Ancestry.com DNA test

**unixken** · 8th November 13, 05:35 AM

A week or two ago I got an email from Ancestry.com announcing a $20-off sale on their DNA tests. I had been thinking about having the test done, so I sent for the kit. It arrived yesterday, so I activated the kit and returned my sample that afternoon. These genetic tests for ethnicity and genealogy may be more astrology than astronomy, but they are advancing, and it will be interesting none the less, to see what the results say.

My family history search has pinned me down to Scotland, Ireland, and England, through every branch of the family tree that I've been so far able to follow. But I have to wonder, that if any traces of the cheese from the sandwich I'd had earlier in the day made it into the sample, if the results will come back and say that centuries ago, a distant relative was a milking cow from Guernsey. LOL

**davidlpope** · 8th November 13, 07:05 AM

Which test did you take? The higher marker y-chromosome tests are useful for paternal line genealogy and the full-sequence mtDNA test is good for deep maternal lines, but I don't see any real value in the autosomal testing, except as a conversation-starter...

**unixken** · 8th November 13, 05:13 PM

Ancestry's test is autosomal, but is purported to key off over 700,000 markers from the DNA sequence. Where the other two tests you mention are specific to one side of the family or the other, Ancestry's autosomal tries to be as broad as a single test can be, even if not as specific as the other test types might or might not be. Should be interesting either way.

**CMcG** · 9th November 13, 06:47 AM

Keep us posted on the results. DNA testing is a burgeoning field and it seems that there are constant improvements...

**Father Bill** · 9th November 13, 06:57 AM

I'm rather interested in these, but from the level of the heart and gut, I have to lean in a different direction. If for example, someone's GGGrandfather was adopted at birth and raised lovingly, then the science of the line will lead someplace different than the other truth, that of the history.

Maybe I'm a fool, but having dealt over the years with many folks who were miserably unhappy because of family friction, I've come to believe, teach, and counsel that we have two families. One is the people with whom we share bloodlines and DNA. The more important one is the people who love us and care about us. That latter is the family that needs to be valued most.

Nonetheless, if you want to find out who you are from a scientific breed standpoint then this is fascinating. Just remember that today is always a good day for the race --- the human race... and there's only one!

**orionpyoung** · 9th November 13, 11:36 AM

Unixken, I am quite curious, very tempted by the DNA test and Ancestry.com. Unfortunetly what I managed to find out on the 14 day free trial is no further back then the book a distant relative made on the Young's family tree. It all comes to Lewis Young from Morris County New Jersey, born 1779. That area was colonized by Scots in the 1600's, so I'm pretty sure lewis was Scottish. But it would be interesting to know. Also, it's great to see Unix in a kilt!

Father Bill, I know where your coming from. It would be silly to get to excited about your genetic history and loose sight of your real human family history! But every DNA sample they get, the more accurate the science gets.

**Kilted Cole** · 24th December 13, 09:30 AM

My wife and I took up the discount as well...eagerly awaiting the results for ours.....The reason why My wife wanted to do it is because there is a long held rumor that there is some Native American in the family tree.....so we figured this was worth a shot......I've always been interested in this sort of thing......let us know what you find out.....

**A Hay** · 24th December 13, 02:33 PM

I also have heard through our family oral history that an ancestor married a Native American, but no firm proof. However, on my last dentist visit, the Dentist asked if I had any Native American lineage. I was quite surprised and answered that it was possible. We reside in southwest Michigan and he treats patients that belong to the Pokagon Tribe of the Potawatomi Indians. Apparently there is a unique tooth formation which I happen to have.
I've been thinking about the Ancestry DNA testing. I'll be following this thread.

Tom

**Stan** · 24th December 13, 06:27 PM

I took that family tree DNA test about 8 months ago. I did the Y-37 marker test. It turned out that I'm a descendant of Vikings that were in Scotland (or presumably came to Scotland) around 400-500 AD. My Scottish genetic home land is right around the city of Stirling, and MY sandwich (tested) as Pastrami, on rye......LOL..

**TheOfficialBren** · 25th December 13, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by A Hay

I also have heard through our family oral history that an ancestor married a Native American, but no firm proof. However, on my last dentist visit, the Dentist asked if I had any Native American lineage. I was quite surprised and answered that it was possible. We reside in southwest Michigan and he treats patients that belong to the Pokagon Tribe of the Potawatomi Indians. Apparently there is a unique tooth formation which I happen to have.
I've been thinking about the Ancestry DNA testing. I'll be following this thread.

Tom

Scoops in the back of your top incisors, most likely. Asiatic and Native American teeth often have this characteristic. My own family carries this trait and it is not an uncommon trait found amongst Americans with Native American ancestry, even if only a little.

Edited to Add:
Dr Bill Bass of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has made an extensive study on this subject. He summarizes it well in his book "Beyond The Body Farm."