DNA Testing?

[Romilly]

Hello there,

I was recently sent an email by Ancestry.com about DNA testing in Genealogy...discover your genetic roots, etc...

I wondered if anyone on here had tried it?

Romilly:-)

[Rowdy Jnr]

Can't say that I have and not sure I would want to.

I'll stick with finding out who I am by the actions, professions and life stories I find through research and my family history.

[Lemontree]

Hello,

I would also be interested in your findings from this post. A friend of mine would love to trace what her "real" surname was by DNA testing.

Her grandfather was a foundling and she has no way of tracing the family from him backwards, but although he was given the name Pierce would love to know what his real surname was.

I have heared that from DNA testing you can decifer a surname......

Lemon

[D ap D]

Most offers of DNA testing seem to come from the US.

Going on recent events, I'd be extrememly wary of letting any US body or corporation even get  a whiff of my DNA.

I would however be interested in the results if carried out under guaranteed confidentiality.

[bwgan ceredig]

You have to be quite careful, apparently companies can appropriate YOUR DNA sequence , which means it's not yours to do with as you liek any more   Quite what us mere mortals can actually do with it is beyond me I mean I'm not about to clone myself ...I wouldn't even if I could...but do I want someone else with the copyright to my DNA...I think not

That said I would love to have it done...remember a few years back that teacher in the Cheddar area who was related to that 30,000 year old skeleton they found...how cool is that 

And they can tell how your maternal ancestors migrated...so am I a Celt, a Roman, Anglo-Saxon??  I would love to know...I know it's not the whole me, but...fascinating.

[Romilly]

That said I would love to have it done...remember a few years back that teacher in the Cheddar area who was related to that 30,000 year old skeleton they found...how cool is that 
And they can tell how your maternal ancestors migrated...so am I a Celt, a Roman, Anglo-Saxon??  I would love to know...I know it's not the whole me, but...fascinating.

Hi there,

Yes, that's my feeling too...I'd love to know.

Of course you can only be tested for the maternal line if you're female/paternal line if you're male...so I suppose you'd have to persuade a father or brother to get tested too...if you wanted the whole picture:-)))

Best Wishes, Romilly.

[Springbok]

Hi Romilly,

There is a British organization at Oxford University called Oxford Ancestors. It is interesting to take a look at their Web site. (Also try Googling DNA+Oxford)

What they offer is your connection to a number of maternal/paternal Ancestral "clan" "mothers" or "fathers"  way back in the dim and distant past!!

However as we are all descended from these small number of basic ancestors, it is possible to contact others with a similar DNA sequence!! But it looks fearfully complicated and very expensive . Seemingly some people have proved connections from the Middle ages.and a common ancestor  (I read that in a National newspaper and the BBC have an article about them.)
Personally I wouldn't want to go to those lengths ,but it is interesting .

Springbok

[Romilly]

Hi Springbok,

Thanks for the info...I'll take a look at that site.

Cheers, Romilly.

[Elizabeth Revel]

Hi Romilly,

If you are a reader you might find "The Seven Daughters of Eve" by Brian Sykes of interest.

I found it a very readable book and was fascinated by the information. 

Beth