DNA testing can jumpstart your genealogy search.
DNA testing began about 10 years ago with a 10 marker test. Now there are 33 and 44 marker tests available. 33 marker tests are the least a person should get. With 33 markers or higher you can know that identical matches are within 1-5 generations. Where as identical matches with 12 markers are between 15-25 generation close.
There are many companies that sell the tests and also many new social networking companies that allow you to post your results, search for matches and talk to other with the same surname. This site will help those of you interested in learning about and using DNA testing to expand your research, prove or disprove connections, and find that immigrant ancestor.
Best Price for DNA Testing Today
Who can be tested and why
Men open your mouth and say AHHHHH
DNA for Genealogy primarily uses the Y chromosome from men. There are a couple reasons to do so. First the Y chromosome does not mutate very often like the female X chromosome. So the results from a man today will be only 1-2 markers different then his direct paternal ancestor from the 1500's or earlier. The markers that do mutate are consistent and known to do so. Second, our culture's custom of tracing a family line through paternal descendants make testing men necessary to follow surname connections. In the few matriarchal cultures that pass surnames a maternal test would be done instead. Self-Publish Your Family History
Family Geneology Books are great gifts and will be treasured.
Understanding DNA Results
I got tested now what?
When you get your result you will get a report that lists three things:1. The Haplogroup. (R1b1)
2. The markers numerical designation that was tested. (375a)
3. That number that is the result. (12)
The haplogroup represents a consistent pattern of marker results compared to a very large group of people. These patterns have been found to represent global locations of where people lived 10,000 years ago. So my haplogroup of I1a tells me that my ancestors, 10,000 years ago, came from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. They migrated to Europe and are called the Stonemasons, because they are known to have crafted pointed stone blades to hunt. There is a list of Haplogroups and the global locations they are know to come from. I will share the list later.
Within the Y Chromosome there are locations that have short repeating patterns. DNA companies pick these locations and count how many repeating patterns are at are each location. That number becomes your result. Companies do not use all the same locations and each use a different format for reporting.
So when comparing results; first, you must be careful to use the same format for all results you are looking at, second, only look at results of the same haplogroup, third, for your purposes of finding close ancestors you are looking for identical result at a minimum of 33 markers and the same surname. If there is one or two off in the first 20 markers this is not a close relative, but 100's of years. Adoptions, formal or informal can really throw your research for a loop if it is unknown to you. You will have to get multiple tests from different known branches to clarify the situation.
Books on Genealogy
DNA & Genealogy
Amazon Price: (as of 01/02/2010) 
Trace Your Roots with DNA: Use Your DNA to Complete Your Family Tree
Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 01/02/2010)
The Genetic Strand: Exploring a Family History Through DNA
Amazon Price: $21.37 (as of 01/02/2010)
Family History in the Genes: Trace your DNA and grow your family tree
Amazon Price: $12.78 (as of 01/02/2010)
The Everything Guide to Online Genealogy: A complete resource to using the Web to trace your family history (Everything Series)
Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 01/02/2010)
Vote for your Favorite Genealogy Site
I have accounts at lots of Genalogy sites for different aspects of my search. If I don't list your favorites below, add it to the list.
http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3339450-10491253
Ancestry.com
Fee based research site. Online trees more...1 point
http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-3339450-9700777
One Great Family
This is another paid site that d more...1 point
Find A Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records
I love Find A Grave !!!! I have had tremendous luc more...1 point
http://www.smgf.org/
Sorenson Molecular Genetic Foundation is a researc more...1 point
http://ybase.org/default.asp
A DNA database search site from DNA Heritage.com1 point
Ysearch - the number one Y-DNA public database
Ysearch is a free public service from Family Tree more...1 point
TribalPages.com - Free Family Tree - Genealogy
TribalPages is a FREE site to upload a GED and the more...0 points
MyHeritage - Free Family Tree - Genealogy - Family Photos
MyHeritage is alot like TribalPages in purpose. Ad more...0 points
http://www.genetree.com/
Genetree.com is partnered with Sorenson Foundation more...0 points
http://www.familysearch.org/
The is the Morman database search site. Pedigree's more...0 points
http://www.linkpendium.com/
Very interesting genealogy links site. Has helped more...0 points
Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet
More than 264,550 links! 254,900 links, categorize more...0 points
Comments
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Reply
- mfish07 mfish07 Apr 22, 2009 @ 10:08 am
- Thanks for stopping by my page. I did the dna testing, unfortunately there are a lot of FISH people out there. Still trying to find info on my grandfather and beyond.
by KLemons22
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