DNA ancestory kits, who has used these?

**longfletch** · 29th March 09, 06:51 AM

has anyone used one of the DNA geneology/ancestory test kits?
https://dna.familybuilder.com/client...FQw9Ggodrl7G6A

i find it kind of interesting to see that far back in history. i know these do not tell what villiage or the names of your ggggggrandparents, but to "maybe" know the migration and origin of your ancestors is pretty cool.

so for those who have gone down this road, did you find the info interesting or vague? some articles iv read say you have to search for your sub haplogroups to get more details. please let me know your opinions on this.
thanks
bryan

**Pleater** · 29th March 09, 07:22 AM

I have not used the kit, but I have read 'Blood of the Isles' by Brian Sykes, published in 2006 in which the results of DNA testing are described, and there are maps of the 'clans' both male and female showing the frequency across Britain.

Somewhere I have world maps showing the migration routes of the male and female DNA.

There was a website www.bloodoftheisles.net - I do not know if it is still there - but that was quite interesting.

What is quite fun are the anomalies which the reserch has uncovered, where the inheritance belies the accepted history of a place - some 'we came and conquered this place' stories do not match with the inherited DNA in that place at all.

Anne the Pleater

**KiltedKnome** · 29th March 09, 08:11 AM

Steve (The Wizard of BC) and I took part in the National Geographic Genome Project, which is a 5-year study of human migration. Being female, I could only track my maternal side (mitochondrial DNA), but he did both paternal (Y-chromosome) and maternal. The results were interesting and it was nice to contribute to a study. It did lend credence to some family oral history on Steve's paternal side.

**Jack Daw** · 29th March 09, 08:31 AM

Yes, I had both my Y-DNA and mitochondrial (mt) tests done. I found it quite intriguing and have connected to others on the Y-Search website. I was a bit disappointed in the Mt-DNA test results, which provided very vague information. However, the Y-DNA/Haplogroup indicated Celt-Iberian with ties to several Skenes, actually.

**macneighill** · 29th March 09, 08:51 AM

I had the Family Tree DNA 37 marker test done last year. I'm hoping to order a deep clade test. This should determine my subclade assignment. Which will give a better answer of where my family line originated from. Right now, its kind of a broad area, covering a region from Germany to Spain to the British Isles (my highest number of exact matches have been Ireland and England). The deep clade will dig a little deeper and pinpoint a smaller region of origin. Family Tree DNA's website is: http://www.familytreedna.com/.

Is the 17 marker all they offer? 17 markers is kind of vague but, it will give you a generic haplogroup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haplogroup). To determine a subclade, you'll need to more extensive test. The Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation is another organization that offers DNA testing. Their test is free. You can check them out at: http://www.smgf.org/.

I'm want to participate in the National Geographic Genographic Project. Maybe this year, I will.

All in all, these tests will pretty much only show where you line originated from. As for tracing an ancestor . . it doesn't do much. If you do have matches to your Y signature, it will only show that sometime in the past, you share a common ancestor. It doesn't say whom or when. You can only hope to exchange information to see if you can find a match somewhere in your line.

**gilmore** · 29th March 09, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by longfletch

has anyone used one of the DNA geneology/ancestory test kits?
https://dna.familybuilder.com/client...FQw9Ggodrl7G6A

i find it kind of interesting to see that far back in history. i know these do not tell what villiage or the names of your ggggggrandparents, but to "maybe" know the migration and origin of your ancestors is pretty cool.

so for those who have gone down this road, did you find the info interesting or vague? some articles iv read say you have to search for your sub haplogroups to get more details. please let me know your opinions on this.
thanks
bryan

The best genealogical genetics testing company is Family Tree DNA, www.familytreedna.com It has the largest data base, and is therefore most likely to yield informative results.

Whatever company you test with, you can also enter the results at www.ysearch.org for possible matches with men who test at other comapnies.

I took the Y DNA test 2 years ago and received some suprising, useful and very helpful results, but not everyone will. It's a crapshoot. You may find several exact matches with men who have researched their patrilineal lines back to Charlemagne, you may find close matches that may give you general information on the area of the world your patrilineal line came from, or you may find nothing helpful. What is most useful, generally, is what it does not tell you. That is, it will likely show where in time and geographically you have no matches, and therefore where it would not likely be fruitful to do further research, so you can rule out possibilities without having to reasearch them yourself.

Another helpful thing is that genetic genealogy is in its infancy, having been widely available only since 2002 or so. Over time as others test, you are likely to come across more matches in the months and years to come.

**Mael Coluim** · 29th March 09, 06:41 PM

I participated in my Clan's DNA project with FamilyTreeDNA. I found it insightful. My ancestry started in northern Ireland and my halotype shows a concentration through the Argyll region of Scotland. I assume I am part of the Irish Gaels of the Dalraida Kingdom. I haven't found a common ancestor in my Clan but we are rather small and only a few men are participating. I was able to join a group with my same halotype. I would encourage you to participate.

**Riverkilt** · 29th March 09, 07:00 PM

Not sure the program but my first cousin did it last year and he came back as Scandanavian. It was a male side deal and it for sure fits since our Macdonald line goes back to Uig, Skye on the West coast of the Trotternish Peninsula of Skye. Many Viking relics found there. And of course Clan Donald comes from Somerled. So, it makes sense.

Ron

**ohneplo** · 29th March 09, 07:29 PM

Our family line has participated in the Family TreeDNA process with my Uncle testing for my Mother's line and myself for our Father's lineage. Some specific matches on both families back through known ancestors here in the US (a Salem Witch accuser) but we have not yet been able to match exact cousins on the other side of the Pond. More participants in the UK and Europe will bring more matches over time and it's been interesting to be a Group Leader for years now.
Fair winds All,
Capt Bruce

**Spartan** · 29th March 09, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by Pleater

I have not used the kit, but I have read 'Blood of the Isles' by Brian Sykes, published in 2006 in which the results of DNA testing are described, and there are maps of the 'clans' both male and female showing the frequency across Britain.

Somewhere I have world maps showing the migration routes of the male and female DNA.

There was a website www.bloodoftheisles.net - I do not know if it is still there - but that was quite interesting.

What is quite fun are the anomalies which the reserch has uncovered, where the inheritance belies the accepted history of a place - some 'we came and conquered this place' stories do not match with the inherited DNA in that place at all.

Anne the Pleater

I have also been reading Blood of the Isles (UK), published in the U.S. as Saxons, Vikings and Celts: The Genetic Roots of Britain and Ireland. He's probably done the most extensive reseach in this area. It's a good read. The data is on www.bloodoftheisles.net.

If you are interested in DNA ancestry research, I would seriously check out his other site: www.oxfordancestors.com.