I need help understanding DNA Testing for Ancestry!

[jettejjane]

What I need is a book entitled "Understanding DNA Testing in Ancestry for Dummies"!  Because I feel a complete Dummy trying to understand this subject.  I am not ashamed to admit ignorance and ask for help.

I apologise if this subject has been raised before.  I sort of understand the gist of it.   From the Y chromosome ( the paternal line) ethnicity and country of origin can be found, migration patterns and maybe even  infidelity and illegitimacy.  I appreciate that will be of help to widen the ancestor searches.  I  wont go into the female mitro- thingy one just yet, one thing at a time.

My only knowledge of DNA before this was its use in identifying perpetrators of crimes by taking a sample of their DNA and matching with that found at a crime scene.  Or for proving paternity/sex of a baby.

However, what I am struggling to understand is how it can find  genetic relatives.  Would this not depend on the individuals being alive and  also having taken the test? 

Some people say they have found long lost  ancestors gong back 100's of years. I have also read that individuals in a certain area with same surname  as say mine can be found and offered up as [potential ancestors.  I have heard others say it has enable them  to get back to 1500's and prove they are related to nobility.  I really find it hard to get my head around all this.

I have been onto many google sites but cannot find answers to my questions and some explanations are a bit technical for me!

Please feel free to contradict me and put me straight however you see fit.  Bearing in mind that I don't do "technical" keep it simple and be patient with me  please!

Jane - Confused of Sussex

[LizzieW]

Jane - Looking forward to some insight too.  I can't believe so much about ancestors can be found from our DNA.

[Ruskie]

It is a totally confusing subject. You are not alone. I have done some reading on the subject and it still puts my head in a spin. 

However, what I am struggling to understand is how it can find  genetic relatives.  Would this not depend on the individuals being alive and  also having taken the test? 

Yes is the answer to this question. If none of your 'possible' relatives from anywhere in the world have tested then you won't find a match. Even if you do find a match, some are so remote that you may never find a paper trail to connect them.

I think it's like many things, you only hear of the success stories so can get a skewed viewpoint. My OH had a 67 marker YDNA test - he has one of the most common names in the UK and I have discovered his ancestors had many children. He does not have one single match with the same surname as himself, and altogether I think has 4 matches at 12 markers (which means nothing).

Having said all of that, the more people who test, the more possible matches that will be out there. So you live in hope. 

[jettejjane]

Jane - Looking forward to some insight too.  I can't believe so much about ancestors can be found from our DNA.

Lizzie, glad I am not the only one! 

Look forward to being educated

[davidft]

Rootschat has its own section on DNA testing

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/ancestral-family-tree-dna-testing/

OK I admit there is a lot of chaff in there but there is also a lot of useful information complete with links to other sites and videos (usually on youtube). Give it a go it might answer your questions, as well as give you some more to think about 

[jettejjane]

It is a totally confusing subject. You are not alone. I have done some reading on the subject and it still puts my head in a spin. 

Ruskie another like minded soul.  Making me feel better all the time, and not so inadequate that I find it hard to grasp.

[jettejjane]

Rootschat has its own section on DNA testing

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/ancestral-family-tree-dna-testing/

OK I admit there is a lot of chaff in there but there is also a lot of useful information complete with links to other sites and videos (usually on youtube). Give it a go it might answer your questions, as well as give you some more to think about 

Thanks.  I tried that and it was too confusing!  I have to admit I gave up and maybe missed some of the easy to understand bits, if there were any!

[Ruskie]

Yep. I get to a point where I think I am grasping it. But then I realise ... nope.

Interesting subject though. My OH, my father and myself have all had tests. No useful matches though.  (I have been a bit slack in chasing mine up because a couple of the closer matches I found through googling their names I know are dead  )

[jettejjane]

Yep. I get to a point where I think I am grasping it. But then I realise ... nope.

Interesting subject though. My OH, my father and myself have all had tests. No useful matches though.  (I have been a bit slack in chasing mine up because a couple of the closer matches I found through googling their names I know are dead  )

Ruskie, yes it is an interesting subject.  What sparked this was the Chatroom last night.  A couple of people said they had done really well, found relatives were  related to nobility etc. and would highly recommend it.  A lone voice (mine)  showed their  ignorance by asking  what it was all about.  From the few  replies I still didn't quite grasp how  it could work like that,  hence the post here and a lot of googling last night!

I even discussed it with my OH who has no interest in my research whatsoever, but is better than me at understanding science type things!  He actually agreed with me that it would not be possible to find living or dead relatives without them having contributed DNA samples.

If it is as easy as some people believe hubby  could give a DNA sample. Find his father's real father (both gents dead) . Apparently it was hushed up in the family but his Grandma was a bit of a naughty lass and he was not the son of her husband.   All we know is the chaps name which was given to his Dad as a middle name, it was all very hush hush! 

Can I ask what did your results tell you?  I assume from your comments  you got some matches and hubby didn't?  Was it all  you thought it would be and worth the money.

Sorry for all questions but I am really curious,  I don't honestly think it would be something I would even contemplate doing unless it could find my pre 1600 relatives!

Jane