I need help understanding DNA Testing for Ancestry!

[coombs]

I think autosomal DNA, or recombinant DNA can be used but it seems to wear off after about 5 or 6 generations. If you want to find the alleged father of an illegitimate child was the father then this is a good way, providing the illegitimacy happened within 4 or 5 generations. However as some books say, you can use other ways such as old photos and compare the facial features if any pics exist or other traits in the alleged fathers family and the child's family etc.

[jettejjane]

I think autosomal DNA, or recombinant DNA can be used but it seems to wear off after about 5 or 6 generations. If you want to find the alleged father of an illegitimate child was the father then this is a good way, providing the illegitimacy happened within 4 or 5 generations. However as some books say, you can use other ways such as old photos and compare the facial features if any pics exist or other traits in the alleged fathers family and the child's family etc.

The first sentence has  lost me! Too technical.  Regarding hubbies father's father. All we know is its true and fathers name. We can maybe guess where grandmother met him and possibly what he was doing. Not many  leads to follow.  We know her husband not the father he  died over 1 year before son ? was born.There are no photos of him as it was swept under the carpet.

Once again was a bit of a jokey example of what i think. Sorry can't help injecting my weird humour into replies.

I have searched high and low for this man with nothing to go on except name and family guesswork.

[LizzieW]

Jane - I've got ancestors who were nobility, but I've traced them the old fashioned way via BMDs, then parish records and wills, then Burkes Peerage etc.  I've also visited the villages where some of them lived and seen their houses (which were listed in very old wills), and seen their names on gravestones and other church records.  I doubt I would have found all that out just by having a DNA test carried out.

[coombs]

Recombinant DNA is what you inherit from both your parents, who inherited it from their parents. And regarding the illegitimacy I was not strictly referring to your OH's case in his ancestry Jane but in general.

[jettejjane]

Jane - I've got ancestors who were nobility, but I've traced them the old fashioned way via BMDs, then parish records and wills, then Burkes Peerage etc.  I've also visited the villages where some of them lived and seen their houses (which were listed in very old wills), and seen their names on gravestones and other church records.  I doubt I would have found all that out just by having a DNA test carried out.

Lizzie, to quote the Punch and Judy shows, "that's the way to do it". Well done, should I call you your Ladyship, lol   I like the old fashioned way too.

I am still not convinced that DNA is the way to go, well not for me anyway..I wish I had more time for my research, I can't do it justice at the moment. I'm sure I have said before i work full time.  Can't do visits to records offices and places my lot lived, apart from home town of Arundel. Have a wedding and grandchild coming soon as well. Thrilled to say he will be William after my dad. Probably mentioned that so many times in here, sorry very excited.

Am i right in thinking you may live close to me?

[jettejjane]

Recombinant DNA is what you inherit from both your parents, who inherited it from their parents. And regarding the illegitimacy I was not strictly referring to your OH's case in his ancestry Jane but in general.

All  a bit over my head you are too technical and much more dedicated and knowledgeable than I am. It just emphasizes how little I know. It sounded to me you were commenting on my case, but what do I know, I frequently read the wrong thing into replies. That said I am happy bumbling along my way and enjoy rootschat and the various posts I enter into. I also learn a lot too and get help.  My biggest problem is I say too much and  try and inject humour into replies which sometimes is misunderstood.

Please don't take this the wrong way.

Jane

[Ruskie]

Jane, if you have a name for mystery grandfather, I am not sure that a DNA test will provide what you are looking for, which seems to be more information about the man.  Most people who take DNA tests for paternity reasons are looking for the name. You already have that. Presuming that is his real name.

I took a familyfinder test which gives results on both maternal and paternal lines. A big old mish mash if you like. I thought it might be fun and in my case I knew which results would belong to which side of my family. It might be more difficult or confusing if (as far as you are aware) both maternal and paternal are from the UK - then you would not be sure which results belonged to which side of your family.

You asked about my results :
I got a nice coloured map showing ethnic percentages.
I got 159 pages of matches (7 per page) from 2nd to 4th cousin matches to 5th and remote matches. I've been very slack and not contacted any of them. oops.
I got a page called "chromosome browser" (a diagram) which I don't know what to do with.
And that is more or less it.

As more Americans than others take these tests any matches will usually be skewed that way. Oddly enough I have quite a number of matches in Lithuania which is a bit of a surprise - maybe they take a lot of DNA tests in that part of the world. 

I hope you get more responses from others who know what they're talking about and understand more than I do (which is not hard). 

[LizzieW]

Jane - No I don't live that close to you, I'm in Hampshire.  I remember sometime ago when I went to Tunbridge Wells for a long weekend that you'd said if you'd known, we could have met up and you'd have shown us around.  That was you wasn't it?

Don't think I'm "Your Ladyship".  The line that started out as Lords and Knights descended after quite a few generations to a death in a workhouse.   Still we picked ourselves up but not as far as nobility.

Lizzie

[jettejjane]

Jane, if you have a name for mystery grandfather, I am not sure that a DNA test will provide what you are looking for, which seems to be more information about the man.  Most people who take DNA tests for paternity reasons are looking for the name. You already have that. Presuming that is his real name.

You asked about my results :
I got a nice coloured map showing ethnic percentages.
I got 159 pages of matches (7 per page) from 2nd to 4th cousin matches to 5th and remote matches. I've been very slack and not contacted any of them. oops.
I got a page called "chromosome browser" (a diagram) which I don't know what to do with.
And that is more or less it.

Jane - No I don't live that close to you, I'm in Hampshire.  I remember sometime ago when I went to Tunbridge Wells for a long weekend that you'd said if you'd known, we could have met up and you'd have shown us around.  That was you wasn't it?

Don't think I'm "Your Ladyship".  The line that started out as Lords and Knights descended after quite a few generations to a death in a workhouse.   Still we picked ourselves up but not as far as nobility.

Lizzie

Ruskie, thanks. Regarding mystery man not 100% sure of Christian name only surname. Thanks also for sharing results and your replies, believe it or not they have helped. I think for the moment will continue purchasing certs hoping they give me answers. So far only had 1 failiure.

Lizzie, I am west Sussex so next door county. So close ish. My youngest lives in Southsea. Always willing to meet anyone and show them Arundel, and probably bore them to death Tunbridge Wells no not me! Although some Redman's settled there never been.

Not yet had any glowing reports on this subject. Anyone out there who can join in with success stories?

Jane