Main DNA tests in the market

Differences between technologies for genetic analysis

When it comes to genomics, we can find different types of technologies that provide different results. Organizing from the less to the more complex technology we can find genotyping, panel of genes, whole exome sequencing and whole genome sequencing.

Genetic testing direct to consumers

Companies such as ADNTRO, 23andMe, MyHeritage, TellmeGen, Ancestry and a few others, base their analysis on genotyping technologies and offer, what is called, direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic tests that determine differences in genetic complement by comparing the positions of DNA with that of another sample or a reference sequence. It identifies small variations in genetic sequence within populations, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP).

In order to genotype a DNA array is needed. In this array are found the probes that have the complementary sequence of each polymorphism. The number of genetic variants analyzed change according to the type or DNA microarray. At ADNTRO we analyze 700,000 polymorphisms (SNPs) of your DNA by using the "Global Screening Array" or GSA, from the Illumina company together with genetic algorithms that allow us to impute your results and analyze up to 20M markers. By analyzing those genetic variants, we can provide a polygenic risk score that tells you your genetic predisposition to complex diseases, to metabolize the active principle of medical drugs, to convert beta-carotenes to vitamin A, etc

Clinical diagnostic tests

On the other hand, if we go to the clinical area the approach is different.

If we want to know which genetic variants might have clinical implications, we will need different technologies: gene panels, whole exome sequencing or whole genome sequencing, depending on the medical purpose. The data obtained will get up to the complete sequencing of the genome (Whole Genome Sequencing). We can analyze its complete DNA (3,200,000,000 positions), and together with complex bioinformatic analysis will be a useful information for the doctor for clinical diagnosis. Some companies have this kind of analysis available like Nebula Genomics and also ADNTRO.

Among the direct-to-consumer DNA tests available in the market, which are the best companies to consider?

We will review the different features of each one, analyzing the reports available, their purchase options and prices, if it is possible to load raw data from other companies, if they offer other services and the way the information is presented (design and user experience). At the end of the article, you will find a comparative table summarizing what each company has to offer.

ADNTRO GENETICS

ADNTRO is a Spanish company, founded in 2020. We base the analysis on Y-DNA (Y Chromosome), mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA), really important to identify haplogroups, and autosomal DNA testing using GSA Array technology from Illumina, that extracts 700,000 markers and with the support of genetic algorithms impute to analyze up to 20M markers that let us provide accurate information about predisposition in many areas.

Genetic Report Categories available:

1. Ancestry patterns (genetic admixture and Ancestral shape), Genetic origins, composition, Haplogroups, heterozygosity ratio.
2. Nutrition and personalized guides with dietary recommendations (including predisposition to obesity, food intolerances and allergies).
3. Fitness and injury risk (sports performance guide).
4. Personality: Behavioural genetics and other behavioral traits like happiness hormones…
5. Age Better: (Telomeres length, skin aging, sleep and chronotype)
6. Level of relatedness between your samples
7. Other innovative studies: (Reaction to mosquito bite, Pain Scale, Ayurveda…)
8. Pharmacogenetics: learn how medicaments affect your body (efficacy / toxicity)
9. Health: predisposition and protection against diseases

Different tests offered and prices:

• ADNTRO Entry Kit (Ancestry and origins, Nutrition) - 89€.

• ADNTRO Basic Kit (Ancestry, Nutrition, Sports, Longevity and curious studies) - 99€.

• Premium Pack ADNTRO (Ancestry, NutritionSports, Longevity and curious studies, Personality, Pharmacogenetics, Protection and predisposition to complex diseases) - 149€.

Access and upload of raw data: you can get your raw data from the platform and upload your raw data from other companies.

WGS, WES: Offers clinical genetic diagnosis

Regular updates of genetic information based on new research: Monthly updates for your genetic information for a year

Report layout: informative with educational approach, user friendly and easy to understand and with recommendations in some areas.

23andMe

23andMe is one of the first DTC DNA testing companies founded in the United States in 2006. It screens DNA based on Y-DNA (Y chromosome), mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA) and autosomal DNA tests using Illumina Infinium® Global Screening Array and analyze more than 600,000 SNPs.

Genetic Report Categories available:

1. Ancestry
   • DNA Relative Finder
   • Family Tree Builder
2. Traits
3. Wellness reports (only available in the US)
4. Health Reports (only available in the US)
5. Pharmacogenetic reports (only available in the US)

Different tests offered and prices:

• Ancestry and traits - $99

• Health and Ancestry - $199 (only available in USA)

• 23andMe+( Health and Ancestry) - 228$ (only available in USA)

Access and upload of raw data: You can get your Raw data from the platform, however it does not accept Raw data from other companies.

WGS, WES: It does not offer clinical genetic diagnosis.

Regular updates of genetic information based on new research: if you purchase their annual subscription model, you get access to updates (only available in the US)

Report layout: Informative and educational approach.

MyHeritage

MyHeritage is a popular consumer DNA testing service focused on family history. It uses llumina's Global Screening Array (GSA) and analyzes around 700000 SNPs.

Genetic Report Categories available:

1. Ancestry Origins (MyHeritage Kit and Full Plan)
2. DNA Relative Finder (Complete Plan)
3. Family Tree Builder (Complete Plan)
4. Check Historical Data (Complete Plan)
5. Photo Tools and Deep Nostalgia TM (Full Plan)

Different tests offered and prices:

• MyHeritage Kit (Origins and parentage finder) - 89€.

• Full Plan - 199 €* with 199 € automatic subscription renewed every year

Access and upload of raw data: You can get your Raw data from the platform and upload Raw data from another company.

WGS, WES: Does not offer clinical genetic diagnosis

Regular updates of genetic information based on new research: Only available when purchasing their annual subscription model.

Report layout: Informative

TellmeGen

TellmeGen is a Spanish company founded in 2014 dedicated to personalized genetic analysis and preventive health. Through its genetic analysis platform, the company offers users information about their genetic profile, predispositions to certain diseases and some drug reactions.

Genetic Report Categories available:

1. Ancestry
2. Welfare reports
3. Personal trait reports
4. Pharmacogenetic reports
5. Report of genetic predisposition to diseases

Different tests offered and prices:

• DNA Starter Kit - 89€ - Includes ancestry, wellness and personal traits

• DNA Advanced Kit - 149€ - Includes all available reports

Access and upload of raw data: You can get your Raw data from the platform and load Raw data from another company.

WGS, WES: It does not offer clinical genetic diagnosis.

Regular updates of genetic information based on new research: Free forever with all your plans.

Report Design: Informative

Ancestry

AncestryDNA (Ancestry) was one of the first direct-to-consumer DNA testing companies founded in 1983. The company uses an autosomal testing service that analyzes 700,000 markers that provide information about a user's ethnicity.

Genetic Report Categories available:

1. Origins+ Ethnicity
2. DNA Matches (Connect with other people who share your DNA)
3. Personal traits

Different tests offered and prices:

• Ancestry DNA - 99$

• World Explorer Membership+Ancestry DNA - 100$ * with 79,95$ automatic subscription renewed every 3 months

• AncestryDNA® Traits + Full Access Subscription - 199 $ * with automatic subscription renewed every 3 months

Access and upload of raw data: You can get your Raw data from the platform, however it does not accept Raw data from other companies

WGS, WES: Does not offer clinical genetic diagnosis

Regular updates of genetic information based on new research: Information is updated for 3 months and then can be accessed only after subscription.

Report Design: Educational

Comparative table of different DNA tests available on the market

INFORMATION
Ancestry Genetic makeup Estimated ancestry Maternal and paternal haplogroups Heterozygosity ratio Neanderthal and Denisovan Ancestry	✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅	❌ ✅ ✅ ❌ ✅	❌ ✅ ✅ ❌ ❌	❌ ✅ ✅ ❌ ±	❌ ✅ ❌ ❌ ❌
Nutrigenetics and recommendations Genetic diets Intolerances Vitamins Minerals Recommended foods	✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅	❌ ± ✅ ❌ ❌	❌ ❌ ❌ ❌ ❌	❌ ± ± ❌ ❌	❌ ± ± ❌ ❌
Sports/Fitness Sports performance Predisposition to injury Recommended sports	✅ ✅ ✅	± ❌ ❌	❌ ❌ ❌	± ± ❌	± ❌ ❌
Personality Behavioural Genetics Predisposition to addictions Hormones	✅ ✅ ✅	❌ ± ❌	❌ ❌ ❌	❌ ± ❌	❌ ❌ ❌
Age Better (Skin and Sleep) Longevity Sleep reports	✅ ✅	❌ ✅	❌ ❌	❌ ❌	❌ ❌
Others studies Innovators Mosquito Bite, Ayurveda, Pain Scale Play with your DNA-Conway Entropy of your DNA	✅ ✅ ✅	± ❌ ❌	❌ ❌ ❌	✅ ❌ ❌	❌ ❌ ❌
Pharmacogenetics Metabolization by GWAS CPIC Recommendations	✅ ✅	✅ ❌	❌ ❌	✅ ❌	❌ ❌
Health Predisposition to diseases	✅	± (not in EU)	❌	✅	❌
Relationship between samples	✅	✅	✅	❌	✅
Family search engine	❌	✅	✅	±	✅
More than 700k markers and Illumina technology	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌
Sample report available	✅	❌	❌	✅	✅
Raw file upload from other companies	✅	❌	✅	✅	❌
WGS, WES available on the platform for clinical diagnostics	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌
Periodic updates	✅	✅	±	±	❓
Genetic data shared with other companies	❌	✅(Glaxo SmithKline)	❓	❓	❓
Price range	89$-149$	99$-199$	89$	89$-149$	79$-149$

Conclusion

Currently traded companies like 23andMe or MyHeritage with thousands of employees and years on the market have, objectively a high-quality report on ancestry; nonetheless, they haven´t innovated to extract as much information as possible from your genetic code. Obviously, this article has been written by the ADNTRO team, but we have done an objective analysis, comparing many factors and we consider that ADNTRO is the best test as has the most complete reports in all categories available in the market, with the best didactic and user friendly platform and with the most affordable price, as result of the vision of our company to democratize the accessibility to the genetic code and give the opportunity to everybody to learn and know themselves better.