My DNA Testing Experience.
Some of you have asked more about the historical quest I’m taking with my DNA testing and genealogy research. If
Ancestry.com
I took my DNA test through Ancestry.com (disclosure: this is not a sponsored, paid for, whatever…post). I used them because my mother has a membership through them for her genealogy research and had taken the test through them.
From the date I ordered the test until I received my results was 6-7 weeks.
They ship you the test, which must be activated with the special number.
I hadn’t asked my mother what type of test it was.
Be prepared that this isn’t a swab your cheek test.
It is a saliva in a tube test.
I’m just gonna leave that right there and move on.
You send it back in a pre-paid box.
They send you an email when they receive it and then the wait begins.
It really does take between 6-8 weeks before that email pops into your inbox saying that your results are in.
Results.
You should know that your ethnicity estimates are unique to you.
Because there is randomness in the nature of genetic inheritance, they can differ from close relatives. I would guess that they are still pretty similar, but I am not a geneticist, so don’t take my word for it.
You also have a list of DNA matches.
These are people who have also taken the test through Ancestry.com and share DNA with you.
It lists how many are 4th cousin or closer (in my case, the number is now at 460. My husband is at 693!)
A 4th cousin is pretty far removed, but can still help with the tracing of genealogy.
It breaks those down into 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th cousins.
These are estimates based on the DNA, but I’ve found them to be pretty accurate.
They also list the confidence levels at: extremely high, very high, high, good, and moderate. There are also distant cousins if you have the time to go through them all, (my page totals are 326- 9.5 pages are 4th cousin or closer).
I find them helpful when I am searching my matches by surname or birth location.
I wanted to be able to research my family tree so I joined Ancestry.com to have access to historical records.
I’m not sure if it’s just through the membership or if all DNA test takers have access, but they have this amazing thing called DNA circles. These are created around an ancestor in your tree that shows who share DNA with each other and is related to this ancestor. Not everyone in the circle with share DNA with each other, but they share enough DNA with enough other members to be confident that they are indeed related to this ancestor. They also will show you potential ancestors who are not in your tree based on the fact that you share DNA with enough members that there is a 70% likelihood you are related to the said ancestor.
Thoughts.
This has been a great jumping off point in seeing if I am related to the person.
For example, I recently had one show up and when it said he died in Airdrie, Scotland I knew which side of the family I was seeking.
My great-great grandparents were married in Airdrie. As I dug around, I discovered that his grandmother and my great-great-GREAT grandmother were sisters!
I am finding out many amazing tales along the way. I’m hoping to be able to share them here as I travel backward (and sometimes sideways) through time.
I tried to cover the process, but if you have any questions about it you can comment below or shoot me an email at bedlamanddaisies@gmail.com
Let your light shine!
Amy
This is great because I’ve been pondering doing this test to see what (and where) things would come up. I will be shooting you some email questions later!
It has been a fun and interesting experience to be sure! 🙂
Wow …this is facinating Amy
Thanks! 🙂 I’ve enjoyed tracing my family lines.
What an interesting journey!
It is amazing the things they can discover with today’s technology,
how very cool and the reason i read was because it was not a sponsored post- I have come to skip many of the affiliate link posts because it feels so “bought” –
and so thanks for clarifying – and the dna circle sounds extra fun.
oh and side note – I know some nutritionists who have folks get their ancestry tests done in order to help them fine tune their food and healing protocol (eating for blood type is big with some healers).
anyhow, enjoyed this post- and peace
The circles certainly help give you a direction when you get stumped. 🙂 I think there are more and more people taking the tests because my matches grow regularly.
Well I might just do it sometime !
Great info to share, wow. Thank you for the links! 🙂
Thanks! 🙂
This was a really interesting post about how ancestry.com and their use of DNA profiling works.
Thank you. I found the process fascinating. Technology seems to be more amazing every day.
That’s super neat stuff! I’ve been wanting to do it for awhile now, but I don’t want to spend the money. Only one side of my family, my mother’s paternal side, can be traced on Ancestry. Adoptions and Seminoles and too poor to be born on paper seem common hindrances, but maybe things will change.
I waited until the 4th of July when the DNA test went on sale. It seems to go on sale on holidays where you might be curious about your ancestry. I originally just wanted to know my ethnicity.
I agree that the it’s pricey to join if you aren’t able to trace much information, but I think they are adding records constantly (they had a free research day on labor day, maybe wait for those days) 🙂
My uncle signed up for the ancestry thing long ago, that’s how I know only one side goes back on there (as of now) but I wanna do the DNA thing, so I’ll check on that when holidays come again — thanks for the tip 🙂
I like that photo a lot 🙂
Thank you 🙂
I have done my DNA through ancestry and it has been such an amazing experience. I have learned so much about where I come from and even took a trip to Mississippi last year to meet a cousin I met through the DNA matching. Uploading to GEDmatch is great too and has been a big help. Good luck to you and enjoy your genealogy journey!
Thank you! 🙂 I have heard about the GEDmatch, but haven’t made it that far. I am learning a lot about where I come from and enjoying the process.
Looking forward to reading about your discoveries. Best of luck.
Thank you! 🙂
My mother and sister sent in for the DNA test and we were given very surprising results. I’m debating whether or not to test, since my sister tested, i’m not sure if I should. 🙂
I would think most information would be the same. Since each parent sends in random information there could be some difference in the ethnicity. I think it depends on what you’d like to know.
For example, my husband showed up with some Middle East and African descent. He has a brother with slightly darker skin so I’d suspect his percentages are higher, but I think they’d still hail from the same regions.
This is, of course, my non-expert opinion :). It was an eye-opening experience though! 🙂
i’m a member of ancestry as well, and did my DNA testing too. It’s fascinating reading all of our history, like a new novel every night.
A new novel… I like that concept 🙂
This is so fascinating! I can’t wait to hear more about your discoveries. It seems like such an interesting thing to look into.
It has been a very fascinating journey 🙂
This is so neat! I had heard about the Ancestry DNA test but wasn’t sure how it could be helpful for filling gaps in a family tree. I’m now more aware of the process, and excited to learn more! I’m going to start following your blog, and it’ll be great to see what you learn.
It has definitely been a very interesting experience 🙂