Ancestry DNA

[Zaphod99]

I echo Biggles' book recommendation, but make sure you do get the latest edition. So much has changed since I bought the first edition about five years ago. It's surely almost time for a third edition. I read it once a year.

Zaph

[jo1962]

Thank you Biggles and Zaph. I have now ordered my kit (without traits) A good book that explains things in simple terms is definitely what I need.

[Romilly]

Thank you Biggles and Zaph. I have now ordered my kit (without traits) A good book that explains things in simple terms is definitely what I need.

This book is quite good:

Tracing Your Ancestors Using DNA: A Guide for Family Historians Paperback – 17 Jun. 2019
by Graham S Holton (Author)

[jo1962]

Thank you Romilly 

[Biggles50]

Thank you Biggles and Zaph. I have now ordered my kit (without traits) A good book that explains things in simple terms is definitely what I need.

This book is quite good:

Tracing Your Ancestors Using DNA: A Guide for Family Historians Paperback – 17 Jun. 2019
by Graham S Holton (Author)

This is the Amazon link to the Holton book.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Ancestors-Using-DNA/dp/1036150135/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2J0BCIE5J3M2C&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.FTvMqJ8TB54A9AY_3tdZMXxt9ZuP6uUp_-ePbpZTdGD4IC7vHfe0jDeKwecM6sa1VI_i_QREXP3dJIG11tbMyg1Jq63Y8Zvd09GfymjJ5e72XbImzwK0pgDvHVqvHXWU.k12jEm_qdyg9EKuTqOFhuThjr3Y4pzdX73ZWvP83TAQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=Graham+holton&qid=1764437730&sprefix=graham+holton%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-2

I have both this one is the Standard, but it is far heavier going than the Bettinger book.

Both are available on Kindle

Whatever you buy do ensure that you get the most up to date versions.

[jo1962]

Thanks for the link Biggles 

[RobEwing]

agreed, the traits on Ancestry aren't that useful. Some of mine were accurate (yeah I have blue eyes) others questionable.

Genetic testing for medical conditions is pretty expensive - there are various providers out there. Once your get Ancestry results, you are free to request your raw Ancestry DNA date, and could upload this to other sites which can offer information on your predisposition to certain conditions. These vary in price - and reliability.

Keep in mind that your Ancestry DNA isn't a whole genome sequence, but instead a snapshot of about 0.1% of your whole genome. So a lot of stuff isn't actually tested. Proper genetic testing is more extensive, and looks specifically at many of these SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) that confer risk in certains genes, eg BRCA gene, AP0E4 gene. But again it can be quite expensive.

Good luck!

[jo1962]

Thanks Rob,
Fortunately or unfortunately, however it may be perceived, I have had full medical genetic testing a few years ago due to family conditions that have blighted my family.
I have now received my kit, duly given a saliva sample, registered it and sent it off.   

[Zaphod99]

The one thing to be careful of, if you buy a book, is make sure it is very recent, as the technology changes so very fast. I've got Bettinger's first edition, and I'd love the second one but I can't justify it.

There are also many websites with regularly added new articles, and of course many many films on YouTube, (by presenters who generally really irritate me because they want to be celebrities and I do wish they would just give the information without trying to be entertainers as well!)

Zaph