DNA testing?

**dutchy kilted** · 12th August 13, 12:31 PM

Greetings all!

My wife and I do not exchange presents at Christmas, but usually purchase something for the house or an "experience" for the whole family.

This year we thought it might be interesting to each get DNA tests done so we can tell our son where his ancestry actually comes from. I have a good idea of my own genealogy but my wife can only go back two generations.

Since I know the Rabble has knowledge of many varied subjects, I was hoping someone on here might have gotten DNA testing done and can recommend (or not recommend) any testing firms? I would really like a place that would be able to go into pretty great detail.

My wife keeps insisting I am part Neanderthal so maybe some of those genes will show up.

**Orionson** · 12th August 13, 01:16 PM

http://www.scotlandsdna.com/

This is a link to the leader in the field of DNA testing here in Scotland. They are well respected and very reasonably priced, comparatively speaking.

And, yes - they will take you back to your wife's suspected Neanderthal links, if indeed, she is correct.

Have fun. It is an interesting journey to embark upon.

Cheers!

**kiltedrennie** · 12th August 13, 01:20 PM

I recently read an article reviewing the DNA testing option from ancestry.com. Looks like they liked the testing results.

http://geekdad.com/2013/06/follow-up...ising-results/

Several replies to the article were less than positive. They suggested some other companies:

https://www.23andme.com/
http://www.familytreedna.com/

I'd be interested to hear what you think if you do try one.

**unixken** · 12th August 13, 02:47 PM

I've been considering having such testing done, as well. I am an ancestry.com member, and thus far my searches have all resulted in finds throughout the UK (with a brief stop in Nova Scotia.) But I've been wondering if there's any chance that the Roman occupation of Britania and forays into Caledonia may show some continental European influences, as well. Or perhaps a bit of Scandanavian influence from the north...

**The Monk** · 12th August 13, 03:38 PM

Iʻve done both Ancestry.com and the National Geographic Genome Project. The National Geographic Web site and report is much better.

**Destin_scot** · 12th August 13, 04:42 PM

Good luck. No experience with any of them but definitely want to hear about your experiences. If you have roots from any where in Europe, I'm pretty sure you'll find Neanderthal genes, (latest research I've heard about says up to 5%), so maybe you're wife has some insight?

**Pleater** · 14th August 13, 03:25 AM

Originally Posted by unixken

I've been considering having such testing done, as well. I am an ancestry.com member, and thus far my searches have all resulted in finds throughout the UK (with a brief stop in Nova Scotia.) But I've been wondering if there's any chance that the Roman occupation of Britania and forays into Caledonia may show some continental European influences, as well. Or perhaps a bit of Scandanavian influence from the north...

I suspect that you are hoping for far more specific information than can be deduced - 'Roman's' were a very diverse lot, it isn't possible to separate Vikings from Normans as they were the same people, and after all, Britain was repopulated from Europe just after the last ice age by people walking across the as yet unflooded North Sea, and then folk turned up in boats from North, East and South.

Don't let me put you off having a test done as it can show up interesting things - but it can't tell the difference between a Roman general in 0000AD and an intellectual fleeing Nazi persecution in 1937.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**unixken** · 14th August 13, 04:09 AM

Originally Posted by Pleater

I suspect that you are hoping for far more specific information than can be deduced - 'Roman's' were a very diverse lot, it isn't possible to separate Vikings from Normans as they were the same people, and after all, Britain was repopulated from Europe just after the last ice age by people walking across the as yet unflooded North Sea, and then folk turned up in boats from North, East and South.

Don't let me put you off having a test done as it can show up interesting things - but it can't tell the difference between a Roman general in 0000AD and an intellectual fleeing Nazi persecution in 1937.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

All of what you've said is understood, Anne. But my motivation isn't "hope". It's "it would be interesting/neat to see." The point being, my genealogical searches have "localized" my past to Scotland, England, and Ireland. Knowing full well the geologic, political, and military influences upon the islands, I'd be put off by ANY tests that said "that's all there is to you."

It was never my intent to suggest I put great faith in the results of a test. What I said was that I "wonder" if the tests would show some external influences (and which influences it would show.)

**castledangerous** · 13th August 13, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by kiltedrennie

I recently read an article reviewing the DNA testing option from ancestry.com. Looks like they liked the testing results.

http://geekdad.com/2013/06/follow-up...ising-results/

Several replies to the article were less than positive. They suggested some other companies:

https://www.23andme.com/
http://www.familytreedna.com/

I'd be interested to hear what you think if you do try one.

I had the test done with Ancestry.com. I was a bit disappointed, as all they do is tell you percentages and a list of "cousins", and it doesn't specify parts of the British Isles. I got results of 91% British Isles, 7% Finno-Ural-Volga, and 2% Unknown. I know I have at least 5% German ancestry, but that did not show up, and the "cousins" displayed with that ancestry don't have any Finno-Ural-Volga shown, so it doesn't make logical sense.

**Stan** · 13th August 13, 08:59 AM

When you have a DNA test to find out your genetic home land, this is just the first step. The results need to be interpreted, and and then cross referenced to be used as the tool to locate your genetic home.

I'm of the opinion that if you really want the results (and accuracy) that you think your looking for, than it's not a laymen's job, and this interpretation is best done by (in my case) a geneticist (PhD) not a genealogist. If any one (and for all those who are) interested here's a link to a web site that will help you contact Dr. (PhD) T, Bowers who IS a geneticist, and in my case pinpointed my genetic (Scottish) home land to with in about a 3 miles radius.

http://www.scottishorigenes.com/. The cost for his time was nominal, and the results of his investigation of my genetic home land was nothing less than incredible. It was the best money that I'd spent in a long time !!

Stan L. (DNA proven to be an ancient, Viking, Scott, and bronze age ,Brit)