DNA Testing?

[Keith Bateman]

Hi Romilly,

What have you started - this arrived in my mail box today!!

FamilyTree DNA recently made available two $30 "gift certificates" applicable for two new Bateman Y-DNA tests, either 25 or 37 markers, provided that the tests are paid for by Dec. 31, 2005.   One of these certificates is still available as of this writing, and I will see that it is applied on behalf of the first person who contacts me by email wanting to order a DNA test kit.

If you have been considering participating in this project, now is a good time to get started.  After applying the gift certificate, the net testing cost will be $139 for a 25-marker test or $189 for a 37 marker test (plus about $2 postage to return the test kit).

If there is no response from someone in this group within a few days, I will offer the rermaining gift certificate in other forums.

Hoping to hear from someone .....

Interesting - rather expensive - and I wonder how accurate your results would be - a bit like genesunited - lots of questions and no answers!!

Cheers

Keith

[Romilly]

Hello Keith,

It does sound a bit pricey...I wonder if anyone on here has tried it?

Best Wishes, Romilly:-)

[CuriousDiana]

I had my mtDNA tested a few years ago by Oxford Ancestors. By law they do not keep your sample, although I believe the US testing companies do.  It is another interesting way to approach genealogy, but also totally fascinating as regards man's journey out of Africa and around the world.
I do recommend Brian Sykes book, as mentioned above. He is Professor of Human Genetics at Oxford University, and started Oxford Ancestors.  Have a look at OA's website and read the FAQs, recommended reading list, etc.

[Romilly]

I had my mtDNA tested a few years ago by Oxford Ancestors. By law they do not keep your sample, although I believe the US testing companies do.  It is another interesting way to approach genealogy, but also totally fascinating as regards man's journey out of Africa and around the world.
I do recommend Brian Sykes book, as mentioned above. He is Professor of Human Genetics at Oxford University, and started Oxford Ancestors.  Have a look at OA's website and read the FAQs, recommended reading list, etc.

Hello there,

Many thanks for all the info above, - much appreciated!

Btw...did your test tell you anything radically different to what your research had led you to believe?

Best Wishes, Romilly.

[LindsaySiam]

The DNA Surname Projects are very interesting, in the Morrison Project for example we have 107 families represented of which 63 of 102 participants with results available (or 62%) have at least one match.

These matches have in some cases helped to overcome 'brickwalls' and although Americans in particular have really benefited by being able to trace back to their Scottish roots, I am sure that in time as the project grows it will be of benefit to those of us this side of the pond who are also stuck i.e. Me 

Have a look at the results on

http://home.mindspring.com/~efholcombe/index_files/Page1667.htm

even if you are not called Morrison it will still give you an idea, most Projects operate in the same way. If you are called Morrison, why not think about it?

[wheeldon]

Hi Romilly - I haven't tried it but I have come across a lot of people who have and I'm yet to understand it!  My Grandma's surname was Stewart and it has become quite a hindrance, as whenever I try to look any Stewarts eg:  message boards, mailing lists,  I am completely bombarded by our Amercan cousins doing DNA tests to see if they have blue blood!  From their DNA results it seems millions have!  On a serious note - I would tread very carefully before giving any hard earned money. 

At the end of the day the fun is trying to find out how and where we are all linked.

Fiona

[Romilly]

Hi Fiona,

Thanks for sharing your views on DNA testing.

I was actually considering it as a Christmas present for my husband. We discovered when his father died recently, that his father, (my husband's grandfather) had actually been killed in WW1, - 3yrs before my father-in-law was born!

It makes tracing his Ancestors very difficult...

All Best Wishes, Romilly.

[wheeldon]

Romilly - aaah now I understand.  Could there have been a mistake made with his date of death?  I know a little but not much about deaths in WW1 as my G Grandad also died in battle.  If mistakes were made - possibly try posting a question on the armed forces section on this site about the subject.  If you pay for a DNA test will that only tell you who is father wasn't - rather than who is father was? 

Just a thought and good luck with your search - please let me know how you get on as I would love to know.

Best wishes
Fiona

[Romilly]

Romilly - aaah now I understand.  Could there have been a mistake made with his date of death?  I know a little but not much about deaths in WW1 as my G Grandad also died in battle.  If mistakes were made - possibly try posting a question on the armed forces section on this site about the subject.  If you pay for a DNA test will that only tell you who is father wasn't - rather than who is father was? 
Just a thought and good luck with your search - please let me know how you get on as I would love to know.
Best wishes
Fiona

Hello again,

No...no mistakes I'm afraid:-(

My father-in-law had kept the notification of the death...also his mother's diary; which is worthy of a novel by Sebastian Faulkes:-))

Sadly, it means that all of my research into the Holman's in Somerset is for nought...

We were amazed that his father had never mentioned it while he was alive!!

Best Wishes, Romilly.