Robinsons: Ireland/Scotland

[Walkman]

DNA when paired with traditional genealogical work is a good tool, yes. But DNA alone will not tell you the whole story. It will not tell you what country your family lived in or what language they spoke.

Genes are the same since the last time they mutated. In my personal case that is around 4 generations back from me on my father's side and 6 generations back from me on my mother's side.

I agree that DNA alone will tell you very little. It has to be used in conjunction with traditional genealogical research. However, let's be clear that in the case of Y-DNA, yours may be exactly the same, or at least very close, to that of your brother, father, paternal grandfather, etc, but as you go back in time you will encounter more and more mutations and it is through those mutations that we can track our ancestors to other countries, across continents, and ultimately to the origin of our species.

DNA in conjunction with traditional genealogical research is a great tool, but you only get out of it what you put into it and there are no guarantees of success. In the case of Y-DNA, four to six generations is more than enough to solve many genealogical "brick walls" and it is beyond that point that things become truly fascinating.

I was stuck in Illinois with an ancestor with a common surname and given name. I knew my ancestor was from Tennessee and born in Virginia, but was lost in a sea of possibilities and locations in Tennessee. DNA testing allowed me to locate my extended family in eastern Tennessee (six generations back), trace it into Virginia (eight generations back) and then ultimately trace back to southwestern Scotland. I couldn't be happier with what I've discovered, and that is only my direct paternal line. I've had many more successes on other lines. I've also been able to help several adopted people discover their roots and reconnect with their birth families.

I will reiterate that there are no guarantees and some lines are certainly more difficult than others, but it really is a fantastic tool. If anyone is interested in doing DNA testing and would like advice on where to test and what tests to order for your particular situation/goals, just send me a private message.