Before I took a DNA test, I didn’t know anything about DNA. Now that I’ve taken two DNA tests, maybe I know even less than nothing.
First I took 23andme, as it had been recommended to me. When I got the results, I was tickled to get some health information, but I didn’t take it too seriously. After all, it was fairly general, and it wouldn’t catch any of the thousands of rare diseases lurking out there in some of our genes. It certainly didn’t predict that rare tumor discovered in my foot eight years ago. Nor did it foretell the hereditary lymphedema I have (thanks, Grandma). Then I also found out that even if you have a particular gene, it often takes a certain “something” to happen to trigger an illness.
So I turned the virtual page on the health information and looked at the information which shows what areas of the world my genes come from. A few genes were identified as coming from particular places, such as one gene that 23andme insists is a Polish gene. I also learned that a lot of my genes are “unidentified Northern European.”
They identified my Haplogroup, which is the mitochondrial DNA I inherited through the maternal line, meaning from my mother and her mother and my grandmother’s mother, all the way back. Interesting, but what do I do with that info? The exact classification they gave me I can’t even find online. Am I the only person with this mitochondrial DNA–well, are my mother and I the only people with it?
Should I order this from 23andme?
Remember how we thought Neanderthal were a totally unrelated species that died out? Apparently they didn’t really die out. I was told that I am 2.6% Neanderthal. The average European is 2.7%. Kind of hard to put your mind around that. I don’t have a lot of Neanderthal traits, having a high, rather than low, forehead, a narrow frame, and am not particularly strong. I’m sure my husband has some joke in this somewhere. But he doesn’t have the guts to take the test himself.
After I got the results of this test, I realized that it wouldn’t “mesh” with the Ancestry.com test results other people have taken. I didn’t know why they couldn’t be meshed, but I accepted that as fact. It seems that it’s because different companies test for different things. I decided to take the Ancestry test as well because I wanted it as part of my family tree on Ancestry in case I had any DNA matches with people whose trees could provide me with leads.
When I got the results of the Ancestry test I was really disappointed. It doesn’t provide anything except general regions your ancestors came from. Not even any specific countries. No medical information.
And the areas my genes come from are quite different according these two different tests. Ancestry claims a large percentage of my genes are from eastern Europe and about a quarter from Britain. Um, no. Their explanation is that this analysis might represent the location of my ancestors thousands of years ago. So what good is that then?
The one good thing that came from my very overpriced Ancestry test was finding an actual Waldeck relative through our matching DNA. Pretty cool, yes? And the fact that we both have a big chunk of eastern European DNA coming up on the Ancestry test points us in the direction of Prussia, so that was helpful. Unless I spend too much time looking back at my 23andme test, which shows a tiny percentage from eastern Europe. Confusing?
Something interesting about both DNA tests: the results continue to change as the companies get more and more information. They collect knowledge from people. This seems pretty hit or miss to me. But it’s kind of cool to watch things change every so often.
Finally, both test results netted me hits from 4-6th cousins, and most of them have absolutely no surnames in common on their family trees. So how is it possible that they are 4th-6th cousins?
Hmm, this science is still in its infancy, methinks.
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Update:
On the Ancestry Facebook page, somebody posted this information about using your raw data from Ancestry to compare outside their site:
On your DNA page top right is an option to download your raw data. You need to select and then they will email a link with the address on file. Once you have that, you can go to GEDmatch and follow the instructions to upload. Unfortunately, they are not accepting new data until on or about August 15th. FamilyTreeDNA also has the transfer function. Go to their page and scroll down to almost the bottom. FTDNA charges, GEDmatch is free.
Related articles
- Genetic Testing for Adoptees and Their Families – 23andMe (23andme.com)
- AncestryDNA or 23andMe? DNA Testing in Genealogy (genealogyfamilytree.wordpress.com)
- Finding your ancestry roots through DNA testing (moonbridgebooks.com)
- Where Can I Get My DNA Tested? (expertspages.com)
- A little more ancestry… (akacatherine.wordpress.com)
- DNA Testing (historythrutheages.wordpress.com)
- Learning more about myself and my health with 23andme.com (behindthestudio.com)
- DNA Test: ‘Unknown’ Ancestry? (theroot.com)
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The Family Kalamazoo 
This was really very helpful info – I’ve often thought about doing the DNA test but then decided not to spend the money. Sounds like it really is an evolving area. Interesting.
I do recommend the 23andme test unless you specifically want to find relatives through Ancestry. It’s fun and fascinating, and I think as the companies develop their information more, the results will take on new meaning. Mainly, you see that everyone is related somehow somewhere ;).
I have taken the Ancestry DNA. I have found it very helpful with the matches they provide. If you can connect with on of these 3rd to 4th cousins a major line could be added to your tree. I find the problem is that many of them will not answer you when you send a message. However that being said I had a great break with one who was listed as a possible 8th cousin. At first we had no common surnames but were able to work through it. Best of luck to you.
Not everyone answered me and a lot of people who were matches do not have trees. Of those who do, most do not go back far enough to find the match. Thank you for the luck wish!!
I think I’ll wait to take the test as well. A distant cousin had the Ancestry DNA test and it seems that the only useful information in the test is the ability to connect with distant relatives – if their contact information is current and they are actively using their Ancestry accounts.
The good thing about taking the test now is that you can find matches as they come in. That way it won’t be so overwhelming when you do take the test. Also, your results will still be good as they fine tune their information. Plus, your info helps them create that information. And who knows they might raise the price LOL.
This is a beautiful website and blog you have here! I’ll have to mention it on my blog. I like stories that go along with ancestor names. I find your comments on DNA test results interesting, too, matching with comments from a friend and from reading other (mostly negative) opinions online. The results are complex, and not explained well to recipients. Sounds like a fun and interesting thing to do if you have the spare money. I’m sure these companies are making a tidy profit. But, if you can find a lost relative for the tree, that’s definitely worthwhile.
Ah, thank you so much, moonbridgebooks! Ancestry was worth it to find the relative. Also, as I explained in a reply above, I think it makes some sense to take the test now as our test results will not change–it’s just the interpretations that will be fine tuned as things go along.
I’m sorry your DNA tests were so ambiguous. Perhaps someday such tests will be better.
All the same, peoples have moved and mingled a lot over the ages, so it will be hard to pin down many people’s precise ancestry.
The test results will get better and better, I’m sure. And now that I’ve taken the test, I won’t have to do that again. The results are the results.
I agree about the moving around. I was startled to think that some continental European ancestors had actually originated in “Britannia.”
Thanks for the information. I’ve thought about it and a lot of them ask for a male descendant but my brother was never interested. So, I suppose I’ll backburner this idea for a while! 🙂
Linda, you don’t need a male descendent except to find out your father’s haplogroup. Your brother would get that from your father. You really don’t need it for the main information.
Thanks. I’ve been thinking a lot about doing a DNA test recently, so your post is really useful.
Unless you really want to connect through Ancestry, I highly recommend going the 23andme route–of the 2 I’ve tried.
Thanks; it definitely sounds more useful.
I’m planning on getting my DNA test through 23andme later this year.
Gee, I want to be a fly on your shoulder and read the results. It’s so interesting!
Wow, Luanne, that 123andMe test sounds very perturbing. I’m glad I didn’t go for that one. Still, I do understand the “sticker shock” that comes over a person when the results are so all over the place and not very helpful overall.
The only reason why I’m satisfied with the results of my Ancestry DNA testing is that my paternal Grandfather had some research done around 1958 which my Dad would relate to me many times as I was growing up. The paternal line originated in Spain and then immigrated to Sicily at some point. Ancestry says my dominant genes are Middle Eastern. It makes sense in some ways when one considers the large numbers of Arabs and Moors who lived and sometimes ruled in those countries.
I think the best thing is to take it as it comes, use what fits and leave the rest in the file cabinet for another day.
I agree with you. The thing is, they will keep improving the results, and they already have my raw data, so I expect the results to be refined.
Cool about your Neanderthal connection. Whenever my husband and I watch programs about the Neanderthal, I say, “They couldn’t have died out. They probably intermarried.” Their brains were larger than “modern man’s.” I wouldn’t be surprised if all of us have Neanderthal DNA. Fascinating post! Thanks.
That’s actually my favorite part. I love being part Neanderthal. I’ve been teasing my husband that that’s where some of us humans get their brains from and that he probably doesn’t have Neanderthal DNA and must be dumber and since he won’t take the test, I am safe ;). Imagine if everything we used to learn about them was just human bias!
Yes! I’m convinced that most of what we’ve been taught about the Neanderthal is wrong. I’m waiting for scientists to fuss up and for the Natural History Museum in Washington to update their Neanderthal exhibit.
I can’t wait!
Reblogged this on mygenealogyaddiction and commented:
This is a very good post from currentdescendent.
Marsha, thanks for the reblog! I love your blog.
Luanne
I always thought a part of me was Neanderthal 🙂
I keep chuckling over your comment. I actually never dreamed I was part Neanderthal, but I should have known.
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