Raw DNA analysis
Raw DNA analysis: what to do with your raw DNA data
Already took a 23andMe, AncestryDNA or MyHeritage test? Your raw data file holds far more than the ancestry or trait results you were shown. Upload it here for a free methylation and detox report, free imputation, and optional reports on nutrition, drug response, carrier status and more.
What is raw DNA data?
Consumer DNA tests read your DNA on a genotyping chip (a microarray) that checks roughly 600,000 to 700,000 positions where people commonly differ, called SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms). The company shows you an interpretation of a small part of that, such as ancestry percentages or a few traits. The raw data file is the full, uninterpreted result: one line per SNP with its rsID, chromosome, position and your two alleles.
Because the file is plain text in a common format, any compatible service can read it. That is what raw DNA analysis is: running the file you already own through a different set of interpretations, without paying for another test.
Whole genome sequencing (WGS) goes further. Instead of a fixed set of SNPs, it reads nearly all of your roughly 3 billion base pairs, including rare variants that a chip never tests. WGS data comes as much larger BAM, CRAM or VCF files. See microarray vs whole genome sequencing for the difference.
What you can do with raw DNA data
- Health, nutrition and supplement reports. Look at genes involved in methylation (MTHFR and others), detoxification, vitamin metabolism, histamine breakdown, skin, fitness and mood, with explanations and possible mitigation strategies. This is what NutraHacker does.
- Drug-response (pharmacogenetic) and carrier screening. See variants that affect how you process common medications and whether you carry recessive conditions you could pass on.
- Imputation. Statistically fill in millions of SNPs your chip didn't test, using large reference panels, so more of your genome can be analyzed.
- Genealogy matching. Upload to a matching database such as GEDmatch to find relatives who tested with other companies.
- Look up individual SNPs. Search your file for an rsID you read about, for example MTHFR C677T (rs1801133). Our SNP library explains the most-searched ones.
Comparing services? See our roundup of free DNA upload sites.
How to get your raw DNA file
Every major testing company lets you download your raw data from your account. The file usually arrives as a .zip; unzip it and keep the .txt file somewhere safe.
| Testing company | Where to find the download | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| 23andMe | Account Settings → 23andMe Data → View. The file is emailed within about 48 hours. | 23andMe raw data guide |
| AncestryDNA | Account Settings → DNA → Download DNA data, then confirm from the email link (valid for 7 days). | AncestryDNA raw data guide |
| MyHeritage | DNA → Manage DNA kits → the three dots next to the kit → Download. Only the kit manager can download, from a computer or Android device. | MyHeritage help |
| tellmeGen | Your account's raw data download option. | tellmeGen FAQ |
| Nebula Genomics (WGS) | BAM, CRAM or VCF files from your Nebula account. | Nebula WGS data guide |
Haven't tested yet? Which DNA testing company should you choose? compares the options by data quality, privacy and price.
What you get when you upload to NutraHacker
Free with every upload
- Detoxification and Methylation Report: 58 SNPs in methylation and detox genes, each with what the gene does, what your genotype means, how common it is and possible mitigation strategies.
- Genome imputation: your roughly 600,000 SNPs expanded to about 30 million.
- Superhuman DNA Report: 25 SNPs for traits such as the myostatin deletion and the short-sleeper gene.
Optional reports (one-time payment, lifetime access)
| Report | What it covers | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Mutation Nutrition | Methylation in depth plus vitamins, detox, cholesterol and mental-health genes, using your imputed data | $37 |
| Carrier Status and Drug Response | Recessive carrier status and how you respond to common medications | $23 |
| Histamine Panel | Histamine production and breakdown genes (DAO, HNMT and more) | $120 |
| Skincare Panel | Collagen, pigmentation, inflammation and skin-aging genes | $120 |
| Critical Genetics Basic | Medically significant variants available from imputed chip data | $145 |
Depression, fitness, celiac, dentistry and lactation reports and two whole-genome reports are also available. See every report and price.
How to upload your raw DNA data
- Download your raw data file from your testing company (see the table above) and unzip it.
- Go to the upload page, choose the .txt or .csv file and click upload (it takes about 3 minutes). For whole genome data, use the WGS upload instead.
- Answer the optional health survey. It feeds our research into conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.
- Open your free reports in the Report Center. Add any paid report later without uploading again.
Before you upload anywhere: a privacy checklist
- Keep your own copy. Store the original file offline. A testing company can change owners, as 23andMe did in 2025 (see what the 23andMe bankruptcy meant for privacy).
- Read the retention policy. Some services delete your file right after the report; others keep it so you can add reports later. Neither is wrong, but know which you are choosing.
- Check research and law-enforcement settings. Genealogy databases let you choose whether your kit can be used in law-enforcement matching; health services should state whether data is used for research and whether it is anonymized.
- Treat health findings as a starting point. Confirm anything medically important with a clinical-grade test and a professional.
Ready? Uploading takes about 3 minutes and costs nothing. Your free methylation and detox report is waiting.
Frequently asked questions
What is raw DNA analysis?
Raw DNA analysis means taking the uninterpreted genotype file from a DNA test you already took (23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage and others) and running it through a separate service that reads specific genetic markers and explains what your results mean, for example for methylation, nutrition, drug response or carrier status.
Can I analyze my raw DNA data for free?
Yes. Uploading to NutraHacker is free and includes a Detoxification and Methylation Report (58 SNPs with explanations), genome imputation and a Superhuman traits report. Paid reports are optional one-time purchases.
Which raw DNA files can I upload?
Microarray raw data in .txt or .csv format from 23andMe, AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, tellmeGen, GenomeItAll, MyHappyGenes, LifeDNA, FitnessGenes, 4Gold and MTHFR Genetics UK, and whole genome sequencing data as BAM or CRAM files. Unzip a downloaded .zip first and upload the .txt inside.
Is it safe to upload my raw DNA data?
NutraHacker never sells or shares your personal information. Your file is used to produce your reports and, in anonymized form, for research. Your data stays on file, so you can add reports later without uploading again.
Is raw DNA analysis a medical diagnosis?
No. Consumer microarray data can contain errors, and genetic variants raise or lower likelihoods rather than determine outcomes. Use the results as information to discuss with a doctor or genetic counselor, and confirm any medically important finding with a clinical test.
How long does raw DNA analysis take?
The free Detoxification and Methylation Report is ready a few minutes after the upload finishes. Imputation and the paid reports follow in the Report Center as they complete.