Anyone ever done Ancestry DNA? Is it worth it for genealogy reasons?

[lisaviolet]

I'm not sure. His maternal grandfather is a mystery. Got his grandmother pregnant, promised to marry her and promptly disappeared. His mother only knew his name and very little else. He's very curious about his background.

I would go with ancestry, unless you can somehow figure out the medical part without him guessing about why you're asking.

Everyone is different, but once you read those medical possibilities, well I am the type of person that can not "unhear" them. That is exactly the reason I chose ancestry instead.

Ancestry can be vague for some areas, over time it will get more specific.

And for Asians and South Asians, it appears pretty well useless in my opinion - since the options are very generalized in those areas with ancestry's test.

__________________

This wouldn't work in your bf's situation but for any male that is curious about their father's line of ancestry, well there are tests, from other providers, that provide a male line right back.

 

[Bilberry]

Which did you like better? I'm trying to decide which to get my bf for xmas.

Good question. Both are equally good for genealogy. Both come with support to potentially meet others and chat with them about matching DNA. I remember 23andMe has a nice display map showing where ones DNA potentially might have originated from thousands of years ago.

As others have mentioned 23andMe also provides medical and characteristic DNA information. I found the medical information interesting but it isn't something I personally get wrapped up in. I don't believe DNA is destiny. I can see if someone is a worrier over potential health issues then 23andMe will be a problem.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

How did he come up with 16%?.

To be honest I'm not sure but I do know that we have easily traced Native American in our family. I know of at least one woman married into the family who was definitely 100% Native and had children.
With the area that my family settled in from Europe its likely there are many other people married into the family that were at least part Native.

It's also POSSIBLE that we are related to the Fonda family.
Both families settled in the same area at the same time. And I think my Grandfather looked a bit like Henry Fonda.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

My friend who was adopted did it just to find her heritage. Not only did she find that but she found out that she had 5 siblings that were looking for her. She's always wanted a sister and now has 4 and one brother. Amazing story.

 

[Dread Pirate]

I got mine free through 23andme as part of a study for crohn's disease. I think it's interesting to see what traits I have that can be explained through DNA. I have connected with some distant relatives, as well as a first cousin I haven't seen in about 35 years. He's one of the oldest of my cousins, and I'm the youngest.

 

[lisaviolet]

As others have mentioned 23andMe also provides medical and characteristic DNA information. I found the medical information interesting but it isn't something I personally get wrapped up in. I don't believe DNA is destiny. I can see if someone is a worrier over potential health issues then 23andMe will be a problem.

OT -

For me I don't give a thought to my health, a la worrying at all. Ever. It's simply not part of my DNA.

But weirdly enough I still don't want to hear it all. It's strange.

The map sounds interesting on the genealogy with 23andme. I am going to inquire with them if you can somehow do only that part with the testing and block out the medical. We did ancestry as a family and there are some parts where 23andme might elaborate on more, or differently.

_______________________________________

Chelsea Handler had some kind of intense DNA test done on her show, where it literally told her everything. Right down to the weight where her genes show that she has a tendency to gravitate to being.

 

[lisaviolet]

OP, didn't even answer the original question. Yes I found it worth it. My family has had a lot of fun with it. And it was very interesting to see the differences between siblings. That was something.

My niece seemed to have the entire world in her, absolutely fascinating. From Ireland to South Asia to various African countries to East Asia. Large percentages across many continents.

 

[lisaviolet]

How did he come up with 16%?



It would depend on what they are using as "Irish" DNA - there's the modern day, which is full of Norwegian markers, but they recently processed ancient Irish DNA. It was interesting that the ancient samples had very little to do with the more modern ones.

Same with the English - it depends on what DNA markers they are using. Over a thousand years in England would blend/mutate those so-called Norman markers quite a bit.

Older daughter is getting her doctorate in DNA mutation, we have some very interesting conversations.

Is there a test that she considers the most valuable/specific DisneyOma?

 

[momz]

Here's a bit of coincidence. I just happened to come across this article prior to seeing this thread yesterday. It's something to think about. How can your DNA information be used once 23andme sells it?

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/534006/23andmes-new-formula-patient-consent/

 

[mnrose]

Here's a bit of coincidence. I just happened to come across this article prior to seeing this thread yesterday. It's something to think about. How can your DNA information be used once 23andme sells it?

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/534006/23andmes-new-formula-patient-consent/

This is exactly why I won't do these things. I'm not that interested to potentially compromise ALL my private information which might be used against me in making insurance decisions, etc.

 

[cleverclovers]

I did it through Ancestry.com/DNA last year for myself, my daughter, son-in-law, and both my parents. It was fun finding out the results. I only knew about my German heritage, but the test came back that I'm mostly from Great Britain (England, Scotland,Wales). I heard from a genealogist friend that a new program is expected out soon so I'm waiting to purchase it and start back in on the hunt.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

This is exactly why I won't do these things. I'm not that interested to potentially compromise ALL my private information which might be used against me in making insurance decisions, etc.

Yes, especially the in the current racist climate that seems to be prevailing at an alarming rate.

 

[MataHari22]

I would love to know my ancestry, but will not do it, because how do you know what they are going to do with your DNA? I already am much sought after, and like a lab rat, because I have a very rare genetic illness. I have a few hospitals, and universities that have wanted me to submit tissue and blood to run tests with. With my two cancers, I did allow my tumors to be studied to hopefully help to treat others with Fanconi Anemia and Squamous Cell Cancers. I really had to think about that though.

 

[DMRick]

I used ancestry. I did it because someone told me at age 65,that my dad was not my biological dad. It did seem to prove out. I show 37% Italian, listed as close but not immediate to my three brother and sisters. They have no Italian. They all share the same cousins, I share less than half. Unfortunately I wasn't told til both my parents were gone, as well as their siblings. The rumor was known to all but me. Not coming up with anyone closer than 4th cousin on my (biological) dads side. Did come up with a new first cousin on my moms side who still doesn't know who his dad is, so it appears One of my uncles had a child with another woman.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

My uncle (my dad's brother) did this a while back. I do not remember all the numbers. If I recall correctly it was mostly Great Britain and western Europe. I remember it was all from somewhere in Europe. That should be half of mine for free

 

[Jewel1310]

We did AncestryDNA for Christmas gifts last year. We all enjoyed the process. In addition to finding out our nationality there ere a few cool things that came out of it.

1. Confirmed that my twin sister is my identical twin rather than fraternal (we thought so as we look a lot alike).
2. Our children show up as both of our kids (her kids show as mine too since we are identical twins).
3. We confirmed that our half brother that our dad denied as his with his first wife, is genetically our half brother and his son.
4. Helped someone find their birth mom due to a 3rd cousin match and traditional geneology trees - which was an amazing experience.

This was a fun gift and an interesting experience all the way around.

 

[PrincessBelle39]

I've recently tested DH, my Mum and my Dad through Ancestry.

Mums was fairly straightforward. The results and matches coming through are as expected. There is the mystery of her fathers family but hopefully we will be able to narrow the matches down as time goes on to identify them.

Dad's results are making me nervous. I've been working for over 25 years on this and I have a very extensive tree on his side. But all the matches I have been able to identify are on his maternal side. I haven't confirmed anything yet on his paternal side. There has always been comments that Dad's father is not the same as his siblings, the name mentioned being a 'notable' person. Funny thing is I'm getting lots of matches with this persons surname in their trees.

DH's test hasn't given me a lot yet but this is because I know little about them. He doesn't know who his father is and his maternal grandmother was adopted. It has confirmed a rumor that his father was European, most likely Slovenian. We have recently received a very high match (1478cM) that may possibly be a 1/2 sibling. But the match has not replied to my initial message.

 

[DisneyOma]

Lucky you. Beyond interesting.

Thanks! It is interesting, even when she has to 'dumb down' the information for her mommy to understand it

Is there a test that she considers the most valuable/specific DisneyOma?

Right now the research she is involved in is cancer-based. But her general field that she is working in is called Bio-informatics, which she explained to me as Biology, Bio-engineering, and Statistics/lots of math. I'm not sure where she gets the ability to handle all of that, as it makes my head hurt just to imagine part of it.

 

[aprilgail]

DH is waiting for his 23 and Me results. It will be interesting because he was adopted at birth and has no idea what his heritage might be.

I was also adopted, found my bio mother 20 years ago after years of research- funny thin is that she is really into DNA and even if I had not found her back then I would have had her as soon as I did the 23 and me test- as soon as I did it and looked at my results she is listed at the top as "mother"-

I have tested with 23 and me and Ancestry and also uploaded my DNA to GEDmatch- still trying to pin down a bio father- getting a little closer but just missing that one piece that could tie it all together still!

 

[Scootypuffjr]

This wouldn't work in your bf's situation but for any male that is curious about their father's line of ancestry, well there are tests, from other providers, that provide a male line right back.

Could a male potentially find out specific information about who their father (or that side of the family) through one of these test or is it general information about ethnicity?