DNA Testing?

[kojak]

Hi Paul,

My respect for Tele Savalas doesnt go that far to shave my hair to the bone! LOL

No problem.  Any queries just ask...

The science can be a bit OTT i have to admit, but I accept most people (including myself), want to know the results without all the technical aspects of the Y chromosonal marker attributes. LOL

One simple thing to remember (and where some people get tripped up) is:

The Y-DNA test will test your fathers, fathers fathers etc side
The mtDNA test will test your mothers, mothers, mothers etc side

To test the maternal name (carried by a male) , you need to have a brother, a son or nephew of a son to be tested.

Hope this helps, and enjoy reading up about DNA research.

Regards,

Kojak   

[MarkyP]

Wow, this is something I'm going to have to get done! But, confusing or what!!! 

My chief interest at the moment is my fathers maternal side, so could that be got from my DNA, or do I need to get my Dad's DNA?

Kojak, I guess you're based in North America and thats why you used a lab in Vancouver, would it still be worth using that lab over here in the UK?

Mark

[kojak]

Hi Mark,

It can be confusing, so I hope I can make it less so...

I am Scottish and live in Scotland.  I used genebase as I know a bit about them (I dabbled with dna research years ago, but never tested myself).

There a several labs offering to undertake the dna research.  A quick search on google will show just how many.  I can vouch for genebase, but they are by no means the only option.

To be honest the reason I chose them was twofold.  Firstly, I knew about them (academically speaking) and secondly, the are associated with a global ancestry project that is progressing well.  The site listed above gives you a good idea about what is on offer.

By using the mtdna test, your father would ascertain his maternal ancestral heritage.

Hope this helps and good luck.

Kojak :-)

[Lydart]

For more info, a bit technical if you have no basic knowledge of biology, I can recommend the book 'DNA and Family History' by Chris Pomery, pub. the National Archives, £12.99.

[gjil]

I found this link on the BBC website.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory/next_steps/int_07_dna_01.shtml


gjil

[MarkyP]

Well I've jumped in with both feet, signed up to Genebase and ordered an mtdna test. But, having given it some thought, a bit late as usual, by getting my Dad to do it it will trace his maternal side right through. I wanted to trace his mothers (my Nan) paternal side, which this won't do will it? 

To get that I need to follow the paternal side of my great great grandfather down, and they are all in the US!

This is all really confusing, but at least I've made a start on my Nan's maternal side! 

[Comosus]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think y-DNA tests and Mt-DNA tests will show where your ancestors came from.  The main use of them is to find relatives - Close relatives on your father's side will have the same Y chromosome if they are male and are descended down the male line (ie with the same surname, although that's not always the case if parents weren't married).  Mt-DNA is passed down the female line.  All children (male and female) of my GG Grandmother would have had the same Mt-DNA.  However any descendants of the male children do not - the Mt-DNA of their children will come from their wife/partner.

If you want to trace the genetic make up of your grandfather, it would be best to do a test like they did on the Colin Jackson WDYTYA.  From what I understand, you give them a sample of your DNA and they "search" for certain sections of the DNA that come from different areas and will then give you a rough breakdown.

MarkyP: The Mt-DNA test of your father would trace back his maternal side.  That is, his mother's mother's mother's.... and so on.  Did your nan have a brother?  If so do you know of any male descendants with the same surname?

Andrew

I don't think Y-DNA and Mt-DNA tests can tell you much about your history.  They won't tell you who your ancestors were or where they came from but they will give a "read-out" of your results.  If they match to anyone else then it's very possible that you are closely related.

[kojak]

Hi Andrew,

We all carry set DNA markers that are specific to set locations.  We carry our ancestral markers (known as loci) that differentuate between other locations.  The test will confirm where your ancestor originated from thousands of years ago.  This is known as the haplogrouping which our DNA markers pick up on.

From the haplogrouping we can analyse the region(s) our ancestors came from. 

You refer to the test Colin Jackson undertook.  The Y-DNA test covers this.  Like him, my test calculates the set percentage of my ancestry (e.g 46% Na-dene), whereas, Colin I think had more European ancestry than I do.

The Genebase test includes a global ancestral project which also searches for matches with others globally.  Thats where the global interactive map comes in.

I would repeat the Y-DNA test is for paternal ancestry, the mtDNA test is for maternal ancestry.

If you want to test the DNA of the father of your mother (your maternal grandfather), you'll need to test (the maternal grandfather himself) his son/your uncle (brother of your mother) or a son of the uncle (your nephew).

Gjil's link confirms that DNA testing has become more reasonably priced.

Mark - Good luck with your test !  I hope you find it worthwhile.  You'll soon see on the site, you have lots to look at.  The complexity will ease Mark I promise.

After I have completed my mtdna test, I may turn to my maternal grandfathers side.  Afterall, I am getting tested so, I want my fathers fathers etc side and my mothers mothers etc side.

Kojak

[patrish]

I have read this thread with great interest, I would love to have the testing done as I believe my 2 x gt grandfather was not born in Britain, but it all seems very complicated to me, so perhaps I will wait a while.