For a long time, at least since I first read Stephen Oppenheimer’s Out of Eden, I’ve wanted to have my mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA, the DNA passed on from mother to child) and Y chromosome (passed on from father to son) tested. Why? I don’t know – I think it’s the same urge that makes people do genealogy.
When I checked last time, a simple test cost around £300. I did a quick Google search, and it seems prices have come down a bit:
- DNA Worldwide have both an mtDNA and a Y-chromosome test, both costing £180. They claim to determine sub-haplogroups, thus determining the location much more precisely.
- Oxford Ancestors” seem to charge about the same amount, but they have more options (but possibly less detail).
- GeneTree have the same stuff again, this time at $245 (£123) apiece. Not sure whether it’s a problem they’re in the US, though.
I guess it’s still a bit expensive, so I ought to wait a few years longer. 🙁