No genetic test will tell you if you are Hispanic or Latino

In the United States Census there is a box for race and Hispanic or Latino identity. The two are distinct, because Hispanic or Latino identity are not necessarily associated with people of any genetic background, and may be associated with someone of any genetic background.

A genetic test can never tell someone if they are of Hispanic or Latino background, because the category Hispanic or Latino is a social one with no biological denotation. There are people of Latino background who are East Asian, Middle Eastern, and Northern European. Many people of Latino heritage are indigenous American, Sub-Saharan African, and Southern European. And of course many Latinos are a mix of various elements genetically.

No genetic test can determine if you are Hispanic or Latino genetically, because there are people who are similar to many Hispanics or Latinos genetically who are not Hispanic or Latino. If a genetic test claims to be able to identify that you are Hispanic or Latino with any degree of certitude, it is almost certainly a test you should avoid.

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