A number of companies have been established recently offering DNA testing and analysis services. The combined database now of male Y chromosome analyses is more than 30,000 records. As the new testing methods have evolved and real data has become available, so has the knowledge of how early man has moved around the world. 

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) which is inherited uniquely by a child from its mother but is not present in the nucleus of the cell, is another piece of DNA that is being tested. Unlike the Y chromosome, mtDNA scarcely changes at all over very long periods as it is transmitted from generation to generation.

New ancient genetic analysis, based mainly on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), has been used to identify and differentiate groups of early man who populated different parts of the world over time and migrated from one region to another in response to changing climatic conditions from around 10,000 years ago and earlier (this is known as deep ancestry). Thus for example there is genetic evidence to show that the Manx people have some connection genetically with the Scandinavians, and this on the face of it is consistent with what is believed about early Manx history and the Viking invaders.

More and more DNA studies of a similar nature are being carried out at present to identify in more detail these genetic connections between the peoples of the British Isles and their neighbours. For example there are DNA studies underway examining some of the major Scottish and Irish clans to identify the genetic connections, if any, between different surnames which belong to the same clan.