The Times wants your views: DNA ethnicity results

[Guy Etchells]

After ordering mitochondrial DNA testing for myself, and for a paternal first cousin whose mt DNA would be that of my father's I learned/realized that mitochondrial DNA results are useless without a paper trail - which in my case ends with each 4x great grandmother.

Yes I would agree with that point of view, but that could really be said about any family history research.
Most research taken in isolation has very limited use.
Research pays dividends when combined with other research such as the paper trail you mention.
Genetic Genealogy has a part to play in family history but only when the researcher realises the limitations in what they are dealing with, whether that is DNA results, census schedules, the IGI database, BMD database or parish registers.

All have limitations, all require the users to understand what information is stored or supplied and all are open to abuse.

Cheers
Guy

[Malcolm33]

My mobile phone is a brick.  Personally, I don't understand the benefit of a smartphone.  But you are most welcome to have one if you like.  Just don't send me a photo - you'll have to e-mail that.

     I had a mobile phone some years ago but wouldn't have one anywhere near my body now.  My wife's son-in-law has used one constantly with his business since they first appeared - and for many hours a day.   He is only 62 and is now dying from motor neurone disease.   I am convinced now that it is from all that close contact with the phone having read up on how our cells are affected by such emissions - refer Human Cell Biologist Bruce Lipton.    Our nerve cells operate by using electro-chemical wave transmissions.   Electrical waves act just like water waves.  For example if you drop two pebbles of exactly the same size at the very same time into a pool of water you create two separate waves which will have the same size peaks and when they meet each other the waves are then amplified.   This is called 'a Constructive Energy Field.  However if one wave is weaker or out of phase with the other, then they destroy each other and this is 'A Destructive Energy Field'.    With water you then get a frothy surface instead of large waves.    The energy field from a cell phone will always be out of phase and this is obviously playing havoc with our nervous system.     Just use ear phones and never place a cell phone anywhere near your body.   I can see some kind of plague in about twenty to thirty years time which will devastate the world population.     

[griz]

A few months ago I took the '23 and Me' DNA test. I live in Canada but was born in Cheshire.  When I got the results I thought it was fascinating despite my poor understanding of  genetics.  I would recommend anyone getting the test. I thought it was in some ways predictable as I understood  my ancestry was about 50% English and 50% Irish, and it was.

On my mother's side, I traced my Shaughnessy root only as far back as one  William Shaughnessy b about 1809, Blacksmith, and his wife Ann coming from an unknown country in Ireland arriving in Manchester about the 1830s as some of their children were born in Ireland and the others in Salford/ Manchester.

 My mother's maternal line was Boyle actually two Boyles as both parents had the same  last name.  The man, Thomas Boyle  having been born in Co. Leitrim  about 1862 and his wife. Annie Maria Boyle born in Co Tyrone. sadly no further details on actual towns or parishes. Her parents: John Boyle and Mary Boyle b 1830.

 On my father's side were the Pope  family  originating it seems in Alvanley, Cheshire,  when it was a small village. They later moved in the  late 1800's to Widnes and then later 1900s, my father was born in Manchester.

My paternal grandmother's line:  the Frankish family in Yorkshire, from Hunmanby, and some relatives in nearby places. This line i got back into the middle 1700's so far. I did find reference to a Frankysshe  in Yorkshire in the 14th Century. Maybe an ancestor?

 I also found out I had a little French, a little Dutch, a little Scandinavian, and a real surprise, a little Jamaican, from way back. I must review that.

 I was also delighted to find I had a 3rd cousin, from my Boyle  line, living in Australia and we have been in touch and are sharing information, and  I also found a relative in Cheshire,( via Ancestry,  we also have been in touch. He is the only living relative   from whom I could find out my patrilineal DNA. I hope to do that later. He has also taken the '23 and Me' test and is waiting for the results. There was  also a gentleman who lives in the United States, we are 3rd cousins I think, but we couldn't find the connection. I have a feeling it was via the Boyles  but verifying the connection will have to wait for some other time.

 On the health side, I was pleased to discover I was not affected by much in genetic illness, except Migraine.  I have had  migraines all my life. My son also did the test and was pleased. I hope more is discovered from these tests, and  if everyone shared some data they could be  of use to others we might learn so much more about ourselves.

[Mike in Cumbria]

PS I've unlocked it again now in case somebody wants to add to the original question. However, as this is a long topic thread I'd ask please to keep it on topic. Thanks. 

Well, you tried!!

[mike175]

I would echo the excellent points raised by Constance Cole a few posts back. Without knowing how 'ethnicity' is determined the results have little meaning. In any case, the pretence that your ancestors' ethnicity can be judged from your DNA overlooks the fact that ethnicity involves so much more than the biological relationship, i.e. "... belonging to a social group that has a common national or cultural tradition ..."

From what I've seen so far the ethnicity results are fine if you treat them as 'just a bit of fun'.

Mike.

[Burto]

I have been doing DNA research since my Mum first did the 23andme test in 2010. She has also done the Ftdna and Ancestry tests as we are trying to find her unknown American father.
Her maternal half sister has also done 23andme as has my own father because I wanted to know his Y and MtDNA haplogroups.
Out of all three tests I would say 23andme is the best in terms of value and accuracy. You get to find relatives, health reports and get a basic analysis of your Y and MtDNA. You can also share with other users and see where on your chromosomes you share DNA and download your raw data. I have managed to confirm a 4th cousin at 23andme on my Dad's side. He also shows some mystery Eastern European ancestry which I am currently working on!
I'm sorry to say that I do not rate the accuracy of Ancestry's ancestral analysis...23andme have invested more research into theirs and after myself sharing with over 100 people and comparing their results to their known ancestry, it shows. No tests are without their flaws though.
I am disappointed at Ancestry for insisting that to use all the DNA features you have to subscribe.
None of the tests are particularly good at getting cousins to respond!
I also think Gedmatch is worthy of a mention, a free site that is run by volunteers and provides a cousin matching service across all three companies so you can compare 23andme users against Ftdna for example and they have some very insightful admixture analyses although you have to be prepared to do some research into how they work!
I think all tests have the potential for customers to jump to conclusions about their results...users need to compare themselves to others of a similar background to look for what is common and what is not for example getting 0.1% Native American can cause the user to think they have that ancestry which is totally understandable but quite often it can be just noise. I think all companies could be more informative in this respect.
And ultimately due to how DNA is inherited distant ancestry might not get picked up in which case you need a good paper trail or test more family members.
For me I would recommend 23andme.

[Jessies Mum]

I'm in Australia, but I am really wanting to try the DNA to assist in research, but am also hesitant.  I'm sorry I can't assist due to not living in England, but am keen to follow any developments.

Good luck!

[jaybelnz]

Quote from Malcolm

"I had a mobile phone some years ago but wouldn't have one anywhere near my body now.  My wife's son-in-law has used one constantly with his business since they first appeared - and for many
 hours a day.   He is only 62 and is now dying from motor neurone disease.   I am convinced now that it is from all that close contact with the phone having read up on how our cells are affected by such emissions - refer Human Cell Biologist Bruce Lipton. "   

Malcolm, I am very saddened that your wife's son-in-law has been diagnosed with MND. It's a horrible thing.

Motor Neurone Disease was first diagnosed in 1874.  Not much in the way of electronics or pollution around then.

Only 2 people in every 100 thousand are diagnosed - despite intensive research the cause remains unknown. There is not thought to be any genetic connection.

My father died from Motor Neurone Disease in 1973 when he was only 61 years old. Still not anything like a lot of the pollutants that we have in our lives today. 

My father's nephew also died from MND, aged only in his 40's, in 1975. He was first diagnosed as having had a stroke!

I would truly try not to get too hung up on the cause, although it's a perfectly normal thing to wonder, and want to know - after all when we know the cause - then Science may hopefully find the way to a cure!  Research is on-going, and new medication options coming through to ease the patients journey.

I also wish you and your wife's families courage, strength,  hope and peace, as you all travel this sad and difficult journey together with your relative!

Jeanne

[pinefamily]

Without going too much off topic (although genetics really isn't off topic), that's interesting you say MND is in your family, Jeanne.
Several of my NZ cousins have died, or have, MND. I am curious if there isn't a genetic link. What is more interesting is they have a strong Scottish ancestry, just as you do.