In the last 10 years, developments in DNA analysis have completely revolutionized how we see the human past. Working with archaeologists, anthropologists, and language experts, we’ve discovered some mind-blowing stuff just in the last few years that have changed how we see our species.

Here is some of the coolest research on DNA from our human past from 2020 and 2021.

Related: 10 Unexpected Results Of The Genealogy DNA Craze

10 Native Americans and Australasians Share Common Ancestry in Asia

Before we started analyzing ancient DNA, we used to think that early human migrations were way simpler. But discoveries in the last few years have shown just how wrong we were. We’re still learning how and when people first arrived in the Americas. In 2021, archaeologists in New Mexico found human footprints dating to 21,000–23,000 years ago, pushing back the date for the colonization of the Americas by thousands of years!

Analysis of the DNA from native Australians has already shown that a group, referred to as the Y population, shares some common ancestry with native people living in the Amazon today—but not Northern or Central America. A study published in 2021 uses one of the largest databases of South American DNA to work on this problem. They discovered that the ancestors of South Americans and Australians met and had children somewhere in East Asia before some of their descendants entered the Americas and traveled to the Amazon along the Pacific coastline. This would mean that humans entered the Americas from Asia at least twice.^[1]

9 Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Affected Modern Genetic Make-Up

DNA analysis has also helped us understand more about one of the darkest periods of recent human history. The Trans-Atlantic slave trade was the largest forced migration in history; 12.5 million people were transported in slave ships in just a few hundred years. New analysis using data from the 23&Me database has helped us understand more about how it played out.

What the researchers learned backs up historical records and reinforces what we know about the brutality of the slave trade. For example, people from what is now Senegal and Gambia were prayed upon by slave traders for centuries. But their descendants are massively under-represented in the USA today. This is probably due to the high mortality rates experienced in plantations. The study also shows geographical differences in how Africans mixed and married with other people. African descendants from Latin America, where enslaved Africans often had children with native people, tend to have fewer African descendants than people in North America, where there was more segregation.^[2]

8 Neanderthal DNA Migrated Back to Africa

We’re all familiar with the out-of-Africa theory: the idea that most non-Africans today are descended from a small group of people that left the continent around 60,000–70,000 years ago. Along the way, those humans met other human groups like Neanderthals and Denisovans and had some babies.

Because all this mixing happened outside of Africa, previous studies assumed that Africans had no Neanderthal ancestry. Some geneticists even treat African DNA as a control sample when measuring how much Neanderthal or Denisovan ancestry other populations may have. But this study suggests that people also migrated back into Africa, bringing with them the Neanderthal genes and spreading them into the African gene pool through a process called gene flow.

As a result, the study suggests that we may have over-estimated the diversity of Neanderthal ancestry in non-African populations, basically meaning that all humans may have more or less the same amount of Neanderthal DNA. This study complements archaeological work around the Arabian peninsula published in 2021 that has shown just how many people would have moved across this region and back and forth between the Middle East and Africa, spreading genes and culture as they went.^[3]

7 World’s Oldest Family Tree

The British Neolithic period is known for its large megaliths, cairns, and other stone structures, often featuring many people buried together. Until now, it has been unclear what relationship, if any, the human remains in a monument might have with each other. Now we know that they were probably family tombs. A study using data from 35 people buried together in a long cairn in Hazleton, UK, showed that they were five generations of a single extended family. Scientists have used the relationships between these individuals to recreate the world’s oldest family tree.

The reconstructed family tree shows a direct biological relationship between male members. One male skeleton appeared to be the father, grandfather, or great-grandfather of almost everyone else in the tomb. His children and grandchildren by two different women were buried with him. The two women and their children were actually buried in separate areas of the tomb, suggesting that the difference in lineages was recognized even after several generations.

Many of the female skeletons appeared to be from elsewhere and may have joined the family through marriage, coming to live with their male partners. This suggests that early Neolithic farmers practiced what we call female exomany, a system where women move in with their partners and where family identity is inherited from the father. This is much like how we often take on our father’s surname in the modern world. The burial also included several people who had no biological relationship with the rest of the family, leading researchers to suggest that people could become family through different kinds of connections, such as adopting step-children.^[4]

6 Asian Languages Spread Through Farming

This study combines genetics with linguistics. The spread of language families across the globe is another area of study that works with archaeology and history, often with confusing and contradictory results.

The Transeurasian language family covers the whole Asian continent and includes Japanese, Mongolian, and Turkish. The spread of languages over such a large area has been hotly contested by scholars who cannot agree whether the language was spread by farmers, pastoralists, or Bronze Age migrations.

Scientists used ancient DNA, language study, and archaeological remains to find a solution. The study concluded that the homeland of the Transeurasian language family can be traced back to early millet farmers in northeast Asia. It then spread out in two phases. The first phase involved the gradual expansion of millet farmers into new territory, bringing their language with them. Transeurasian people then split into five “daughter groups” after the late Neolithic and intermingled with other Eurasian peoples, exchanging partners and linguistic terms and learning new subsistence techniques like wheat farming.^[5]

5 Understanding How Polynesia Was Settled

Like the Americas, the way that humans settled Polynesia is a controversial subject. Remember that this is an island region that spreads across the biggest ocean in the world, and people were moving from place to place in open canoes. For a long time, scientists couldn’t agree on whether Polynesia was settled by South Americans or Australasians, or both!

This study used the genomes of 430 modern people from 21 islands. They found that the settlement of Polynesia started around the 11th century from Samoa, where people spread eastward, perhaps colonizing islands that had only existed for a few hundred years. They finally arrived at Easter Island around the year 1200. They would have made the trip in small groups, less than 200 people at a time, navigating using the stars and leaving behind them the huge statues that Easter Island is famous for today.^[6]

4 The Most Denisovan DNA Goes To…

Reading this list, you can see how ancient DNA has shown us how complex and full of surprises ancient human migrations were. The Denisovans were first discovered in a cave in Siberia back in 2010. When their genome was compared with people alive today, we found out they share the most common ancestry with people living in modern Southeast Asia!

This study builds on previous work and concludes that a native group called the Ayta Magbukon, who live in what is now the Northern Philippines has the most Denisovan DNA, up to 5% of their genome! The scientists conclude that Denisovans must have been present in the islands of Southeast Asia at least 50,000 years ago.

The Philippines are beginning to get a lot of attention. In 2019 researchers also announced the discovery of a new species of small hominid, Homo luzonensis, that lived in the north of the islands around 60,000 years ago. It now looks like the Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asia were busy places back in the day, with lots of different types of humans living in the same area and meeting each other.^[7]

3 Humans Fought Coronavirus Outbreaks 20,000 Years Ago

You thought coronavirus was new? Ancient viruses can leave a mark on our DNA that can be analyzed by researchers. The scientists in this study found that humans have been dealing with variants of the coronavirus since the Stone Age! They also support previous research that suggests that intermixing with Neanderthals made Europeans more vulnerable to the coronavirus.

The earliest corona epidemic emerged in East Asia around 20,000 years or 900 human generations ago. It lasted several generations, long enough to create what scientists call a “selective pressure” on humans. The first strain was probably more dangerous than the modern Covid-19 variant, becoming less deadly over time. Although the researchers note that it doesn’t appear to have made modern East Asians any more or less vulnerable to the virus, evolutionary medicine, as this field is called, may still be useful in helping us find cures or fight future outbreaks.^[8]

2 First Europeans and Native Americans

As you’ve probably realized by now, ancient DNA has thrown up a few surprises as we discover how complicated human movements actually are. It can also give some real darn confusing results. For example, two recent papers analyzed the genome of people living in Bacho Kiro cave in Bulgaria around 45,000–42,000 years ago. These skeletons are also the oldest Homo sapiens remains in Europe.

Researchers found that these people had Neanderthal ancestors “just a few generations back,” suggesting that hooking up with our Neanderthal neighbors was probably pretty common. Scientists then compared the Bacho Kiro genomes with people alive today to see what modern populations they might be related to. Surprisingly, they found out that they were the ancestors of Native Americans and East Asians. The paper also found that human remains from the same site but dating to a later part of the Paleolithic were more closely related to modern Europeans, showing that populations were always mixing and moving.^[1]

1 Future Research Might Use DNA from Nits!

Although it doesn’t tell us anything new about the human past per se, we just couldn’t help including this delightful bit of news about how human DNA might be analyzed in the future, Jurassic Park style. Apparently, human DNA can be preserved in the cement that head-lice use to glue their eggs to our hair! The scientists behind this technique sampled the hair from Argentinian mummies that died 1,500—2,000 years ago. Can you imagine going through an ancient mummy’s hair with a nit-comb?

As well as being revolutionary (and maybe just a little bit gross), this technique may be a more sustainable way of extracting ancient human DNA. Current techniques which extract DNA from bones or teeth actually destroy the original sample. So obviously, many archaeologists are reluctant to conduct DNA analysis on their rarer specimens. This technique could also represent a way of sampling DNA from countries that might be reluctant to allow Western scientists to export human remains.^[10]

DNA testing is something in the realm of futuristic sci-fi movie territory: most people have heard of the concept, but we don’t really believe it works, know much about it, or want to be experimented on to find out! But like most futuristic concepts, DNA testing has some seriously cool applications that can change the way you live your life forever.

Nervous about taking the plunge with your own DNA test kit? Check out ten awesome things you can learn from one of these tests and how it can benefit your day-to-day life.

Cool Discoveries and Gains You Can Make From DNA Testing #1

Discover new ancestors or distant relatives

DNA test kit services don’t just look at your DNA samples. Instead, they comb through an entire database of DNA samples and cross-reference your DNA with theirs to find common ancestors. This is an amazing discovery tool that has helped people learn about their family tree and relatives that they never even knew existed.

One story helped a woman from Honduras find out about a great, great, great, great, great grandfather who had been dead for three hundred years!

Cool Discoveries and Gains You Can Make From DNA Testing #2

Getting back to your roots

Do you have a preference for a certain type of beer? Ever notice you’re particularly pedantic about the way people pronounce words? Maybe you have particularly rosy coloring in your cheeks that you just can’t place? Well, all these traits might be the result of your heritage, and DNA test kits can help you solve the mysteries at last. Scanning your DNA across hundreds of regions around the world, these tests can trace your lineage back for generations, and many times the results are enlightening. So, if you always felt like you had a bit of Irish in your heart, a DNA test could prove that you actually do…

Cool Discoveries and Gains You Can Make From DNA Testing #3

Find a brother or sister you never knew you had…

A recent study showed that more than 22,000 babies are left in hospitals, at churches, or tragically on the side of the road. Sometimes, these babies are adopted by loving homes, cared for, and raised to adulthood. And when these kids grow up, they naturally have a lot of questions about where they came from, who they are, and who their birth parents are.

One of the biggest questions kids from adopted homes have is do they have any siblings. With DNA testing technology, people are finding their birth brothers and sisters, creating new bonds, and answering life-long questions at last. What’s really cool about these discoveries is that a lot of times you’ll find that one of your long-lost relatives looks just like you!

Cool Discoveries and Gains You Can Make From DNA Testing #4

…or a Parent!

Even more emotionally cathartic than finding a sibling is being able to walk up to your birth mother or father for the first time and give them a hug, ask them your burning questions, or just say hello over a cup of coffee. With billions of records in their databases, DNA test services are making connections faster and easier than ever before. What’s really amazing is that even if your biological parent didn’t take a DNA test, you can still find each other. How? Because of the DNA chain. If anyone related to your birth mother or father took a DNA test, their results will be in the database. DNA services can use these results to connect your DNA back to the biological parent you are searching for.

Often, when people find their birth parents, they also discover many half-siblings that they never knew existed, extending their families even more.

Cool Discoveries and Gains You Can Make From DNA Testing #5

You might be famous!

Well, you’d probably know if you were famous (paparazzi outside your windows is a good indication), but DNA testing can tell you if you’re related to someone famous. In fact, in one well-known case, a guy found out he was related to Abraham Lincoln from doing a simple DNA test from MyHeritage.

Cool Discoveries and Gains You Can Make From DNA Testing #6

Or you might be Jewish

In another weird case, a woman who had been raised in a completely Irish Catholic home with Irish Catholicism coursing through their veins made a wild discovery. The woman had strong Jewish strands of DNA mixed in with her Catholic chromosomes. This was confusing to the family since as far back as both parents knew, there hadn’t been any intermarriage at all. After much digging and through the help of 23andMe, a genetic testing lab that does at-home DNA test kits, this family found out that the father had been accidentally switched at birth in the hospital! The two babies had been born at the same time in the same hospital (back in 1913), and because identification procedures were less than perfect back then, the two babies had been given to the wrong parents. After 100 years, the truth came out, both families were reunited, and now they are one big(ger) happy family!

Cool Discoveries and Gains You Can Make From DNA Testing #7

You can trace your lineage back to locations

Many of us know what general area our heritage came from, but wouldn’t it be cool to know exactly where in that city your family tree took root? With a good DNA test kit service, you can narrow down your location to regions, countries, and sometimes even a specific town. Imagine visiting Sicily, hearing a story about the local butcher from 200 years ago, and knowing ‘hey, that was my granddaddy!’. Now that would be a trip!

Cool Discoveries and Gains You Can Make From DNA Testing #8

Genetic disposition towards diseases

One of the most useful discoveries you can make from taking a DNA test is what genetic diseases you may be predisposed to. While this is not a medical diagnosis, DNA tests can show you that you have a stronger propensity towards a certain disease or condition than the general public. Since genetic risks are hugely based on probability, knowing what dispositions you have is the kind of early warning information that can help save your life.

Cool Discoveries and Gains You Can Make From DNA Testing #9

Discovering your health/weight body type

Another fascinating discovery DNA test kits can help you make is what type of biological makeup you have going on inside you. With the right combination of results, you can find out what foods are good for you, how well your body responds to different types of exercises, and what type of eater you are. This kind of information is invaluable if you’ve been trying to lose weight and can’t seem to manage. These DNA test results can help you figure out what diet plan will work for you, how and when to exercise for maximum results, and which foods to avoid for optimal living.

Cool Discoveries and Gains You Can Make From DNA Testing #10

You could change the world

Finally, some DNA test kit services will offer you a chance to take part in a research program. These programs use your donated DNA samples to research the connections between various genetic information and traits or conditions to see if they can find causal relationships, preventative medicines, and cures. Current studies are working with infectious diseases, as well as life-threatening illnesses such as cancer and dementia. So, your DNA sample could really change the world for the better!

DNA test kits are non-invasive, quick, and easy to administer. And as technology advances, the price of these tests keeps going down. So, if you ever had a question about your heritage, personality, or body makeup, now is the time to find your answers.

Hey! Has anyone checked out your DNA? If so, we’re not surprised. Experts say that 1 in 25 adults in the USA have had their DNA tested.  There are 34 DNA popular testing companies out there , offering plenty of opportunities for you to see what your genes have to say about you. Some of these tests are admittedly, a bit stranger than others. Which is of course why we picked them out to show them to you!

Superhero DNA

This DNA test shows your unique superhero traits such as strength, intelligence and speed. Now, we can see this DNA test appealing to anyone who’s ever wondered if they might have hoped to have been bitten by a radioactive spider (instead of just a normal one, the way most of us have been)! The test promises to help you “tap into your hidden superpower.” If you or someone you know is a huge superhero fan, then finding out you are really strong, truly brilliant or super fast is going to give you the confidence that you could hang out with Aquaman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman. Why, you could even have your own Batcave!

DNA test for cats

basepaws is “the” DNA test for cats. So if you want proof positive that your cat has certain traits, like the stealthiness to sneak into a room and knock things off a table, this is the test that will tell you all about your feline. Then again, if it IS in your cat’s DNA, you can’t scold them for it anymore! basepaws shares information about 32 diseases too, so you learn lots of health information. If your cat is a purebred or just an adorable kitty you got at the shelter, basepaws looks at 32 cat breeds and 14 wild cats, to see exactly the origins of your cat’s specific DNA. You get wellness tips & the ability to send the report directly to your cat’s vet, so they can be in the loop about your cat’s genes. This is a vast-reaching test, telling you all about your feline from the tip of their tail to their whiskers!

DNA Test for Personality Traits

Karmagenes is the test to take if you want to learn everything there is to know about your personality or make someone you know take so you can learn everything about them and what makes them tick! Now, don’t go sneaking DNA samples from people you’re curious about – just so you can finally figure them out!

This test covers what they define as “the Big 5” aspects of your personality: DNA & Friendship, DNA & Dating, DNA & Parenting, DNA & Entrepreneurship, DNA & Gambling and DNA & Finance. Getting to know your DNA can help to improve your relationships and make you aware of how well you’ll do at work. Karmagenes states that friends “are genetically linked” to each other. It’s the exact same thing with dating: you’re going to pair up with someone who has DNA that compliments yours. Karmagenes calls their test a “tailored psychological assessment tool.” This is a very unique way to get to know yourself – instead of reading stacks of self-help books or spending your time on a psychiatrist’s couch talking about the goofy dream you had last night!

DNA Testing for Romance and Online Dating

DNARomance.com – Now, if you’re already jumping aboard the “DNA test train” this is truly going to excite you. Because DNARomance.com is online dating & a DNA test combined! If you want, you can use one of the popular DNA tests (23andme, AncestryDNA, etc.) that are out there, to sign up with their dating site, or simply order their own DNA test to sign up to date members. The site offers what they call “scientific matchmaking,” which probably has a better track record than my dear, sweet intentioned Aunt and the goofy blind dates she’s sent me on! In 30 minutes of adding your information, you receive matches that you are compatible with, so there is no waiting around for your soulmate.

There have been many methods to match singles, such as astrology, taking personality tests, going to a matchmaker or attending a speed dating event. With the recent popularity of DNA tests, it does not surprise us in the least that people are trying to see if it is successful with dating. If you prefer dating apps and want to “swipe right” to pick your guy or gal, take a look at Pheramor. That’s a DNA dating app that includes a DNA test. No, we don’t think you can take the DNA test via your cellphone, but we bet you’ll figure something out!

DNA Test for Twins

Well, once you’ve dated & found that perfect mate and had that terrific wedding – you could have had a set of twins together. That’s right! Wowza, twins! So you’ll need this DNA test, the Identical Twin Zygosity Test, which will tell you for 100% sure if your twins are fraternal or identical. Avoid the arguments at the family dinner table over the holidays and know, for once and for all, for sure exactly what you have. Results are delivered in 24 hours, so this cuts down on excited, brand-new Grandparents calling you to ask for the final news on what type of twins you’ve had.

DNA Testing for Food Sensitivity

Now, we’ve been a bit silly about some of the DNA test so far, but this is one we think is really going to catch your eye, because it is impressive. Food Sensitivity+ by Everly Well will share with you lots of information about any food sensitivities that you might have. So if your body does not like to digest certain foods – you’ll get proof positive when you take this test. It can help you decide exactly which foods to eat and others that you need to avoid. No, it probably doesn’t test specifically for your Mother-in-Law’s cooking, but you can tell her that you can’t eat broccoli or a few other things and just take it from there. Better yet, bring your own meal over to her house and tell her all about this DNA test you took!

DNA Test to Help with Weight Loss

Lose It! is a DNA test we know will raise some eyebrows. They say they can look at your DNA and help you understand the best way to lose weight. Personally, I think even my DNA needs to drop a few pounds, but that’s me! Now, they’ve helped millions of people lose more than 70 million pounds with their DNA test. The DNA test also comes with an app, so you can track your food choices and be more successful with weight loss. With a customized, personalized weight loss plan, how can you not succeed? After all, it’s in your DNA! So you’ll know if you should do low-carb, Atkins, Paleo or some other type of weight loss diet.

Destiny DNA Test

The Destiny DNA Test is one we can see appealing to many, both young and those who are young-at-heart. Why? Because they say they can help narrow down exactly what type of career will be 100% perfect for you – based on your DNA (of course!). ViaMedex states their test is so helpful because many things can get in the way of a successful career choice, such as economic factors, motivation, education and even just pure luck for that matter. But what if you knew that your DNA was telling you, right now, that you were meant to do something totally amazing? Like that you really could be an astronaut if you just tried? Wouldn’t you stop playing Candy Crush for hours? We think so! Then again, maybe you’d play a couple of games once you were in outer space!

Endurance DNA Testing

Whether you are a pro athlete or just a weekend jock, EnduranceDNA is a test you’ll probably be curious about. Like seeing a great physical trainer, this DNA test says it will show you how to train in the best way, what to eat to stay fit and strong, and also how to easily avoid injury. Many of us who’ve played sports or just taken classes at the gym have gotten great advice on how to get better. But with this DNA test, it’s 100% customized to exactly who you are and what will work for you. So you actually can “be the best you can be” in every way as an athlete!

DNA Testing to Quit Smoking

Trying to quit smoking? If you’re having a really tough time at it, this might actually be your DNA. Yes folks, there is a Smoking Behavior DNA Test that will show how challenging it will be for you to give up smoking. Smoking is undoubtedly a tough habit to quit, it’s extremely addictive. Many people have to make repeated attempts before they quit for good. If you found out your DNA made it a bit hard to quit, that might give you some reassurance as you were going through quitting smoking! So instead of criticizing yourself for not having fantastic willpower, you would know that it was in your genes. Yes, you could still keep at your efforts of quitting smoking – but what a relief to do it, without beating yourself up about not doing it as quickly as your Uncle Larry did, right on the first try. For you, it might take 3 tries, just see what the DNA says.

So get out there and take a swim in your gene pool! Get your DNA (or your pet’s) tested, to find out everything there is to know about you. Because we bet some (or all!) of these tests are going to have some surprises in store for you!