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| Step 1 | |
| A swab of the inner cheek loosens
cells that contain DNA. |
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| | Step 2 |
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| From the cheek cells, DNA is extracted
from either the mitochondria (to test maternal lineage) or
the nucleus (to test paternal lineage or overall heritage). |
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|
| | Step 3 |
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| The DNA is replicated, chopped
into small pieces and split into single strands. One end of
the strands is marked with a dye. |
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|
| | Step 4 |
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| The ancestry tests use a gene chip
that contains tens to hundreds of types of DNA corresponding
to selected genetic ancestry markers. |
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|
| | Step 5 |
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| The chopped strands are placed
onto the gene chip. The strands only stick to spots on the
chip that have matching markers. |
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|
| | Step 6 |
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| Spots where the strands have stuck
will glow, and the pattern of spots can be compared by computer
to determine the person's genetic heritage. |
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