which of their two kits you would like to order from 23andMe. The saliva collection kit is basically the same for both of their services. Their kit will arrive within 3 to 5 days, and they also offer express shipping.
• Spit: Simply follow the instructions that come with the kit, and spit into the tube that they provide, all from the comfort of your own home. You will then register your saliva collection tube using the barcode so they know it belongs to you. Then mail it back to 23andMe in the pre-paid package.
• Discover: In about 6 to 8 weeks, 23andMe will send you an email letting you know that your DNA report is ready. Just log into your account and start discovering what your DNA says about you.

The 23andMe kit contains the following items:

• Saliva collection kit
• Specimen bag
• Step by step instructions
• Funnel lid
• Saliva collection tube
• Tube cap
• Tube container

23andMe Standards

23andMe follows these rigorous standards:

• Their carrier status tests meets FDA criteria for being scientifically and clinically valid.
• All of the saliva samples they receive are processed in CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited labs.
• Their medical experts and scientists use a rigorous process to develop the reports.
• Genotyping is a reliable platform for analyzing DNA.
• Ancestry percentages are derived from our well-tested system that provides you with ancestry estimates down to the 0.1%.

Privacy and security is of great importance to 23andMe that include:

• They will not share your data with anyone without your explicit consent.
• The federal law (GINA) provides protection from employer and health insurance discrimination based on your genetics.
• They will not share your information to any law enforcement agency unless ordered to comply with a valid subpoena or court order.

23andMe Prices

23andMe offers the following two plans with these features.

Ancestry Service

• Cost $99
• Customers will get a breakdown of their global ancestry by percentages.
• See where your ancestors lived 500+ years ago.
• See how each of your biological parents contributed to your Ancestry.

Health + Ancestry Service

• Cost $199
• Includes an even more comprehensive understanding of your genetics.
• This report also contains health traits of you and your ancestors.

23andMe Coupons

• Current Promotions at 23andMe
• Get 20% Off When You Order 2 Kits at 23andMe

Ancestry.com

Ancestry.com is a complete genealogy website where people can subscribe and add to their family tree with pictures, names and information. Other relatives can also join in on a family tree and their own information. In addition to this service, Ancestry.com can also do a DNA test for customers to get a complete historical and genealogical background.

 Ancestry.com Family Tree

Starting your family tree and researching your family tree is easy at Ancestry.com. You can start to trace your family tree with the following features:

• Start with what you know. Enter in a few family members to your family tree and Ancestry.com will start a search in their records.
• Looking for the leaf. Their leaf is a hint that means they have found something interesting that could match your ancestors.
• View the hint. Once you view the leaf hints, you will be able to add new ancestors to your tree or even find new ones you did not know about.
• Watch your family story emerge. The more family members you add, the more hints you will get. The more your family tree grows; your family history will become clearer.

Ancestry.com DNA Testing

Ancestry.com also offers a DNA testing package that will help all customers find out about their ancestry past. For a cost of $99, their DNA ancestry service is easy to follow with these easy steps:

• Order their kit with easy to follow instructions.
• Customers can then return a saliva sample in a prepaid envelope.
• Your DNA will then be analyzed at more than 700,000 genetic markers.
• Within about 6 to 8 weeks, you will be notified of a link to view all of the DNA results from your test.

With Ancestry.com DNA tests, customers can uncover the following:

• Their ethnic mix with a complete breakdown of your ethnicity.
• They have more than 2 million people in their database and the unique ability to connect with Ancestry’s billions of historical records and millions of family trees, Ancestry DNA can help deliver the richest family stories, and solve the toughest family mysteries.

Security is of primary importance, and they use industry standard practices to store your DNA samples and DNA test results.

Ancestry.com Subscription Prices

Ancestry.com also has the following subscription plans and prices:

• U.S. Discovery: For a cost of $19.99 per month or $99 per year, customers can access all United States records on their database.
• World Explorer: For a price of $34.99 per month of $149 per year, you can Access all U.S. and international records on Ancestry.com.
• All Access costs $44.99 per month or $199 per year. With this plan members get full access to Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com, Fold3.com and Ancestry Academy.

Ancestry.com Coupons

• 14 Day Risk-Free Trial at Ancestry.com
• Extra 25% off The Companion Guide to Family Tree Maker Mac 2-$11.99 at Ancestry.com

Family Tree DNA

Family Tree DNA is also a DNA company that can research your DNA. They have numerous PhD Geneticist on their board.

Family Tree DNA Plans and Pricing

Family Tree DNA offers many DNA plans with the following features.

• Family Finder: With a simple cheek swab, customers can find discover their roots, ethnic percentages and unlock their family history for $79.
• Y-DNA Fathers Line: You will be able to trace your paternal ancestry history with this test, and find your genetic matches in the world’s largest Y-DNA database for a cost of $169, for males only.
• mtDNA Ancestry Test: This DNA test will allow you to find out about your maternal ancestry history. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is passed down almost unchanged from a mother to her children. This lets you trace your maternal ancestry using the world's largest mtDNA database for a cost of $199.
• Autosomal Transfer: For $39, customers can discover new matches or unlock your entire family tree.

Their prices are rather confusing, unless you really know what you are looking for. For example their Family Finder tests start at $79 for autosomal, and the price does increase for more genetic markers. They do explain all of their DNA tests with the prices and what customers can expect to receive.