Forensics Canada Inc.
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Ancestry DNA can trace your genetic heritage and family tree back hundreds to thousands of years, depending on what you’re looking at:
1. DNA Ethnicity Estimates
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Time Depth: Up to 1,000+ years ago
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What it shows: Where your ancestors likely lived and how your DNA matches current populations.
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Limitations: It’s an estimate based on modern reference populations, so it gives broad regional insights, not exact ancestors.
Maternal and Paternal Lineages (if available)
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Time Depth: Up to tens of thousands of years ago
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What it shows: Your haplogroups, which are ancient DNA signatures passed down from your mother (mtDNA) and father (Y-DNA for males).
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Use: Helps trace ancient migration patterns, like if your paternal line came from the Middle East or Northern Europe.
Family Tree & Records via Ancestry.com
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Time Depth: Typically 150–300 years (5–10 generations)
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What it includes: Census records, birth/death/marriage records, immigration documents, and more.
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Limitations: Depends on how much data you or others have added and where your ancestors lived (some countries have better records than others).
Summary:
Type of Info | How Far Back It Goes |
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Ethnicity Estimate | ~1,000 years |
DNA Matches | Up to 5–8 generations |
Haplogroups (mtDNA/Y) | Thousands of years |
Family Tree Records | 150–300 years (or more) |
Yes, two siblings can have different AncestryDNA results—and that’s completely normal.
Why it happens:
Siblings each inherit 50% of their DNA from each parent, but not necessarily the same 50%. The specific combination of genes passed down is random.
What this means:
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One sibling might inherit more DNA from, say, a grandparent of Italian descent, while the other gets more from a grandparent of Irish descent.
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As a result, their ethnicity estimates can differ, sometimes significantly, even though they share the same parents.
But some things stay consistent:
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Siblings will share a high amount of DNA, typically around 50%.
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They will appear as close matches (siblings) in the DNA match section of AncestryDNA.
Example:
One sibling might be 30% Scandinavian and 20% West African, while another is 25% Scandinavian and 25% West African.
Ancestry DNA tests are generally quite accurate for what they are designed to do, but their accuracy varies depending on the specific feature:
1. Ethnicity Estimates
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Accuracy: Approximately 70–95%, depending on the region.
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Details: The test compares your DNA to reference samples from various populations. It’s more accurate in well-represented regions (like Europe) and less precise in underrepresented areas (like parts of Africa or Asia).
2. DNA Matches (Genetic Relatives)
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Accuracy: Very high for close relatives.
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Details: First to third cousins are usually detected with over 99% accuracy. The farther the relation, the less precise the estimate becomes.
3. Maternal & Paternal Lineage (mtDNA and Y-DNA)
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Accuracy: High for deep ancestry tracing.
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Details: These tests trace unbroken maternal or paternal lines and are based on specific DNA segments (mtDNA and Y-DNA). They’re excellent for understanding ancient origins and haplogroups, but not useful for detecting recent relatives.
Important Considerations:
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Not a diagnostic tool: It doesn’t test for health conditions unless specified.
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Reference panels vary: Different companies have different databases, which can affect your ethnicity results.
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Updates: Results may change slightly over time as databases grow and algorithms improve.
Yes, AncestryDNA does tell you your ethnicity—but it’s more accurate to say it gives you an ethnicity estimate based on your genetic markers.
Here’s what you get:
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Ethnicity Breakdown: A percentage-based estimate showing what regions of the world your DNA comes from (e.g., 40% Irish, 25% West African, 15% Scandinavian).
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Regional Detail: It includes over 1,000+ global regions, and may identify more specific communities within countries.
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DNA Communities: These show likely migration patterns of your ancestors and can highlight historical population movements (e.g., Southern Italians to New York).
How it works:
AncestryDNA compares your DNA to a large database of genetic samples from known regions to find similarities. The result is a probabilistic estimate, not an exact measurement.
Important: These ethnicity estimates are most accurate for people from well-sampled regions (like Europe and North America) and less precise in areas with limited reference data (like parts of Asia or Indigenous populations).
You can pay by a credit card (Visa or MasterCard only) or email transfer to (info@forensicscanada.ca). CLICK HERE to download Credit Card Authorization Form.
DigÂiÂtizÂing inked fingerprints and electronic transmission to the RCMP: CAD $150.00 including the RCMPÂ fee $25.00 plus applicable taxes.
The certified criminal record check issued by the RCMP has your picture printed on it. Therefore, a picture of the applicant is transmitted to RCMP with your fingerprints.
Yes, RCMP can send the Certified Criminal Record Check to any address (in Canada or outside of Canada) via Canada Post regular mail.
No, unfortunately, as per RCMP’s protocol, we can’t process scanned version of your fingerprints. Please mail / courier your original fingerprint form along with the other documents, as described in the instructions. Also we are unable to process photocopied fingerprints.
The processing times for all electronic fingerprint submissions submitted to the RCMP’s Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS) varies from 3 business days to 120 days.
If the applicant does not have a criminal record and there is no match to an RCMP fingerprint record then processing is complete in 72 hours. RCMP will mail the results back to the applicant or the designated third party within 72 hours. Please allow extra time  for delivery by Canada Post.
In cases where the applicant does have a criminal record or there is a match to an RCMP fingerprint record then the processing time could be up to 120 days or longer. Keeping in view the above factors please allow sufficient time for receiving the results by regular mail before making any status update inquiries.
If the fingerprints are submitted electronically to the RCMP, the application is processed and the results are sent in 7 to 10 working days through Canada Post (regular mail), provided “there is NO match to a criminal record“. In cases where there is a possible match to an RCMP criminal database holding, the processing time may extend up to or exceed 120 days.
If your application is taking longer than the time indicated you can call the RCMP at 613-998-6362 or send an email to:
ccrtis-scictr@rcmp-grc.gc.ca with the following information:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Phone number
- The document control number (DCN) if it is available
- The date of application was submitted to the RCMP
- The type of application you submitted – (Criminal Record check for ….)
You may need to submit your fingerprints to RCMP for:
Personal Security
Employment
Citizenship
Immigration
Permanent Residence
International Adoptions
Foreign Travel, Visas, Passports, Work Permits and US Waivers
Record Suspensions (Pardons)
Yes, we can provide your fingerprints on RCMP’s fingerprint form C-216C.
You need to bring two (2) pieces of valid, original and government-issued identification documents. One (1) piece of identification must include a photo, name, date of birth and signature of the applicant.
The RCMP will directly mail the hard copy of the certified criminal record check to either the individual (applicant) or a designated third party via Canada Post.
A Police Clearance Certificate or Identity History Summary Check from the USA is often referred to as a criminal background check, criminal history record, police/good conduct certificate. If you are in Canada then you must submit your fingerprints to FBI on a standard fingerprint form (FD-258). Canadian Forensics Inc. We will capture your fingerprints electronically using Live Scan technology to ensure the highest quality of fingerprints. We will then print your fingerprints on FBI FD-258 using FBI certified printer. The process takes about 15-20 minutes.
You can walk into our Toronto (Scarborough) office (200 Town Centre Court #5 ) with two (2) pieces of government issued identification for professional, fast and friendly digital and ink & roll fingerprinting services for:
- Citizenship
- Security Clearances (DCN Numbers Provided)
- Permanent Residency
- Controlled Goods
- Record Suspensions (Pardons)
- Foreign Visa, Travel and Work
- Criminal Background Checks
- Employment (Private Industry, Federal, Provincial, Police)
- Adoption
- Name Change
- Privacy Act Request
- Volunteer Employment
- All other civil purposes
No, the fingerprints are deleted from the RCMP system as soon as the transaction is complete and results are shared.