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Position:Home>Genealogy> Has anyone here had a DNA ancestry test?


Question:How was it? Do you think they are accurate?


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: How was it? Do you think they are accurate?

Yes, and they are extremely accurate. The best companies will retest until they get a conclusive result.
If you have, say, just the first 12 markers tested, that will give an indication of where you originated, the more markers you test on, the more information is gained, if you test on the maximumum of, say 67 markers, it is possible then to find a match to someone else carrying your own, or a different surname, and to prove a link where perhaps no "paper trail" exists. It can therefore pinpoint a place in which your ancestors probably lived in recent history but DNA does not
have a surname attached to it, surnames have only been used for around 700 years and of course your DNA originated 10s of thousands of years ago. You can also have a SNP test which will help show the migratory pattern of your ancient ancestors.
I recommend that you make yourself aware of the various tests available, and the costs with each testing company.
Plus, check out what is available to you after you have tested.
I used Family Tree DNA ,they were the first in the field (founded in 1999), have the largest data base, and do the testing for the National Geographic's Genome project, their "after sales" is excellent and I consider they are the best, but you have to make your own decision on that.
http://www.familytreedna.org

Yes, and they are accurate. Keep in mind that it cannot show you who you are related to, only the origins of your ancestors and the areas of the world from where they came. In females, geneticists trace mitochondrial DNA. In males, they trace DNA from the Y chromosome. It maps out the sequencing from your particular genome and compares it with those found in other people from different parts of the world. Drawing from the similarities in these compared strands of DNA, they can trace your origins. I know there are several companies who offer this, but the original, and the one that I used, was The Genographic Project. Here is a link to ordering the kit:

https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/geno...

Yes, it comes with a hefty price of around $100, but it's worth it.

For more information on how it works, the lead geneticist, Spencer Wells (who, in my opinion, is a genius) made a documentary called "The Journey of Man". He also wrote a book of the same title.

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