DNA info
KIf...@aol.com
My grandfather was born out of wedlock and then adopted, and we
think we now know who his birth father was...the grandsons of the
birth father live in Germany..I'm wondering about asking for some
DNA to compare to my father's...how do you go about that? I don't
speak German, the relatives that do speak it are reluctant to ask,
and I've never met these people...any suggestions?
karen
Gordon Burditt
Some suggestions:
-- Go through a company that does DNA testing (like Family Tree
DNA), preferably one that has an explanation of what they do in
German on the web, and preferably has a good reputation in Germany.
This may reduce concerns that you are attempting some kind of scam
or identity theft. Look into ways you can pay for the test, if you
decide to do so, through the company and get permission to look at
the results. Be sure you are very up-front about such an
arrangement.
-- Get yourself tested first, and be prepared to offer them a copy
of your results.
-- At some point you will need to introduce yourself, preferably
with an introduction from relatives you both know, with an
explanation similar to what you give above. I suggest paying some
money for a *good* translation into German if there's any doubt.
-- Try to use non-judgemental terms in describing the relationship
you think exists between their grandfather and your grandfather, and
make really, really sure that your intent is properly translated
into German.
-- Some of Family Tree DNA's genetic tests, including the obvious
Y-chromosome ones, don't really come up with a good measure of
distance between cousins. (But, the maternity/paternity tests
probably require a closer suspected relationship.) I got a
distance-4 match between me and a 6th cousin. If I got a distance-4
match between suspected 3rd cousins, I might be tempted to accept it
without considering the true facts are a 6th-cousin relationship.
Try getting tests for two grandchildren on each side if you can.
-- If you use different labs, make sure that the results can be
compared (they test the same bits of DNA) before wasting money.
I use Family Tree DNA as an example because I am familiar with them
and I've used them. I do not know how well they do German.
gordon...@burditt.org (Gordon Burditt)