Old Bones Family Research of New England: autosomal DNA

Showing posts with label autosomal DNA. Show all posts

10 November 2015

AncestryDNA Test on sale for $79...

...plus shipping! And the offer is only available through the link in an email. This info just came to me about an hour ago and I have no idea how they chose the recipients of the email notice. I've already tested so perhaps they believe I'll but more tests for family and friends?

It'd really like to know how their sales fluctuate since they seem to have this "20% off" deal quite frequently. So much so that I nearly always advise people who have interest in the test to wait for a holiday or even call them up and simply request the test at the sale price.

All I can be sure of is that by comparing the results I received from AncestryDNA to the results from FamilyTreeDNA and 23andMe the most recent results seem to be more accurate. I tested long ago with NatGeo whose results also parallel those of the other major testing labs. I am predominantly Northern European with just a smattering of Eastern European and almost a full half of a percent of Ashkenazi Jew.

Would I recommend one over the other? The famous answer to that is "That depends." It depends, of course, on your needs or your motivation. AncestryDNA is a relatively simple (and inexpensive) "cousin finder" inasmuch as they only test autosomal DNA. Autosomal lives in the nucleus and is the DNA that is 50% Mom and 50% Dad. If you follow that out several generations, the logic dictates that your autosomal is 25% from each of your 4 grandparents, 12.5% from each of your 8 great grandparents, 6.75% from each of your 16 2nd great-grandparents and so on. That same logic demonstrates that the accuracy of discovering 4th, 5th or earlier generations is relatively remote at best. However, since Ancestry.com has a significant data base of family trees, some of which are reasonably accurate, there's also a reasonable chance you'll be able to discover some new relationships up to about 4th cousins or so. But don't try to prove you're descended from Charlemagne with the AncestryDNA test!!

The other companies' tests can be more expensive, but the testing is a great deal more complex. Just keep in mind the Y-DNA is specifically for your paternal line. Why (couldn't resist the pun)? Because only men have Y-DNA. That's what makes the men men! It is the 23rd of the23 chromosomes in the nucleus of each cell.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), on the other hand, lives outside the nucleus but still within the cell itself. EVERYONE has mitochondrial but ONLY the females transmit it, thereby giving us all a genetic map to our mother's mother and her mother as well, back many generations of mothers

.

It starts to get a little technical from here on, but it may be enough to help you make a decision...hopefully!

23 November 2014

AncestryDNA Sale???

Image from AncestryDNA website

You didn't hear this from me, but I was on the phone with Ancestry.com's Tech Support today (very helpful as usual) and before I hung up, I asked if their DNA test was still $99. She said that yes, it was to which I replied that I thought there might be some holiday specials. Now, she didn't say anything definitive, but she "suggested" that I check the pricing on Black Friday.

Since the start of their DNA project, I have been cynical (or maybe the right word is skeptical) about their early results. After all, it's hard to tell someone who is obviously of Asian descent that they were 98% Scandinavian. Now I don't know if they tried to get away with that result specifically, but I do know that the early results were, at best, questionable. But after reading Judy G. Russell, Blaine T. Bettinger, Roberta Estes and others, Ancestry seems to have gotten their act together. They've even tweaked their autosomal results creating a significant trimming of possible matches. Nice job Ancestry!!

As a result of all this and other factors, I'll certainly check them out again this Friday and see if the "hint" from Tech Support pans out. Or should I say the "shaky leaf" from Tech Support!!

By the way, my original issue was resolved...I think!
I'll leave you with my new mantra: "Climb YOUR tree!"

31 January 2014

Learn or Refine Your Genealogy and Family Research Techniques

We're starting a new year at the Chicopee Public Library. In addition to the "Research Clinics" we run every Thursday from 9 AM to 4 PM, I will conduct a variety of classes on the "art" of genealogy and family research.

The upcoming series will be 2 sessions on Monday evenings February 3rd and again on February 10th.

We'll be talking about what to look for, what to expect, what is "free" and what is not, web sites (and there are HUNDREDS!) and how to use them, research strategies, tips and tricks to find what you're looking for and, most importantly "IT'S NOT ALL ON THE INTERNET"!! Where to find those documents you need that are not available just by clicking through sites such as Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org. Even how to use Google to "Google your ancestors"! And a crash course in DNA.

Alternately, another genealogist, Alan Doyle Horbal of Adams, MA, will conduct classes as well in a clinic format.

These classes are designed for beginners to intermediary researchers and have been very well received by all who have attended in the past.

If you're nearby and would like to attend, call the Reference Department at (413) 594-1800 ext 108.

See you there!

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