*SUCCESS* Autosomal DNA Test - my experience

[Craclyn]

Congratulations.
I am still living in hope that I might make my first connection. Getting closer as I have now also tested my maternal aunt so I am starting to narrow down some of the possibilities.

[Redroger]

I got to know my first (and so far only) connection before I found the email with my results. Unfortunately that was in 2010; but I live in hope.

[DudleyWinchurch]

Apologies,
I've been really busy the last week or two.  Thanks for the all responses and also the link to details from DevonCruwys.

It seems that I am doing pretty well comparatively then, with a confirmation at the expected level on the paternal cousin relationship that we were trying to establish and the unexpected bonus of my maternal second cousin, giving a relative on either side to test further relationships against.

However, no responses yet as to the second question that I posed.

Has anyone else tried to look into or use the new information on X-matches that was added to the Family Finder results, earlier this year?

I have a very unbalanced set of matches, with about 40 X-matches for me, and only 4 for my brother?

[Craclyn]

FTDNA forum has several threads discussing number of X-matches. Expectations are much lower for men than women as the X-chromosome does not pass through two consecutive males.

[Redroger]

But there have been a variety of postings on this subject. Apparently inbreeding strengthens the likliehood of getting a match and if you are like me and come from country stock it is highly likely you will find a high incidence of cousin marriages.

[DudleyWinchurch]

Thanks Craclyn,

I had forgotten about the forums (fora?) on FTDNA.  I have had a look and my experiences seem similar to others but there seems to be uncertainty about how this fits the mathematical expectations! - my feelings exactly.

Redroger - not sure that I understand.  Are you suggesting that the unexpected (on top of the predicted) statistical imbalance on the X-matches comes from e.g. cousin marriages?  While sisters will always (half-)match to each other 100% due to the DNA from their maternal grandmother being passed on unchanged by their father, their offspring will have recombined X-DNA.  Brothers, on the other hand, will only have X-DNA from their mother so their offspring won't share any of their father's X-DNA. Thus the pattern is more complicated.

[DevonCruwys]

Here is another really nice autosomal DNA success story:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/real-life-stories/dustbin-baby-michelle-rooney-tracks-3691421

"Dustbin Baby" Michelle Rooney was able to track down her birth father after taking the Family Finder test at Family Tree DNA.

I am sure we will see many more success stories like this as the database grows in size.

[Redroger]

Dudley; Replies 55-59 on this thread between myself and Devon Cruwys refer. She explains it far better than I can.
Roger

[DudleyWinchurch]

Hi Redroger,

but the question related to the X-matches, which have now been added to the autosomal results. Your discussion seems to be about Y-DNA and autosomal, which was why I couldn't see the relevance to my question?