# The DNA Ancestry Project (Genebase)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dna-ancestry-project-genebase/430487>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 18, 2007, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dna-ancestry-project-genebase/430487 "2007-12-18T19:03:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Vision\_of\_Love](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Vision\_of\_Love](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vision_of_Love)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dna-ancestry-project-genebase/430487/1 "2007-12-18T19:03:32Z")

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So I’ve been seeing a ton of holiday ads for this product:

[DNA Ancestry Project](http://www.dnaancestryproject.com)

It’s something that I’m really interested in doing but the thought of giving a company my genetic information doesn’t sit right with me. I also want to try out the Google-backed [23andMe](https://www.23andme.com), but then again, privacy concerns, not to mention that $999 price tag.

I don’t really know what my actual question is. First, is it “safe” or would you have too many concerns with the procedure? Is it worth my time and money? What have been your experiences?

If this fits better in IMHO, please move it. I’m not really sure myself.

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**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2007, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dna-ancestry-project-genebase/430487/2 "2007-12-18T19:22:14Z")

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I took part in the National Geographic funded [Genographic](https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/) project for a lot less money. Its $99 now, but I think it was $75 when I took part. I got pegged as a descendant of European Cro-Magons from 35,000 years ago (Haplogroup R1b), which given my more recent German/Danish/English/Scottish ancestry wasn’t much of a surprise but still interesting. I didn’t have any worries about privacy because I trust the National Geographic not to run a shady operation.

Anyhow, understand that any genealogical information that you’ll get back will only your father’s father’s father’s etc and mother’s mother’s mother’s etc. So you don’t really get a full picture of your complete ancestry.