A global survey conducted among 7,200 people in 18 countries, including 400 Americans, now shows that 6 out of 10 Americans think the most you can trace their ancestry back to is three countries.
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But if you think you’re from just three countries, you’re likely mistaken. According to Brad Argent, spokesperson at AncestryDNA, the world’s largest provider of personal DNA testing, our origin and inner geographical map is far more complex.
"The findings from the survey confirms our experience with people who want to understand their DNA genealogy profile. Most people are very surprised when they find out that their geographical background is more diverse than expected. We, on average, have genetic roots in four global regions, which far exceeds the notion of three countries."
At momondo, they are pleased that DNA insights can lend context to the global survey: "With the survey we wanted to find out whether people knew of their ancestry. We hypothesized people may have underestimated their ancestral diversity. And it all indicates that we are more connected to the rest of the world than we realize – it is our aim to focus on that," says Lasse Skole Hansen from momondo and elaborates:
"We have therefore initiated a project with AncestryDNA to give people from all over the world the opportunity to take a DNA test and thus find out where they actually come from," concludes Hansen.
As part of the initiative, momondo in April 2016 invited 67 ordinary people from all over the world to take part in a project, which was documented on film. People were offered to take a DNA test to find out more about their ancestry. And they told about their hopes of what the test would reveal. Some weeks later they were invited back, and their results were revealed.
"The project confirmed that many of us do not know our full ancestry. And it also showed that knowing how diverse we in fact are can be an eye-opener and even change our view of who we are and who people from other nations are," says Hansen.
Now 500 people worldwide will get the opportunity to take a DNA test, reveal their own DNA genetic origins and thus find out where they come from. Among them, one winner will get the opportunity to take a DNA journey and visit the regions from which they originate. ■
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