Let’s talk about the different “kinds” of DNA and how they can be used for genetic genealogy.
It used to be simple. When this “industry” first started, in the year 2000, you could test two kinds of DNA and it was straightforward. Now we’ve added more DNA, more tools and more testing companies and it’s not quite so straightforward anymore. But’s it’s a LOT better for genealogists.
Four Kinds of DNA
There are 4 different kinds of DNA that genealogists can use to provide information about our ancestors.
1. Y DNA for males only – Family Tree DNA tests the Y chromosome which is passed from father to son, along, in most cases, with the surname. Only men can take this test, because only men have a Y chromosome.
Female genealogists need to ask their fathers, brothers, uncles and male cousins to test for the surnames in question. You can read the article, Concepts – Who to Test for Your Father’s DNA.
Family Tree DNA compares the results of the Y chromosome test between males to see if they match and are related in a genealogical timeframe.
Testers also obtain their haplogroup which is a genetic clan and tells your ancestral story of deep ancestry, such as European, African, Asian or Native American heritage.
Family Tree DNA sponsors free surname, haplogroup and other special interest projects, such as American Indian or regional projects. Projects are indispensable for both genealogy and genetic genealogy research and everyone can join.
Family Tree DNA is currently the only testing company that offers Y DNA testing providing matching, projects and other tools, including the advanced Big-Y test. Y DNA test levels include 37 and 111 markers in addition to the Big Y-700 test which provides a minimum of 700 markers and extremely granular advanced haplogroup testing.
Testing more markers is how one determines who they are related to most closely in time. The Big Y-700 is definitely the best test, but the 37 and 111 marker tests can be considered entry-level. The Y DNA test is great in combination with the Family Finder autosomal test, and advanced matching allows you to see who you match on both tests.
You can read more in my article, Working with Y DNA – Your Dad’s Story.
You can click here to order a Y DNA test.
2. Mitochondrial DNA for everyone – Mitochondrial DNA tracks your matrilineal line and is passed generationally from mother to mother to mother to both genders of her children, but only females pass it on.
Males carry their mother’s mitochondrial DNA but they don’t pass it to their children.
Like Y DNA, mutations are compared to see if testers share an ancestor in a genealogical timeframe, but because the surname changes in every generation, it’s more challenging genealogically to make the connections.
Mitochondrial DNA testing also provides a haplogroup which defines deep ancestry, such as European, African, Asian or Native American.
Family Tree DNA offers free haplogroup and other special interest projects such as the AcadianAmerindian Project.
Family Tree DNA is the only testing company that tests mitochondrial DNA and provides matching, projects, and tools.
You can read my 4 part series about mitochondrial DNA beginning with the first article:
Articles 2, 3 and 4 in the mitochondrial series are useful after you’ve received your test results.
You can click here to order a mitochondrial DNA test.
Inheritance Paths
The paths of inheritance for both the paternal YDNA, blue, and the mitochondrial DNA, red, are shown below.
Autosomal DNA is inherited from all of your ancestors shown in the pedigree chart above, and further back in time as well. Y DNA and mitochondrial DNA are extremely important to inform us about the specific ancestry, both near and deep, of one line each, while autosomal DNA provides us with a different type of information about a wide range of ancestors.
In addition to Family Tree DNA who provides testing, mitoYDNA, a non-profit has begun accepting transfers for matching. Additionally, both WikiTree and Geni allow users to associate Y and mitochondrial DNA with specific ancestors.
3. Autosomal DNA for everyone – Autosomal DNA tests the DNA contributed by both parents on the 23 chromosomes, not just two direct lines as with Y DNA and mitochondrial DNA.
While Y DNA and mitochondrial DNA are never recombined with the DNA from the other parent, you do receive half of your autosomal DNA from each parent. Autosomal DNA is recombined in each generation, so each new generation inherits less DNA from previous generations.
The inheritance paths for autosomal DNA are shown below. You can see that this includes all of the various ancestral lines, including the lines that also contribute the Y-line and mitochondrial, but those are separate and different tests providing different kinds of information.
Autosomal DNA tests are provided by:
You can order an autosomal DNA test by clicking on the vendors’ links, above.
These tests provide ethnicity estimates and a list of cousin matches from all of your ancestral lines, but it’s up to you to figure out how these cousins are related to you. Various testing companies provide different tools to help in this quest, each having their own strengths.
All four companies provide the ability to download your raw data results so that you can perform further analysis by using several online tools, the most popular being GedMatch, DNAPainter, Genetic Affairs and DNAGedcom.
Many articles on this blog are devoted to working with autosomal DNA and is entirely keyword searchable for your convenience.
4. The X Chromosome – The X chromosome is included as part of autosomal DNA testing. The X chromosome has special inheritance properties that allow people to use these results separately from the rest of the autosomal results.
The 23rd pair of chromosomes defines your biological sex. If a father contributes his Y chromosome, the child will be male. If a father contributes his X, the child will be female. Mothers always contribute an X, because they don’t have a Y chromosome.
The inheritance path of the X chromosome is different for males and females, because males only inherit an X chromosome from their mother (and a Y from their father which makes them male), but women inherit an X from both of their parents. Therefore, an X match with another tester can eliminate several potential ancestors. For males, an X match must come from his mother’s side of his family.
You can read about X matching, along with a helpful X inheritance chart, in the article, Who Tests the X Chromosome?
Getting Started
You need to test before you can receive results to jump-start your genealogy.
I recommend that every genealogist do the following:
- Test your Y DNA or the Y DNA of your paternal lines by recruiting others
- Test your mitochondrial DNA
- Build a DNA Pedigree chart
- Test with or upload your autosomal DNA to all 4 vendors. Different people test at different locations. I have important matches at each vendor who have never tested elsewhere.
- Upload your autosomal DNA file to GedMatch for additional functionality. It’s free with Tier-1 advanced functionality requiring a subscription.
Uploads
Family Tree DNA and MyHeritage accept uploads for free, with an unlock fee required for advanced tools. If you subscribe to MyHeritage, no unlock fee is required. You can begin a free trial subscription here.
Ancestry and 23andMe do not accept uploads, so you must test there directly. Ancestry requires an additional subscription for some functionality, such as seeing your matches trees and advanced features. Here are my 4 articles with instructions for how to download and upload your DNA file:
- Family Tree DNA Step-by-Step Guide: How to Upload-Download DNA Files
- MyHeritage Step-by-Step Guide: How to Upload-Download DNA Files
- Ancestry Step-by-Step Guide: How to Upload-Download DNA Files
- 23andMe Step-by-Step Guide: How to Upload-Download DNA Files
Have FUN! Your ancestors are waiting on you.
______________________________________________________________
Disclosure
I receive a small contribution when you click on some of the links to vendors in my articles. This does NOT increase the price you pay but helps me to keep the lights on and this informational blog free for everyone. Please click on the links in the articles or to the vendors below if you are purchasing products or DNA testing.
Thank you so much.
DNA Purchases and Free Transfers
- Family Tree DNA
- MyHeritage DNA only
- MyHeritage DNA plus Health
- MyHeritage FREE DNA file upload
- AncestryDNA
- 23andMe Ancestry
- 23andMe Ancestry Plus Health
- LivingDNA
Genealogy Services
Genealogy Research
- Legacy Tree Genealogists for genealogy research
Pingback: Free Access to Native American Records – Limited Time | Native Heritage Project
Pingback: Free Access to Native American Records – Limited Time | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
Pingback: Genetic Genealogy Educational Resource List | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
Pingback: Top 10 Most Popular Articles of 2015 | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
Pingback: Genealogy and Ethnicity DNA Testing – 3 Legitimate Companies | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
Pingback: How to Join a DNA Project | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
this article was written in 2012, but I just completed my test with AncestryDNA (2015) and the raw chromosome results I received (after downloading to FtDNA and GEDmatch) includes X chromosome segment matches. Can I assume that this means that AncestryDNA now includes this in their tests? The most interesting thing about my results in general is that there are a dozen or so names in there of Russian origin although I had no DNA identified as coming from that region, I have matches, including the X chromosome, with several that appear to have both Russian and Finnish ancestry (a regional grouping on AncestryDNA).
Yes, and I’ll update the article as well.
I, too, noticed that my AncestryDNA test (taken this year) included 25 chromosome segment matches, which I presume must include my X (chr. 24) and Y (chr. 25) chromosomes. (The segments included for chromosomes 24 and 25 number only in the hundreds, compared to the other segments which number thousands per chromosome)
Can these Y chromosome segment matches from AncestryDNA be mapped to FTDNA’s Y-DNA test, and/or into GEDMatch.com for Y-DNA testing? All that Ancestry provides is an RS number and length for each segment, they don’t identify them using the DYS coding.
Pingback: Ethnicity Testing – A Conundrum | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
I want to find if I have cherokee in my lineage, I have been told that I do on both my mother and father. Is there a dna test that can shoe me this?
This article will help you understand how DNA works and which tests to order. http://dna-explained.com/2012/12/18/proving-native-american-ancestry-using-dna/
Pingback: Concepts – How Your Autosomal DNA Identifies Your Ancestors | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
Pingback: Maria Margaretha Grubler (1748-1823), A Woman of Steel Resolve,52 Ancestors #129 | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
Pingback: Just 3 More Days – Family Tree DNA Sale Ends August 31st | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
I have tested with Ancestry.com and received the results. Amazing discoveries about Native American heritage, Irish, European West, etc. As a result, I am hooked and now trying to learn more about DNA and genealogy in general. I most recently tested with National Geographic and am awaiting those results. Question: Is the Family Tree DNA test the same or different than Nat Geo’s?
It is different.
Just got the Nat Geo results. You are right. They are very different. Interesting to see ancient ancestors journey. I was pleasantly surprised to know I could upload results to FTDNA, for a small fee, and also get genealogy matches.
I am related to a woman through two lines, 3rd cousins on one and 5th cousins on the other. I show a dna match to her but I do not show a dna match to either of this woman’s daughters or her daughters’ children. Is this possible?
Absolutely. Children only receive half of their parents’ DNA.
Hi
Can you give me some help on the best way my Grandmother can find out who her father wae. She is 87 years old and her mother (my Great Grandmother) never told her who her real father was (my Great Grandfather). She basically told her it wasn’t her place to know and took this info to her grave! My Grandmother has always wanted to know who he was and of course if she has any other family connected to her but without any info at all, the only chance she has is potentially through DNA. My Grandmother is still alive and I have spent months trailing through forums and help articles and cannot seem to get the answer I am looking for. All I need to know is if my Grandmother provided a saliva/blood sample, is there even a slight chance that we could find out who he was? I appreciate he will be dead however maybe if he had a family, could DNA link us to them? I am desperate to find this out as my family tree will never be completed until I know this and just want to at least try and find out. I know its a very long shot but as a desperate 35 year old I would love to give my Grandmother this before she is taken from us. Any help or guidance would be very very very much appreciated as I am so confused as to where to start.
Thank you
Wendy
Yes, have your grandmother test at both Family Tree DNA and Ancestry.com. Then go to http://www.dnaadoption.com and ask for a search angel to help you. If you want a private recommendation of someone to work with you, I can provide that too.
We live in the UK I forgot to say that…will the above sites still help us or can u recommend a UK based site please….sorry to be a pain .
Thanks
Wendy 🙂
What you want are large data bases and tools. Both Ancestry and Family Tree DNA have what you need and sell in the UK.
I have a problem similar to Wendy’s. I’ve been tested at both FTDNA (Y-67 and mtDNA). I had my mother (who is 96) take the Autosomal test at Ancestry, and I likewise had an Autosomal test at Ancestry. The results are confusing, leading me to believe that my “German” great, great grandfather on the maternal side either wasn’t German (or who he said he was) or, more likely, he wasn’t the father of my maternal grandmother, my mother’s mother. Which of the FTDNA tests should I have my mother take so that we could try to solve this mystery? Roberta, your site and blog are hugely educational and entertaining – thank you for your commitment to this work!
Rich
I hope you’re not using ethnicity results to reach that conclusion. If you want some professional help with this, I can do a referral. The mystery will be solved by who you match that is descended from that great-great-grandfather. If you haven’t had the Family Finder test done on your mother at FTDNA, order that too. You want her autosomal results to be in both data bases.
Pingback: Concepts – Why DNA Testing the Oldest Family Members is Critically Important | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
My son took both the Y-DNA (67 plus special markers) and the full mt-DNA test at Family Tree DNA. He did not take the Family Finder test. It is the mt-DNA test that concerns this email. I understand the difference between mt-DNA and the x chromosome and how each are transferred to descendants. What I really want to know is how Family Tree DNA is giving my son exact mt-DNA matches from people who only took the Family Finder test?
I’m not sure how you’re getting that idea, but I would suggest you call support because that is not possible.
I was blind. The people who match took both the mt-DNA and Family Finder tests.
My aunt’s and my Family Finder tests came back. What a mess! My genealogy research is most likely correct that my mother’s and father’s families shares two or three ancestors in Colonial Virginia. The trick is trying to prove these particular lines coincide. I would have thought these lines too old to be picked up by the Family Finder tests, so there might be a match somewhere else I have not been able to find in genealogy research. My aunt on my mother’s side has matches with my cousin on my father’s side, but not huge matches. I am trying triangulation with matches, and matches of known family members who have tested. This is giving me a headache, and is beyond hair pulling!
My aunt and I do have matches with people who claim in their trees to have Dodson relatives. The match may not be Dodson.
I have a couple of genetically related questions.
I thought I would have a decent match with anyone in USA with my father’s distinctive surname. I do have a match with an unknown person with this surname, but the match is small at 5cM. I moved to the 1cM marker, and there were many, many small matches all over the chart. Since this family came early to Colonial Virginia, do these many small matches mean our lines diverged a long time ago, and the DNA has been lost over the generations? Or, does this mean something else? And, no, I am not going to pay for testing my male cousin’s Y-DNA, as that is beyond my means.
The ethnic grouping of my test changed a bit from my sons. His had said 7% North African and Middle Eastern. Mine says 1% eastern African and 6% Turkey. This is most likely coming in through Native American lines. I discovered people who are/were Native American share the mt-DNA of my son and I. This mt-DNA is of European origin. My son’s Y-DNA is European in the R1b1 WAMH group. We also have Family Finder matches. According to what I have read, Native American people have a distinctive haplotype, yet we have people who look Native American and claim this ethnic group, who have European DNA. My son and I easily tan as dark as the Native Americans if we are out in the sun in the summer, but our tan fades in the winter. My daughter is a very fair blond, and we all have the blue eyes. We seem to have a mix. We do not have known African or Middle Eastern ancestors, but we do have suspected Native American ancestors I realize there is a lot of DNA we inherit that is not mt-DNA or Y-DNA, but I would like you to clarify this results. I am starting to realize my mt-DNA runs through Oklahoma, and Native American tribes. Not having the distinctive Native American haplotype is unfair to people who have considered themselves Native Americans all their lives.
At 1 cM, most of the matches are going to be noise and there is really no way to tell the difference, unfortunately. There are only 3 ways to identify a Native ancestor or line. The first two are Y and mtDNA, the third is to find a segment that you match a group of people who have a confirmed proven Native ancestor on, and you match them on that same segment. That still doesn’t mean your ancestor comes from that tribe, but it does mean that it’s probably Native. At that point, I would check the chromosome painting for that segment at GedMatch to be sure, because it’s possible that you are matching those Native people on a segment from common European ancestors, not Native ancestors.
“. There are only 3 ways to identify a Native ancestor or line. The first two are Y and mtDNA, the third is to find a segment that you match a group of people who have a confirmed proven Native ancestor on,”
I do not necessarily care if I have one or more Native American ancestors. I have been around many Native Americans in my life, and they are just people. My cousins may want to pursue this line of DNA research. I am more concerned about finding out if this is where some of my brick walls in genealogical research originate. I may eventually get around to doing as you suggest, but I may need help from my cousins as I do not have the funds to pay for much more testing, nor do I have the energy to sort through the results. I have one more Family Finder kit I bought to test one of my husband’s siblings. We will see if that person also matches my aunt, with not a huge match, as I predict will happen. I am trying to confirm my genealogy research with DNA results. It is going well, but confusing and a bit upsetting.
Thank you for your help. Keep writing!
Pingback: You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
Do The Genographic Project – Geno 2.0 NG and an FTDNA – Family Finder – MyOrigins Autosomal DNA Ethnic Group use a same resolutions level? My Cousin’s Geno 2.0 NG Autosomal DNA Results (56% Southeast Asian and Oceanian + 44% Eastern Asian) were exacly same with His FTDNA FF MyOrigins (transferred from Geno 2.0 NG): 56% Southeast Asian + 44% Northeast Asian. It’s enough for me to take an FTDNA FF MyOrigins to compare my Ethnic Groups Percentage with My Cousin’s Geno 2.0 NG + FTDNA FF? From FF, they found a relationships about my Cousin’s and I (Half Siblings, 1st Cousins, Nephew and Niece).
You would have to confirm that FTDNA and Geno 2.0 NG use the same routine.
I never received my FTDNA I would like to know why?
Please call them and ask.
Rosamund, I sent in my kit earlier in December then you did and just received my results this past Monday. Your results I bet comes in during the next week. I was chomping at the bit, too, but you are close.
Pingback: 2016 Genetic Genealogy Retrospective | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
Pingback: Concepts – Calculating Ethnicity Percentages | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
I JUST RECEIVED MY RESULTS FROM MY DNA TEST FROM ANCESTRY.COM AND THE RESULTS WERE AFRICA 35% , AMERICA 1%, ASIA 1% EUROPE 62% -MY COUSIN SAID THAT THOSE RESULTS ARE FROM MY MOTHER’S DNA – AND SAID I NEEDED TO GET MY BROTHER TO TAKE THE TEST TO GET DNA RESULTS FROM MY FATHER…WELL MY FATHER WAS WHITE AND MY MOTHER WAS BLACK WITH A LITTLE MIXTURE IN HER ALSO – I AM QUESTIONING IF IT’S FROM HER WHY ISN’T THERE MORE AFRICA – I THOUGHT THE TEST WOULD GIVE DNA FROM BOTH MOTHER AND FATHER THE REASONING FOR THE EUROPE PERCENTAGE BEING HIGHER THAN AFRICA..CAN YOU TELL ME IF WHAT MY COUSIN IS SAYING IS TRUE OR IS THAT JUST FOR SPECIFIC TESTING AND THE DNA TEST I HAD DONE IS FOR BOTH MOTHER AND FATHER…
https://dna-explained.com/2016/02/10/ethnicity-testing-a-conundrum/ and https://dna-explained.com/2017/01/11/concepts-calculating-ethnicity-percentages/
Pingback: Native American and First Nations DNA Testing – Buyer Beware | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
Pingback: Native American and First Nations DNA Testing – Buyer Beware | Native Heritage Project
Pingback: Using X and Mitochondrial DNA Charts by Charting Companion | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
If I don’t know my father or anything about him – where he migrated from, his native country or name (my mother could not pronounce it) and I want to learn about my geneology & family lineage, what specific DNA tests should I have done?
If you’re a male, do the Y DNA test and the Family Finder. If you’re a female, you can’t do the Y, so just the Family Finder. The link is on the sidebar of the blog. I also suggest that you read the help tab and contact http://www.dnaadoption.com.
Pingback: 800 Articles Strong | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
Pingback: New Native American Mitochondrial DNA Haplogroups | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
This is hopefully free
Testing is not free. Why would a consumer product be free? Or maybe you meant something else?
I am a 67 year old female, and would a DNA test tell me where my father’s family came from? I was told English Irish. Is it possible to find out and is it expensive? I am on limited SS.
The Family Finder test at Family Tree DNA is $79. It will give you an ethnicity estimate. However, all of the companies, FTDNA includes, have difficulty sorting one part of Europe from another. After all, people from continental Europe moved from place to place and settled the British Isles. You might do better to work the genealogy aspect of your genealogy. However, if you do the $79 Family Finder test, you also get cousin matches which can help you with the genealogy as well.
Did an FTDNA – Family Finder, especially in the MyOrigin Autosomal DNA using a same tools with The Genographic Project – Geno 2,0 NG?
Pingback: Concepts – “Who To Test?” Series | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
Pingback: Concepts – “Who To Test?” Series | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
Did an FTDNA the BigY testing almost all of the Y DNA’s SNP’s, like an FTDNA mtFullSequences which test all of a Mitochondrial DNA’s (about 16.579 locus)?
The Big Y scans the entire Y chromosome for known SNPs and new SNPs which have not yet been named yet.
I also took BigY from FTDNA. But, my results weren’t unique at all. From BigY version, my Y DNA were belong to Haplogroup O-CTS11856, or Y DNA Hg O-CTS5492 from my Geno 2,0 version. Maybe my Mother’s Father / My Maternal Grandfather’s Y DNA Hg O-CTS4960 were more usefull then my Y DNA O-CTS5492.
I want to trace my father’s line. I have no male relatives to test. Does this mean I’ll never be able to trace my paternal side?
Go up the tree and down to see if you can find someone to test – meaning like first or second cousins.
I have a half cousin that we believe is really a full cousin. With this test tell us if we have the same grandfather?
There are two tests that have that potential, depending on how you are related. The Y test if you are both males and descend from a common surname male, assuming the question is on the paternal side. Otherwise, the Family Finder test, but you’ll need to know how to compare the results for that information. I also do Quick Consults to help.
I have explored my paternal grandmother’s maternal side and supposedly that side is supposed to have native american but cannot find any records to support this. Now I am looking on my grandmother’s maternal paternal side and i believe that it is there….what kind of test can i have my Dad’s sister take to even prove this route i want to explore?
I received recently mi DNA results from ancestry and are very interesting. What s your opinión about National Geographic dna test?.Thanks for your publication,quite important.
All of the testing services are different. All ethnicity estimates are just that.
Pingback: Concepts – Percentage of Ancestors’ DNA | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
Pingback: Which DNA Test is Best? | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
I do not know who my biological father was. My mother knew his name only and was able to tell me that he had dark hair, dark eyes and looked to be Polynesian or part Asian or islander in some way.
I was told that I have his features. I have dark hair and eyes, tan easily, and my baby/childhood pictures look strongly of an Asian baby/child. I took the anstry DNA test in hopes of finding his ethnicity or a relative that was related to him. I’ve had no luck. My results showed trace other regions, and mostly European ethnicity. But nothing giving me a real clue to my father’s ethnicity. Could it be that his ethnicity came solely from his father’s bloodline? Or am I understanding it wrong?
Your father’s Y DNA came from his father’s line. His mtDNA came from his mother’s line. But the commercial ethnicity tests test not those 2 types of DNA, but autosomal, which comes from all of the ancestral lines.
Does an Autosomal DNA Testing like The Geno 2.0, Geno 2.0 NG – Geno 2.0 NG Helix, an FTDNA – MyOrigins 2.0, MyHeritage, Ancestry.com, 23andme,…..etc were more represant to these physical appearance to their participants? The people around me always make me annoy including some of my families and even my Cousin’s from my Mother’s side. Miss Roberta, maybe do you can give me a suggest to handle those ignorant peoples around me?
All of the different kinds of DNA combined are involved with appearance. Different trait are from a combination of genes. None of the companies show traits like that. The best I could suggest would be to upload raw data to Promethease which is a health side and gives you some physical information like an estimated eye color.
As for ignorant people, ignore them. That’s the Mom in me talking. There will always be ignorant people in this world and you just be your wonderful self, in spite of them. Smile at them, it confuses them and makes them really curious what you know:)
This was a great article. I think I learned something about DNA testing in general. Although the author appears to lean a little bit to Family Tree DNA, but I think that it is based on facts, as demonstrated. I’ve never done any DNA tests and I am ready to do it. I am leaning to Family Tree DNA because they do not sell your information. But then again I will only have a one sided version of my DNA test results. C’est la vie.
At any rate, I want to do my test in one big bang. Looks like Family Tree DNA, for $556.00 offers what they called
“Comprehensive Genome
Family Finder, plus a male specific Y-chromosome test and a Full Mitochondrial Sequence”
I just want to make sure that I do not miss anything else. I don’t want to have to come back for more tests. BTW, I am male, in case that this matter.
I am basically seeking the favor of your opinion about this. Would I need any other test?
I am also worried about how the vendor determines ancestry and family lineage. I am Latin from the Caribbean, living in the USA. A large number of Latin people are very well mixed, ethnically speaking. I don’t know how accurate the information provided will be. This is one reason why I have not done this yet. I have been thinking that these tests are more relevant to group of people with little “mix”, such as African American, Caucasian, Jewish, Orientals and others. What’s your opinion about this?
Thank you
Victor
The Y DNA and mitochondrial DNA lineages are straightforward to determine. The ethnicity is more difficult. If you want to do the whole shot at once, order the Y 111, the full sequence mtDNA and Family Finder. After the results are back, if you wish, you can then order the Big Y for Y DNA, but you need to have results first.
What effect, if any, does blood transfusions have on ones DNA test? I presume it depends on the time between the transfusion and the DNA testing.
No effect because the tests are cheek swabs or saliva. No blood.
Pingback: Concepts – Who To Test for Your Father’s DNA | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
Pingback: Enforced Bastardry in Colonial America – A DNA Monkey Wrench | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
Pingback: X Matching and Mitochondrial DNA is Not the Same Thing | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy
Several years ago I took the National Geographic DNA test. When I received the results I somehow linked to another website that showed I had the same haplogroup as a small percentage of Ashkenazi Jews. Is there a genetic test I can take to give me more information about my possible Jewish roots? I am a female. My mother’s parents were Lithuanian. Thank you.
You can take the autosomal test that provides you with an estimate of your ethnicity that includes Jewish heritage. At Family Tree DNA, that test is Family Finder and it’s on sale now. The link is on the sidebar.
Pingback: Glossary – DNA – Deoxyribonucleic Acid | DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy