Asian American DNA Hack for More Precise Results

ByMaria Wen Adcock
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Asian American DNA Results

Challenges with Asian American DNA Results 

In my previous post titled “The Limitations of DNA Results for Asian Americans,” I noted the disappointing results I had received through an AncestryDNA kit:

AncestryDNA did not break down [my] DNA results by country or a narrower region like it had for my husband’s [European background] test. AncestryDNA listed a general geographical area for me — Asia East. The continent of Asia is huge, and even ‘narrowing’ it to East Asia is still very imprecise.

AncestryDNA stated that Asia East included these 17 areas: Russia, China, North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia, Myanmar (Burma), Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei, Palau. The area is very diverse. They all have their own languages, religions, and cultures.

As I had noted previously:

Lumping them into ‘Asia East’ is like combining the Irish, Italians, Spaniards, and Germans together under a generic ‘West Europe’ just because they’re all on the same continent. But as we know from my husband’s test results, AncestryDNA can better pinpoint countries of origin if they fall in Europe.

Why were the results so vague? AncestryDNA said that “with small sample sizes and an imprecise way to allocate them to specific ancestry, the results will remain imprecise. It’s getting better over time as more samples become available, but current assumptions are extrapolated from not enough data.”

Update 10/19/18: AncestryDNA has added new regions and reference samples to provide additional results. If you’ve taken their test in the past and go back into your results, you’ll see a further breakdown. However, keep in mind they’re still unable to provide the level of detail that you may be looking for. For example, AncestryDNA doesn’t break down the information into very detailed ethnic groups. For many Asians these nuances are important since within the Asian population there is much diversity. 

Family DNA Questions

As an Asian American, this was very frustrating. At $100 a kit, I paid the same as others, who because of their European background could receive much more detailed information. The price-value return on investment was lacking. Specifically, I had wanted to explore if my DNA included other Asian backgrounds beyond Chinese.

One mystery was the family rumor of a now-deceased relative who had lived in Thailand. It was unclear if this relative was ethnically Thai or rather a Chinese person who happened to live in Thailand.

Another area I wanted to explore was the surprise 12% Polynesian output that AncestryDNA had provided in my results. As far as I knew, no one in my family had a Polynesian background. The percentage wasn’t even just a trace amount, but rather was actually in the double digits. Were these results correct?

A Hack for More Detailed DNA Results

A couple of my blog readers, Caroline Thao Nguyen and Stephanie Rossi, read my previous DNA post and provided an intriguing tip. They both suggested I import my AncestryDNA raw data into a FREE Chinese-run site called WeGene to receive a detailed breakdown of my Asian DNA. A company based in China would likely hold a vast database with Asian customers, so in theory, the ability to provide more precise Asian DNA results would make sense.

In addition to AncestryDNA, WeGene allows users to import 23andMe.com raw data also at no cost. WeGene does not accept any other DNA company’s data besides from these two. Regarding obtaining your DNA raw data, most DNA sites allow their customers to download this information for free.

To use WeGene, first save your raw data onto your computer and then import it into the WeGene website. Make sure to use the WeGene English version site as the main website is in Chinese.

After I submitted my raw data, I immediately received an email. The message was in Chinese, so I used Google Translate to determine it was an email confirmation. I assumed I’d received an email to inform me when my WeGene results would be ready, but never did. As such, I logged into my WeGene account just to check. The results were available.

Image: pixabay.com

WeGene Results

I am thrilled to say the WeGene hack worked! I received very detailed results.

Chinese

The data indicated I was 95% Chinese. The data further broke down the results into ethnic groups. The Han group is the largest in China, so I was not surprised the majority of my background was from here. WeGene further broke down the Han group into the subgroups Southern Han and Northern Han. I had a sprinkling of other smaller ethnic groups in my background of which most were from Southern China.

Below are the Chinese ethnic groups available through WeGene.

  • Southern Han Chinese
  • Dai
  • She
  • Gaoshan
  • Lahu
  • Hmong-Mien
  • Northern Han Chinese
  • Naxi/Yi
  • Mongolian
  • Uygur
  • Tungusic
  • Tibetan

Southeast Asian

My results showed Southeast Asian as the remaining 5% of my DNA background of which most was Cambodian. Under Thai, my percentage was 0%. This solved the mystery of the elder relative living in Thailand. This relative was not ethnically Thai but merely lived in Thailand. Below is the breakdown availability of Southeast Asian groups under WeGene.

  • Cambodian
  • Kinh
  • Thai

Oceanian 

According to Dictionary.com, Oceania is defined as, “the islands of the central and S. Pacific, including Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia, and traditionally Australasia. About 3,450,000 sq. mi.” As I mentioned above, AncestryDNA indicated I had 12% Polynesian DNA which was a surprise. AncestryDNA did note that their data could be skewed since they only had small [Polynesian] samples. The WeGene results contradicted the Ancestry DNA restuls. WeGene listed my Oceanian DNA as 0%. However, I noticed that WeGene only included one ethnic group when in reality there are many more. So I’m not really sure what to believe – AncestryDNA’s 12% or WeGene’s 0% Polynesian results? This may be one mystery that will never be solved. Below is the one Oceanian group in WeGene.

  • Papuan

For your reference, here are the rest of the breakdowns offered under WeGene:

Northeast Asian

  • Japanese
  • Yakut
  • Korean

South Asian

  • Sindhi
  • Bengali
  • Indian

Central Asian

  • Uzbek
  • Kyrgyz

Middle Eastern

  • Iranian
  • Saudi
  • Eyptian

European

  • Finnish/Russian
  • French
  • Hungarian
  • Balkan
  • English
  • Spanish
  • Sardinian
  • Ashkenazi

African

  • Yoruba
  • Bantu
  • Mbuti
  • Somali

American

  • Mayan
  • Native American
  • Inuit

Conclusion

Based on my experience, if you’re Asian American and wish to get a more detailed breakdown of your DNA, try using WeGene in combination with AncestryDNA or 23andMe.com. As a side note, a reader had informed me that 23andMe.com had provided him with Asian groups such as Chinese, Japanese and Korean. But I don’t believe he received a sub-breakdown of ethnic groups (like WeGene does) which would provide a whole other level of detail. If you have used WeGene or have any other insight into Asian American DNA results, please share in the comments.

33 Comments

  1. Just found your blog. I was disappointed with 23andme. It just gave me 48% southeast asian , 1% south asian, with no breakdown. No chinese, no japanese. I happened to google 23andme and asian genes and your blog popped up and I read about wegene. Uploaded my data and ..yeah! I got a further breakdown! My biggest asian ethnic group is gaoshan. I guess it’s not suprising as they are a Tawainese aboriginal group and I am of filipino ethnicity. Not too sure about their Euro breakdown as it game me a ton of French and my German disappeared (my grandparents are from Germany!) But maybe that’s not even an option. And it made me .66% ashkenazi Jewish. Lol (not JEWISH!) anyways, I am not using it for the Euro option but quite pleased with the Asian breakdown. Still don’t know how accurate it is, but I will take it!

    1. @aprilharkness:disqus I understand your disappointment with the results from the “big” DNA kit sites. I felt the same way. I’m glad my post was able to help with getting more detailed results. WeGene is based in Asia so I would feel pretty confident with the Asian results as their database would have lots of Asian DNA results (where as 23andMe and AncestryDNA do not have as many Asian DNA results in their databases so that’s why they cannot provide more precise results). Did 23andMe give you detailed info on your European background? If so, then maybe go with them for the European info since that’s more of their specialty (whereas I’m guesing WeGene would not have as much European DNA in its database given who they cater to).

  2. I think I’m Filipino with a hint of Spanish as my great grandmother’s father was Spanish friar. Will they be able to break it down? I have a fairly light skin for a Filipino but my maternal grandfather had very dark skin so I may have probably a little bit of black? Im curious if wegene is more for Chinese heritage?

    1. If you have DNA results from AncestryDNA or 23andMe, the results are likely to be vague regarding the Asian DNA side (they seem to be much better with European DNA). But if you have a test from one of those 2 sites, try importing the raw data into WeGene. It’s free, so you have nothing to lose. As you can see from the breakouts I’ve listed above, they break out the Asian side pretty well…definitely a lot of Chinese ethnic groups, but also Southeast Asia and other Asian groups (Japanese, Korean). They do not seem to have Filipino and Vietmanese breakouts, but when I’ve looked into this it seems because Filipino and Vietmanese stem from other areas, often a mixture. So for example, Vietmanese will likely show up as various Chinese ethnic groups, because many originated from China before moving to present day Vietnam. It would be interesting for you to try WeGene to see what comes back. Plus, as I mentioned, it’s free.

  3. Thanks for the information. I did a ancestrydna test for our daughter and found your article when I want to dig deeper with the rawdata. I wonder you are descended from Taiwan or south Asia Chinese immigrants. Like you our daughter has few percent of Polynesian DNA. I think I have an explanation for the Polynesian DNA percentage issue. Polynesian DNA subgroup is from two migration paths, Taiwan and south Asia. Today many Polynesians share the same DNA markers of people on the two paths. Since WeGene is a Chinese based company, it complies with the great China policy, that Taiwanese aboriginal people are also Chinese. Therefore those Polynesian markers are identified as Chinese subgroup. I bet if a Polynesian submit their DNA to WeGene, he will be identified as Chinese.

    1. @moonshade0227:disqus You bring up some really good points. In my WeGene results, I had several trace amounts of South Asia Chinese ethnic groups DNA. If I had Taiwanese DNA, I’m not sure what that group would be called, but doesn’t really matter as WeGene and AncestryDNA don’t seem to have that broken out. It is a good theory that you have proposed. So it’s possible I really do have Polynesian DNA (like your daughter) but WeGene is just not breaking it out separately.

  4. Hi, Thanks so much for this! My husband and I are both “Half Korean” and our ancestry tests said “40-something% East Asian” and the rest was so detailed! We were pretty bummed but then a cousin sent me this link and I tried it. We got our results much quicker than 3 days, was more like 20 hours. But we are SHOCKED to find out that we are barely Korean! My husband was only 2% and I’m a whopping 0%! We’re both mostly Chinese with some other stuff sprinkled in, including a fair bit of Japanese! Now we’re trying to figure out how to break it to our Korean family members!

    1. Kristen, wow that’s quite a story! It’s amazing how DNA tests have helped people to discover and learn more about their roots. It reminds me of a video I watched of the show “Finding Your Roots” where comedian Fred Armisen grew up thinking he was part Japanese, only to find out from a DNA test that his “Japanese” grandfather was really Korean. He finds out why his grandfather had changed his identity. I looked up the YouTube video…this is the full episode which shows the stories of 3 celebrities so if you want Fred’s story you just need to fast forward to his part: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww3aFlD4iUs By the way, you’ll have to let me know how your relatives react once you tell them your findings. Hopefully they will believe the findings, and if not, they can do the same DNA test/WeGene hack to confirm.

    2. Koreans are not so homogeneous as they claim. I grew up thinking I was 100% Korean but learned in my 20’s that I actually have 25% Japanese blood. Then when my kids were born, I began questioning my family ancestry yet again as all 4 of my kids were born with blond hair. (Three kids had some blond hair in them but my youngest was born with total blond hair. I mean as blond as hair can get.)

      When I confronted my mother, she told me I was born with blond hair much more “worse/intense” than my kids so I should be thankful. LOL But she claimed she had no idea why I & my kids were born with blond hair.

      About 3 yrs. ago, one of my aunts living in Quebec, Canada wrote a autobiography and while reading that book, I learned that my maternal great grandmother was from Russia. For a strange reason, my family wanted to keep their muddy ancestry as a secret even though the great grandmother’s name “Katrina” is even written in the family tree book they keep.

      If your Korean ancestry is from southern part of Korea, you may have far more Japanese DNA than anyone in your family would admit. If your Korean ancestry is from northern part of Korea, you will most likely have Chinese/Manchurian/Russian DNA.

      Missionaries visiting Korea in 19th century & early 20th century describe how there are Caucasians, Asians, and even Negros living in Korea.

      I’ve also learned about “baek-jung” class of Koreans living in Korea for hundreds of years who were not Asians. These “baek-jung” people largely worked as butchers and they did not start to interbreed until 1950’s.

      Oh, my DNA test? I am only 17% Korean. I’ve lost 83% of my Korean DNA. LOL

      Considering that you only lost 50% compared to my 83%, I would say that’s not so bad. hahaha

      1. Wow, what a DNA journey you’ve been on, Matthew. Thank goodness for DNA tests to help us sort through our histories. Did you see a high percentage of Russian in your DNA results?

        1. Based on 12.5% Russian DNA, I had to conclude that I had more than one Russian ancestor. I’ve learned that Hwang Hae-do (황해도: a province in North Korea), which is the province my mother side of the family is from, was a hot bed of Russian settlement in early 20th century and supposedly interbreeding with Russian settlers was rampant during that time.

          Couple of my cousins in Canada got married to whites and at least two their kids have blond hair & blue eyes even though their white mother is not blond nor have blue eyes. (All of them are blond.) None of them even look remotely part Asian.

          Regardless of the percentage of DNA, I can only conclude that the Russian DNA must be very strong. hahaha

          1. The Russian DNA must indeed be strong! I always understood the darker characteristics (brown eyes, brown hair, for example) were dominant traits over the lighter characteristics.

  5. Glad to have chances upon these posts. I’ve given up finding out much about my Chinese side bar word of mouth stories. I’ve had more luck, naturally on my mother’s “Anglo” side but your post has given me a few new avenues. I’ve yet to try the DNA tests because of the limited sample sizes using them but might jump into them in the near future.

  6. So glad to have found this info! I tried Ancestry and got the standard ‘big chunk of East Asian with a dash of Polynesian’ – which was pretty disappointing. Have uploaded the raw data file to WeGene and am keenly awaiting the results (it told me three days)! Thanks for posting!

    2. The results for Ancestry sound like mine. You’ll have to let me know if WeGene detects any Polynesian (they don’t have this header; instead they use Oceanian). My Ancestry results said I had 12% Polynesian which was a big surprise, but then WeGene had Oceanian at 0%. So not sure what to make of these results.

      1. Yep, no Oceanian for me either! But I guess I’d trust WeGene more since they have more detailed info overall.

        1. Yes, I’m guessing WeGene may be more accurate as they’re more likely to have Polynesian DNA samples just due to the proximity of Asia (where they are based) to Polynesia/Oceania.

  7. This was great. I just did 23andme and they gave me a vague 75% Asian 25% SE Asian breakdown. So I followed your tip and imported my data to WeGene and in a day I got a comprehensive breakdown. One thing I noticed was that from WeGene, I was about 75% Han Chinese (north and south). However I was another 20% other “Chinese ethnicity” (Gaoshan, Dai, Hmong). I wonder if 23andme lumped those into their SE Asian category. The remaining 5% went to S/SE Asian.

    1. Lucas, glad the WeGene provided you better results. Like you, I was able to get a more detailed breakdown of my Chinese ethnicity. I’m guessing that 23andMe had lumped many of these Chinese ethnic minority groups into somewhere else, like you said, perhaps SE Asian. For me, it was very interesting to look up each of the minority ethnic groups where I had traces of DNA. I had only been familiar with Han, and now I’ve learned a bit more about these other groups in China that I am a part of. DNA is quite fascinating!

  8. We just had my adopted daughters DNA tested by CRI Genetics, and we got much more detail than described here. She’s Vietnamese, Chinese Dai, Japanese, Southern and Northern Han Chinese, Sri Lankan, Bengali, Gujarati Indian, and just a little Peruvian and Mexican. I don’t know if there were other Chinese ethnic groups that didn’t show up, but we were happy with what we learned.

    1. @misty_farris:disqus Thanks for the tip. I had not heard of CRI Genetics, but it’s good to know that they seem to provide more detailed results for those with an Asian backgrounds.

  9. Thanks to your site I just ordered AncestryDNA and will send it to WeGene.com.
    I also was told AncestryDNA was not good for Asians. I am Vietnamese French and Russian. Let’s see, maybe I will be surprised.

    1. Kiemmy, you’ll have to let me know how things go once you get your results from the combination of AncestryDNA and WeGene. It’s too bad we have to go through an extra step just to get more detailed results for Asian backgrounds, but at least this option exists even though it’s a bit more work.

  10. My daughter is adopted and I tried uploading to WeGene from 23&me with no results. I’m thinking maybe it’s because we used 23&me 6 years ago. Now, I’m going to follow your instructions and try again once we get our Ancestry kit completed. Thanks for the tip!

    1. Lisa, that’s interesting that the older results didn’t work. I wonder what changed between now and then. Were your 23andMe results more detailed when it came to the Asian breakdown (or did it provide just a generic “Asia East”)?

  11. I’m so glad I found this! I’m half Asian and was a little disappointed to find out that…I’m half asian. 🙂 I’m totally going to try this!

  12. Thanks for the info! I’m half Asian and was in the market to get a DNA testing kit for my son for Christmas. I’ll go with 23andMe and then will tell him about Wegene. Thanks again!

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