Where to get DNA testing

[Squigy]

I would like one that tells you what ethnicity you are, is that possible? Also, what would be the cost of the test? Thanks to all those who respond.

[johnnyonthespot]

I would like one that tells you what ethnicity you are, is that possible? Also, what would be the cost of the test? Thanks to all those who respond.

This company claims on their home page to be one of the major players in the industry. It is an inexpensive service if you choose a single test. Looks like costs can ramp up rapidly.

Here is another company with good references.

[PeterTimber]

A way of obtaining an indication of the distribution of a surname worldwide is the cheapest of all. Just go to www.familysearch.org under ancestor search.

Even tracing back your DNA to some prehistory point usually emanates from some Eastern asian location going towards europe. But if you want specificity then by all means pursue it!! Have you googled DNA research yet? =Peter=

[misbris]

Here is a site I was looking at.

http://www.dnaancestryproject.com/

[JamesBianco]

Even tracing back your DNA to some prehistory point usually emanates from some Eastern asian location going towards europe. But if you want specificity then by all means pursue it!!

There are different levels of testing, some results (especially MTDNA) are quite a bit more specific than others. The most important benefit (IMO) of DNA testing is that many many people are publishing their results into online databases... along with their ancestral charts, when you find an exact match its very exiting.

This not the DNA testing of 5 years ago... the field has grown in leaps and bounds, and the prices have come down considerably.

[PeterTimber]

There is a quasi-commercial website for beginners that has merit for those contemplating researching the subject. It also provides additional connecting sites to amplify the subject as it relates to genealogy.
'The website is www.blairdna.com/dna101.html =Peter=

[JamesBianco]

You have to remove the "www" the correct link is....


Blair DNA

[PeterTimber]

The www.blairdna.com/dna101.html website comes up as does yours(?) =Peter=

[Squigy]

Wow, so many responses. I thought DNAAncestryProject looked good. Either that or FamilyTreeDNA. I'll look into all of them. Thanks to all who replied!

[scottshay]

I used familytreedna.com for yDNA testing. They seem to have one of the largest databases of results, but you can also take your results and input them elsewhere, notably ysearch.org. Keep in mind, yDNA testing only tests the direct male line (and only males can take the test, but male siblings will suffice for females interested in knowing their male line) mtDNA testing tests your direct female line. With both of these, you can get the gist of what your "ethnicity" would be, but it's not an exact science. Also, this doesn't tell you anything about your lines such as, mother's father's line, or father's mother's line, or grandfather's, mother's father's line! So none of these will tell you all about your ethnic background, unfortunately.

Good luck!

[cubsy2]

I supplied my male cousin a DNA test from Ancestry.com because i was more interested in my paternal side....

I basically only found out that I am R1b and that no "sub categories" were able to be provided....

The R1b group is called "The Artisans"....settled into what we call Spain, Portugal, England, and France today....but 35k-40k years ago....The first to make cave dwellings....

Upon reading my results i found i actually had 250 matches to others who did that test.....the najority being in the U.S., England & France, with a few in Australia, and one in N. Africa....Not one match to Italy (presumably because no one there took the test?)

I have ONE match within 7 generations but am unable to contact this person because they didn't set a location. I guess that what bums me out the most...(all the other matches were from 10 generations up to 250 generations ago)

If I could do the test again, i would think about using another company.

I would really like to see if i can download my data into another website....

[johnnyonthespot]

Personally, I would wait a few more years (~5?) for the DNA testing marketplace and databases to mature. If they follow the general pattern evidenced by other genealogical resources, I would expect a to ten- to hundred-fold increase in available data by that time.

[scottshay]

@cubsy2, you can enter your results at ysearch.org (one of the bigger databases, sponsored by familytreedna.com), genebase.com, and genetree.com. Though I've found ysearch (and familytreedna itself) to be the most comprehensive. The current algorithms for most recent common ancestor (mrca) are a bit off in my opinion, especially on ancestry.com (I've done testing through them as well as familytreedna), so I'd take that with a grain of salt. It has people in there for me with an mrca of 3, when I know it has to be minimally 6-7. Of course, the more markers you have tested, the more accurate it will be.

@Johnnyonthespot, you are definitely right that it will be a better, more mature market in a few years (and hopefully the price will continue to come down) but I am personally glad I got in early, as we unearthed a paternal family mystery (in that our yDNA matches another family's line, and not that of our paternal surname). it's been a challenge, but also a lot of fun researching where and when this "anomaly" occurred, and it requires good old fashioned paperwork research, as well as yDNA testing.

Good luck to you all!

Scott

[cubsy2]

Thanks scottshay...i googled some stuff but couldn't find where i could do this...............

[cubsy2]

Well, i went to ysearch.org....fairly easy to input data....

But i have a couple questions....

I have a 14 on Marker 19a, yet there is no 19a box (there is a 19b which i have as well)....i assume that i SHOULDN'T use the marker that is labeled 19/394 in the website.

Also if i have a dash for my results should i change it to NULL or leave it as a dash?

and for another box i needed to use the conversion chart...it said to subtract 11 from the value i received on my test. i got a 12, so i would enter 1...however it has set values, and it doesn't go below 7...so is this a NULL?

anyone experience these things???