Frequently Asked Questions

Taking a DNA test with Helixline is simple:

• Order your kit: Purchase online at helixline.in. Delivery typically takes 3-5 days across India.
• Collect your sample: Use the provided cheek swab - it's painless and takes just 2 minutes. No blood required.
• Register & send: Register your kit online and use the prepaid return envelope to send your sample.
• Get results: Receive your comprehensive ancestry report in 4-6 weeks via email and our secure online portal.

Helixline offers DNA ancestry testing starting at ₹5,999 for the Essential Kit. Our pricing includes:

• State-level ancestry breakdown (all 28 states + 8 UTs)
• Paternal and maternal haplogroup analysis
• Community matching with genetic relatives
• Free shipping and return prepaid envelope

Premium packages with health insights are available starting at ₹9,999. This is more affordable than international alternatives like 23andMe or AncestryDNA, which don't ship to India and lack Indian reference populations.

Accuracy varies significantly between companies. Most international DNA tests (23andMe, AncestryDNA) simply show "100% South Asian" because they lack detailed Indian reference populations.

Helixline is different:

• We analyze over 700,000 genetic markers
• Our database includes Indian-specific reference populations from every state
• We provide state-level and community-level breakdowns
• Our algorithms are designed by Indian bioinformatics scientists specifically for South Asian genetics

This means you'll see results like "47% Maharashtra, 23% Tamil Nadu, 18% Gujarat" rather than just "100% South Asian."

Your privacy is our top priority. Helixline follows strict data protection protocols:

• Data encryption: All genetic data is encrypted using AES-256 encryption, the same standard used by banks.
• No selling: We never sell your data to third parties. Your DNA information is never shared without your explicit consent.
• Secure storage: Data is stored in ISO 27001 certified facilities in India.
• You control your data: You can download or delete your data at any time from your account.
• Anonymization: Research contributions are always anonymized and optional.

Read our complete Privacy Policy for more details.

South Asian DNA is a complex mix of multiple ancestral components:

• AASI (Ancient Ancestral South Indian): The indigenous population of India, present since 65,000+ years ago.
• ANI (Ancestral North Indian): West Asian/Iranian farmer ancestry that arrived ~9,000 years ago.
• Steppe Ancestry: Indo-European ancestry from Central Asian migrations ~4,000 years ago.

Different Indian populations have varying proportions of these components. For example:

• South Indians typically have higher AASI
• North Indian upper castes often have more Steppe ancestry
• Tribal populations may have distinct ancient lineages

Helixline translates these genetic patterns into meaningful regional and community connections you can relate to.

A haplogroup is a genetic population group that shares a common ancestor. Think of it as your deep ancestral "tribe" going back thousands of years.

Y-DNA Haplogroups (Paternal Line - for males):

• R1a: Common in North India, associated with Indo-European migrations (~4,000 years ago)
• H: Ancient South Asian lineage, one of the oldest in India (~40,000 years)
• L: Connected to Indus Valley Civilization populations
• J2: West Asian origin, common among traders and coastal communities

mtDNA Haplogroups (Maternal Line - for everyone):

• M: The most common maternal lineage in South Asia, with many Indian-specific subclades
• U: West Eurasian origin with ancient presence in India
• R: Found across Asia with various Indian subclades

Explore our Haplogroups Guide for detailed information.

DNA testing cannot directly tell you your caste or gotra, as these are cultural and social designations, not genetic categories. However, DNA can provide related insights:

• Community matching: You may match with others who share your community background, which can correlate with caste groups.
• Endogamy patterns: Indian communities often show distinctive genetic signatures due to historical marriage patterns within communities.
• Regional ancestry: Your state-level breakdown often correlates with community origins.
• Haplogroups: Certain haplogroups are more common in specific communities.

Gotra specifically is a patrilineal lineage tradition that predates genetic testing and isn't encoded in DNA in a directly readable way, though Y-DNA haplogroups trace a similar paternal line.

Finding ancestral land records in India requires knowing which state the property was in. Each state has its own land records system:

• Uttar Pradesh: Bhulekh (upbhulekh.gov.in)
• Maharashtra: Mahabhulekh (mahabhulekh.maharashtra.gov.in)
• Karnataka: Bhoomi (landrecords.karnataka.gov.in)
• Andhra Pradesh/Telangana: Meebhoomi & Dharani
• Tamil Nadu: Patta Chitta portal
• Gujarat: AnyRoR Gujarat

For older records (pre-1950), visit:

• The local Tehsildar or Taluk office
• Sub-Registrar's office for property registration documents
• State Archives for historical records

DNA testing can help confirm family connections when you find potential relatives through these records.

Helixline's DNA matching feature connects you with genetic relatives in our database. Here's how it works:

• Automatic matching: When you get your results, we compare your DNA against our entire database to find matches.
• Relationship estimation: We tell you the estimated relationship (e.g., 2nd cousin, 3rd cousin once removed).
• Shared DNA: You'll see how much DNA you share in centimorgans (cM).
• Messaging: With mutual consent, you can message your matches to explore your connection.

Many Indian families have discovered long-lost relatives, including family members who emigrated to other countries generations ago. The more people test, the more matches you'll find.

Locating family documents and photos requires a multi-pronged approach:

• Family members: Start with elderly relatives - they often have old photos, letters, and documents stored away.
• Religious institutions: Temples, churches, mosques often maintain birth, marriage, and death records. Panda (priest) records at Haridwar contain genealogies for many Hindu families.
• Government archives: National Archives of India (Delhi), State Archives, and District Collectorate offices.
• Schools & colleges: Educational institutions may have admission registers with parent information.
• Newspapers: Marriage announcements, obituaries - check newspaper archives.
• Online resources: FamilySearch.org has some Indian records digitized.

DNA testing can help you connect with distant relatives who may have photos and documents your immediate family doesn't have.

Partition (1947) displaced millions and separated families. Here's how to research:

• Evacuation records: The Ministry of Rehabilitation maintained records of refugees. Some are at the National Archives.
• 1947 Partition Archive: An oral history project collecting stories and documents (1947partitionarchive.org).
• Property claims: Evacuee property files may contain family information.
• DNA matching: Connect with relatives who went to different countries (Pakistan, India, UK, etc.).

DNA testing is particularly powerful for Partition-affected families as it can reconnect relatives across borders - your DNA matches aren't limited by which side of the border your ancestors ended up on.

Helixline tests over 700,000 genetic markers (SNPs - Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) across your genome. This includes:

• Ancestry-informative markers specific to South Asian populations
• Y-DNA markers for paternal haplogroup determination (males only)
• mtDNA markers for maternal haplogroup determination
• Health-related variants (Premium kit)
• Trait markers for physical characteristics

More markers don't always mean better results - what matters is having the right markers for Indian populations, which is where Helixline excels.

Yes, siblings can have different ancestry percentages, and this is completely normal. Here's why:

• Random inheritance: Each sibling inherits a random 50% from each parent. You don't get the same 50%.
• Recombination: DNA gets shuffled during inheritance, so siblings receive different combinations.
• Example: If your mother is 60% Tamil Nadu and 40% Kerala, one sibling might inherit more of her "Tamil Nadu" DNA while another inherits more "Kerala" DNA.

However, siblings will still show as close relatives in DNA matching, and their results should be broadly similar (same general regions, similar haplogroups for same-sex siblings).

Unexpected regions in your results can appear for several reasons:

• Unknown family history: You may have ancestors from that region that weren't passed down in family stories.
• Ancient migrations: Some ancestry components date back hundreds or thousands of years before documented family history.
• Statistical confidence: Small percentages (under 5%) may be "noise" - statistical variations in the algorithm.
• Overlapping populations: Neighboring regions share significant genetic overlap.
• Community endogamy: Some communities have spread across multiple states while maintaining genetic distinctiveness.

Focus on the larger percentages (>10%) as your most reliable ancestry indicators. Small percentages warrant further investigation or may be statistical artifacts.