How to analyze your raw DNA data

How do I read my 23andMe raw data?

Analysis is a repeated two-step: take one rsID, look up what research says about it, then read your own genotype against that. Do this for the positions you care about and you have interpreted your data. If that idea is new, start with how to read and interpret a single line.

How can I analyze my raw DNA data for free?

You can, by hand. Every position in your file has a public record you can read for free:

• SNPedia for a plain-language summary of what a SNP is associated with.
• dbSNP for the reference record and allele details.
• The GWAS Catalog for the studies linking a SNP to a trait.

This is accurate and costs nothing. The catch is time: a file has hundreds of thousands of positions, so looking them up one by one is slow and assumes you are comfortable reading research. It is best when you have a handful of specific rsIDs in mind.

What is the fastest way to interpret raw DNA data?

A report tool does the lookups in bulk: it maps thousands of positions to plain-English, sourced results at once, so you get the whole picture in minutes instead of doing manual research. PossibleGenome works this way from your existing file, shows the source behind each result, never stores your raw DNA, and is a one-time $19 rather than a subscription. If you are weighing options, we compare the main tools honestly, including alternatives to Promethease, on our comparison page.

Does the method differ by provider?

The idea is the same for 23andMe, AncestryDNA, and FamilyTreeDNA: all three give you a file of rsIDs and genotypes, so the same rsID means the same thing regardless of who tested you. The differences are cosmetic, mainly the file layout and how you download it. See the download steps for 23andMe, AncestryDNA, or FamilyTreeDNA.

More guides

• How to read and interpret your raw DNA data
• What's inside your 23andMe or AncestryDNA raw data file
• What your raw DNA data can and cannot tell you