What is IoA?

IoA (InsightsOnAncestry) is a tool for analyzing your raw DNA file against a curated database of ancient and modern human populations. You can compare your DNA to populations across history, model your ancestry as a mixture of ancient sources, and read results in the same format used in academic ancient-DNA papers.

You don't need a research lab and you don't need to install anything. You upload a file, configure a run, and get results within a minute.

What you can do

• Run qpAdm models. Estimate which mix of ancient populations best explains your DNA, with weighted percentages and confidence intervals.
• Run FST scans. Find which populations across history are genetically closest to your DNA in seconds.
• Run rotation sweeps. Automatically test hundreds of source combinations at once and rank the ones that pass.
• Track history. Every run is saved. Compare results, import old configurations, and build new models from past ones.
• Edit population labels. Group similar populations together or rename them for clarity in your own analyses.

What's under the hood

IoA runs the same tools used in published ancient-DNA research, specifically the AdmixTools suite from David Reich's lab at Harvard. What we add is a clean web interface, sensible defaults, and a hosted copy of the AADR (Allen Ancient DNA Resource) reference database, so you can focus on the analysis instead of wrangling command-line software.

The reference data is the same panel cited in most contemporary ancient-DNA papers. The math is the same too. The difference is that you don't have to spend a weekend setting it up.

Who it's for

IoA is built for users who are curious about their deep ancestry but don't have a population genetics background. The interface assumes nothing about prior expertise. These docs define every technical term the first time it appears, and explain why each option matters before how to use it.

You will need a raw DNA file from a consumer test (23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, FTDNA, or LivingDNA). If you haven't taken one of those tests, take one first.

What this docs section covers

These docs are the complete reference for using IoA. Read them in order if you're new, or jump to the guide for the specific tool you want to use.

• Getting started. Upload a file, run your first analysis, decide which tool to use.
• Uploading your DNA file. Which providers are supported, what to export, and how to troubleshoot.
• Admixture Analysis (qpAdm). Model your DNA as a mixture of ancient populations. Covers reading results, picking sources, and the All SNPs option.
• Genetic Distance (FST). Find which populations are genetically closest to yours. Covers when to use it and the pseudohaploid option for modern-vs-ancient comparisons.
• Rotation. Automatically test hundreds of source combinations and rank the results.
• Credits. How credits work, what each analysis costs, and how to buy more.