"Ancestry tests" are sold by many companies. There are significant limitations to these tests. Why is this the case?

Human Heredity: Principles and Issues (MindTap Course List)
11th Edition
ISBN:9781305251052
Author:Michael Cummings
Publisher:Michael Cummings
Chapter5: The Inheritance Of Complex Traits
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 13QP: If there is no genetic variation within a population for a given trait, what is the heritability for...
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"Ancestry tests" are sold by many companies. There
are significant limitations to these tests. Why is this
the case?
High rates of gene flow between populations reduce
the reliability with which any sequence can
demonstrate membership in one particular population.
Evaluating too few genetic loci, of which just a small
number happen to be similar, can lead to the
conclusion that individuals are much more genetically
similar than they actually are.
A DNA match between two individuals living today is
not a match with an ancestor. Rather, it suggests that
the two people may have inherited the DNA sequence
from a common ancestor.
all of these are limitations to "Ancestry tests"
O High genetic variation among individuals within most
populations makes it difficult to identify specific
sequences that can reliably indicate membership in a
population.
Transcribed Image Text:"Ancestry tests" are sold by many companies. There are significant limitations to these tests. Why is this the case? High rates of gene flow between populations reduce the reliability with which any sequence can demonstrate membership in one particular population. Evaluating too few genetic loci, of which just a small number happen to be similar, can lead to the conclusion that individuals are much more genetically similar than they actually are. A DNA match between two individuals living today is not a match with an ancestor. Rather, it suggests that the two people may have inherited the DNA sequence from a common ancestor. all of these are limitations to "Ancestry tests" O High genetic variation among individuals within most populations makes it difficult to identify specific sequences that can reliably indicate membership in a population.
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