Do 23andMe Ancestry Results Update Over Time?

23andMe periodically updates ancestry results as they gather more data and improve their algorithms. This means that your ancestry results can change over time if new information is discovered or if they refine their analysis methods. You can receive notifications from 23andMe if there are updates to your ancestry composition, so it's a good idea to check back periodically to see if any new insights have been added to your profile.

Periodic Updates to Ancestry Estimates

Yes, 23andMe changes their results/reports over time. As they learn more about DNA of different populations, they will update your results. I was part Iberian for a little while as well as Greek, and those percentages went away as they refined their database. It is a science that gathers knowledge over time; the more people they have to compare results to, the more specific they can get.

Evolution of Ethnicity Estimates

If you're talking about the ethnicity estimate, yes it does change over time. It's only an estimate, a guess anyway, and it can change as they refine their estimate. Your DNA didn't change; since there is no "ethnicity or location gene," their methods of guessing get better over time so your results change based on their methods and research.

Updating and Refinement

Yes, they change their results of your ethnicity makeup as their reference database expands and improves. They don't change the results of your DNA makeup but they do update what those DNA results mean. All they are doing is comparing your DNA against reference populations in various regions of the world and see how well they match. This continuous process of adding new members and refining their methodologies ensures that the results become more accurate over time.

Other Factors Contributing to Updates

Yes, the ancestry changes because they are always getting new members and they ask you lots of questions and pay attention to the answers. The health/medical part changes because they keep up with current research. They also sometimes update their DNA chips, which is a positive development.

What Remains Permanent?

Not the results. But your ethnicity Estimation, strictly speaking, no part of the results but an interpretation of those results might change. Your Raw DNA Data will always stay the same and the cM number of relation towards another person who tested will also stay the same. These are your results.

Conclusion: In summary, 23andMe regularly updates your ancestry results based on new data and improved methodologies. The underlying DNA data remains constant, but the interpretation of this data may evolve. Staying updated with the latest developments can provide you with a more accurate picture of your ancestry.