Power and Limitations of Inferring Genetic Ancestry

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Bird, Nancy, King, Turi and Hellenthal, Garrett (2025) Power and Limitations of Inferring Genetic Ancestry. Annals of Human Genetics, 89 (5). pp. 264-273. ISSN 0003-4800

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Abstract

Background: The recent emergence of technologies that capture and analyse genetic variation patterns obtained from a person's DNA sample has led to numerous academic and commercial endeavours to infer individuals' ancestries. In theory, a person's genome contains a wealth of readily accessible information regarding their ancestors, despite only some of our ancestors contributing to the DNA we carry. This makes genetic tests an attractive alternative to the painstaking reconstruction of family trees or directly contacting long-lost relations, particularly when, unless there are notable individuals in the tree, historical and genealogical records tend to diminish in frequency with each generation. However, while powerful, there are limits to what genetic data can unearth, as well as important assumptions underlying these analyses. Methods: This review describes some of the early history and latest advances in techniques and data used to infer ancestry using genetics, highlighting both the power and limitations of current studies. Conclusion: While genetics is a powerful means of exploring aspects of people's ancestry, a stronger focus on conveying uncertainty will allow both academics and non-academics to avoid the ever-present risks of over-interpretation.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). Annals of Human Genetics published by University College London (UCL) and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Uncontrolled Keywords: genetics,genetics(clinical) ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1300/1311
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Biological Sciences
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Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 16 Mar 2026 13:30
Last Modified: 20 Mar 2026 01:21
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/102349
DOI: 10.1111/ahg.70007

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