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What is the difference between Y-DNA STRs and Y-DNA SNPs?
| Y-DNA STR | Y-DNA SNP | |
| Stands for | Short Tandem Repeat | Single Nucleotide Polymorphism |
| Where it's found | Y-DNA | Y-DNA |
| Rate of mutation (change) | ~ one change every 20 generations | ~ one change every few thousand years |
| Line traced | Tracing recent ancestry and predicting haplogroup (ancient ancestry) |
• Confirming haplogroup (ancient ancestry) • Confirming subclade • Fine tuning placement in phylogenetic tree |
| Other uses | Database comparisons: • DNA Reunion • Indigenous DNA • DNA Archaeology |
Only used for haplogroup and subclade classification / confirmation |
| Advantages | Good starting point. Has many general uses and can predict haplogroup. | The only way to confirm a haplogroup. Can give further refinement through Subclade determination. |
| Disadvantages | Cannot confirm haplogroup. Haplogroup prediction is not always strong. Weak predictions are not reliable. | Only provides haplogroup and subclade classification information. Not useful for recent ancestry. |
| Comparisons | Individuals who share the same STR profile likely recently related. | Individuals who share the same SNPs not necessarily recently related as SNPs are used to trace deep ancestry. |
| Test types | Y-DNA STR marker test Choose from 20, 44, 67 or 91 markers. You can either test all 91 markers at once or you can start with less markers and then upgrade and test more markers at a later date as needed. |
Y-DNA SNP Backbone test Y-DNA SNP Subclade test (Subclade tests available for haplogroups A, B, C, D, I and R). Y-DNA SNP Stand Alone Test (order one SNP at a time as new SNPs are discovered in the future to refine your results) |
If you have not tested yet, order your test at Genetrack.
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