MyHeritage DNA Offer

[DavidG02]

Hi

Received an email with offers on DNA testing through MyHeritage. I would like some feedback on anyone who has used MH or what is offered.

There are 3 offers.

mtDNAplus at a very very very attractive rate. Having a look through the links provided in the forum I think this can match me with people descended or connected to the female line. I will also be given an Haplogrouping Letter which determines origin.

Y-DNA37 + mtFullSequencing and Family Finder ( meh) - YDNA I understand is paternal line which I am more interested in as I want to either prove or disprove a cuckoo in the nest. As I understand Y sequencing this can provide links to relatives - who have tested-  from ANY of my paternal lines ie my father my 2 grandfathers my 4 GGrandfathers etc etc. Is this correct?

The next offer is Y-DNA111. I think I understand this to mean they will test more markers and give me a wider scope of tested relatives to confirm with.

I don't think its fair to advertise the prices as I will make the choice - if I do - based on a cost analysis of service v price. I will say this , the price of the 1st is affordable NOW , the other 2 are close to each other but out of my current range. If the argument falls in favor of the latter 2 then it will be the side benefits that attract.

ie Why offer mtFS on a 37 test and not 111? I assume the mtFS is the same offer as the first one?

Any advice gladly appreciated

[hurworth]

Y-DNA37 + mtFullSequencing and Family Finder ( meh) - YDNA I understand is paternal line which I am more interested in as I want to either prove or disprove a cuckoo in the nest. As I understand Y sequencing this can provide links to relatives - who have tested-  from ANY of my paternal lines ie my father my 2 grandfathers my 4 GGrandfathers etc etc. Is this correct?

The next offer is Y-DNA111. I think I understand this to mean they will test more markers and give me a wider scope of tested relatives to confirm with.

The Y-DNA is only your paternal line - the Y-DNA you received from your father which he received from his father, which he received from his father etc.   You don't receive any Y-DNA from your mother's father.

Y-DNA37 vs Y-DNA111 relates to how many markers are tested.   At 37 markers you and another individual may have identical Y-DNA but at 111 markers there may be some other differences.   Obviously 111 will be more specific but sometimes 37 markers is all you need.   If you wish to rule out a common male ancestor up the paternal line with another male relative and at 37 markers you don't match then there's no need for 111 markers.

[DavidG02]

Thank you

You are right I shouldn't have included the maternal grandparents. Now its explained its obvious

Thank you again on the 37 v 111.

[JaneyCanuck]

Since MyHeritage has partnered with Family Tree DNA, that is where the testing will be done, I imagine.

(FTDNA has sent out a reverse offer, a deep discount on a MyHeritage membership for FTDNA users.)

Many of us recommend FTDNA as the best place for genetic testing, in large part because of the matching facilities and the projects it supports.

Just to clarify the 111-marker vs 37-marker tests - you said:
"The next offer is Y-DNA111. I think I understand this to mean they will test more markers and give me a wider scope of tested relatives to confirm with."

Actually, it is the opposite. It narrows the field of potential matches. That's what you want to do, as hurworth explained, since the fewer the markers, the more the "matches", although the matches are essentially meaningless at low numbers of markers, since those markers are common to so many people.

I found that it was next to impossible to understand what the heck it was all about until I had my male rellies' YDNA results in hand and had something to actually work with (a visual-kinetic learner!), and also great help from project administrators at FTDNA.

I'd dive in with the Y-DNA111 test and see what turns up - if anything, because keep in mind, it won't tell you anything unless you have someone to compare with: a match with a known or unknown person, or a mismatch with a known person, etc.

[DavidG02]

Thank You Janey.

As I keep telling my guys when unscrewing with a drill- its counterproductive thinking but pushing in takes it out. I see the same with the 111 marker test. Thank you for pointing out the counterproductive process with it.

I'd dive in with the Y-DNA111 test and see what turns up - if anything, because keep in mind, it won't tell you anything unless you have someone to compare with: a match with a known or unknown person, or a mismatch with a known person, etc.

Slightly pricey for now - but I will keep it in mind. I understand it will be more a fishing expedition , but I look at it with a longer term view. If nothing matches tomorrow I am sure there will be in 1,5 or 10 years time

[JaneyCanuck]

hm, I had a look at myheritage's DNA test offers

https://www.myheritage.com/dna-tests?s=335607241&gender=M

and yes, it's pricey because it's packages.

Y-DNA37 + Family Finder + Free mtDNAPlus
Special offer US $307.00 US $248.00

I'd go with Y-DNA67 standalone.

Yikes, that's a fair bit too: $268 at the FTDNA site. So you could do what I did - just start with the Y-DNA37, which is $169, and upgrade if there is a reason to. Like, if you get a 37-marker match that seems possibly meaningful, from other info like place of origin. That's what I did - a perfect match at 37 markers with someone whose paternal line originated in the same place in Cornwall as mine may have, when refined to 67, was not as perfect but still put our common ancestor probably within the reach of records. You probably saw my tale in the Times thread:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=740667.135

And there are sales that you wait for. The FTDNA YDNA tests go on sale for Father's Day in June, and then there is a summer sale on various tests. Existing customers get weekly coupons for an extra $5 or $10 off (sometimes more, but I never have!) during sales, and you could always post here to ask for somebody's coupon code to use - they're freely tradeable (or just ask me ).

edit - I've just noticed the Y37 is offered at US $149.00 at myheritage - probably about what you'd expect during an FTDNA sale, so that's the one I'd consider to start with for your purposes.

[patty_in_ms]

I know little about My Heritage, but do use Family Tree DNA.  They host "surname projects" so check those that apply to you and see if they offer a better price for Y-DNA testing - some do 

[DavidG02]

Thank you for that Patty

Another option to keep in mind