Israeli start-up MyHeritage, one of the world's largest genealogy research websites, has announced a strategic collaboration with personal genetics company 23andMe, the largest DNA ancestry service in the world.
MyHeritage, whose head office is located in Or Yehuda, offers users around the world tools to trace their ancestry, and build and share their family trees. It offers a library of more than 5.5 billion historical records, and this week announced on its website that it has added millions of historical records ranging from the 16th to the 20th centuries to its SuperSearch tool.
23andMe, based in Mountain View, California, pioneered autosomal DNA ancestry analysis for consumers. Clients supply a saliva sample, which is then analyzed to reveal their ancestors' geographic origins.
"Combining genealogy with DNA-based ancestry is the next evolution in uncovering family history," MyHeritage founder and CEO Gilad Japhet, said. "DNA testing can connect you to relatives you never knew existed, who descend from shared ancestors centuries ago, but family trees and historical records are critical to map and fully understand these connections."
Japhet added that MyHeritage had great respect for 23andMe's "technology and values."
Andy Page, president of 23andMe, said he believed the cooperative venture with the Israeli company would offer his customers "a vastly improved opportunity to build their family tree and discover new connections."
The first phase of integration is expected to be complete by early 2015.
