DNA testing matrix observations

[MarcuccioV]

So, this is less of a question and more of an observation. I took my DNA test through Ancestry, and then uploaded the DNA file to 4 other sites: FamilyTree, GEDmatch, LivingDNA and MyHeritage (I am still awaiting results on the latter).

Since I am Italian through my maternal line, and west/northwest/central European on my paternal, I have found some very interesting results.

On the non-Italian (Anglo/Franco/Germanic) results, there are only minor variations as to locations and percentages (all sites seem to agree for the most part). On the Italian side, the results vary WIDELY from one site to the next (I can’t express the term “widely” enough). They even vary considerably between different research projects on the same site (GEDmatch).

Now I am able to trace almost ALL lines on my father’s family back many hundreds of years (thanks to good genealogical record-keeping in these countries). On my mother’s side, I sometimes struggle to get to 3-4GG.
So it appears therefore, that the referencing populations are much more alike for the ‘northwestern’ (Anglo/Franco/Germanic/Nordic) results and MUCH more diverse for the ‘southeastern’ (Italo/Baltic/Greco/Arabic) regions.

I’m curious to know if anyone else with a similar genetic makeup to mine has encountered similar results…

[afecad]

mtDNA has limitations vs Y-DNA, the mutation rate is higher and like you I'm only Italian on my material side, so I can see relatives back to a known point and that's it, beyond that it falls into predictability.

When I did the Big Y-700 test on FTDNA, it opened doors back even farther on my paternal line. Unfortunately, there is only one male on my Maternal side who I'm not in contact with anymore and has not done DNA testing or has the data public (23andme & FTDNA both allow you to turn this off) and only that would unlock some unknowns for me.

DNA testing company data sets all vary somewhat and I do see variations of predicted or likely matches.

[MarcuccioV]

So my MyHeritage results came in as follows: Italian 45.5%; Irish/Scottish/Welsh 27.6%; North & West Europe 14.7%; Greece/Southern Italy 11.3% and West Asian (Arabic/Caucasian) 0.9%.

This matrix has by far the highest percentage of Italo/Greco/Arabic. It does indicate (as I suspected) at least SOME Sicilian ancestry (my maternal grandfather).

Sadly, as with the other sites, VERY few matches to the Italian(ish) ancestry. I was surprised to find ONE common surname on the Italian tree side (Proietti). There was also ONE on Ancestry (Latini)...

[afecad]

So my MyHeritage results came in as follows: Italian 45.5%; Irish/Scottish/Welsh 27.6%; North & West Europe 14.7%; Greece/Southern Italy 11.3% and West Asian (Arabic/Caucasian) 0.9%.

This matrix has by far the highest percentage of Italo/Greco/Arabic. It does indicate (as I suspected) at least SOME Sicilian ancestry (my maternal grandfather).

Sadly, as with the other sites, VERY few matches to the Italian(ish) ancestry. I was surprised to find ONE common surname on the Italian tree side (Proietti). There was also ONE on Ancestry (Latini)...

I did not take the MyHeritage DNA test due to it being only Autosomal, but you can also upload that data into FTDNA for free, to compare to their databases similar to LivingDNA and gedmatch.

https://www.familytreedna.com/autosomal-transfer

I did the mtDNA full sequence test at FTDNA and their database is large along with groups you can join of specific heritage.

[MarcuccioV]

I did upload to FTDNA...

It also gave similar breakdowns with a lot of Italo/Greek/Baltic/Arabic...

[afecad]

I did upload to FTDNA...

It also gave similar breakdowns with a lot of Italo/Greek/Baltic/Arabic...

I see, same here but North African, likely from the Moors when they invaded Sicily which explains my %, along with the others you noted and beyond. Small % though, more so than Greek/Balkan.

[MarcuccioV]

I did upload to FTDNA...

It also gave similar breakdowns with a lot of Italo/Greek/Baltic/Arabic...

I see, same here but North African, likely from the Moors when they invaded Sicily which explains my %, along with the others you noted and beyond. Small % though, more so than Greek/Balkan.

HomeDNA found a trace of Tunisian that the others did not. It did confirm the general breakdown, however. My grandfather had an extremely olive complexion and tanned extremely dark. Not exactly a native Roman trait...

[afecad]

I did upload to FTDNA...

It also gave similar breakdowns with a lot of Italo/Greek/Baltic/Arabic...

I see, same here but North African, likely from the Moors when they invaded Sicily which explains my %, along with the others you noted and beyond. Small % though, more so than Greek/Balkan.

HomeDNA found a trace of Tunisian that the others did not. It did confirm the general breakdown, however. My grandfather had an extremely olive complexion and tanned extremely dark. Not exactly a native Roman trait...

Same for my family, I also have an olive complexion and tan easy but not as dark as my Grandfather or Mother.

Of my DNA tests, these are what % showed Asia or North Africa and FTDNA just updated in the last year, it still get's a lot of mixed reviews for accuracy, I believe in this case 23andme is quite accurate.

23andme: 6.6% Western Asian & North African.

Ancestry DNA: 1% Mali, but nothing else.

FTDNA: <1% (Family Finder only)

[MarcuccioV]

I got the skin also. I tan dark and rarely burn...

[MarcuccioV]

THIS is my grandfather with a "tan"...