So interesting about DNA. I have a cousin in another line, and here is some info from him.
"Good news (in my opinion): the three main genetic genealogy companies--FamilyTreeDNA, AncestryDNA and 23andMe--are now cooperating with each other to allow customers to down load their results from one company’s site and upload the results to another site so comparison can be made with people using the other site. Read more here:
http://www.yourgeneticgenealogist.com/2013/03/ancestrydna-raw-data-and-rootstech.html
"I have two cousins who have done autosomal DNA testing with AncestryDNA. One is a first cousin once removed and one is a second cousin twice removed. I have autosomal DNA matches that the others should have and do not; and vice versa. So, I would say that the technology is not perfect. I look forward to refinements in the technology promised by all three companies.
"The Y-DNA test is only good for identifying matches along the male line: father to son to son to son to son. Ancestry.com offers a 46 marker test. FamilyTreeDNA.com offers a 67 (and more) marker test plus additional related tests for research along the male line.
"The mitochondrial DNA markers are passed from a mother to her children. So daughters pass the markers but not sons. Mt DNA test results can tell you some interesting information about your origins along your mothers maternal line, BUT is useless for determining if two people share a common ancestor. Mt DNA can be used to determine that a certain person is NOT related to you. Good read: The Seven Daughters of Eve.
"The autosomal DNA test looks at 700,000 markers. The test results can help you find matches along ALL of your ancestral lines. The 'catch' is that both parties must have done some relatively extensive research along the matching lines in order to figure out HOW they are related. For example, Ancestry.com has given me a long list of fourth cousins (@ the 96 and 95 per cent confidence level) (and one third cousin). However, the connections for most are still a mystery. For example, one women told me she only knows her birth mother's name. Well that one will be difficult to figure out. ;) "
I'll add that if you have an elderly relative, it would be good to ask if they would do a DNA test while the opportunity is there.
I believe there is a DNA board at the Caribbean Surname Index site, no?
Happy hunting, all.
Laura
On Apr 27, 2013, at 10:24 AM, OOA Q wrote:
Dear listers,Thanks to David Lynch, I had my DNA done at 23andMe.com, and recently got the results back.Confusing, but I am working through them. I found out that I am 67%African, 37% European, 3%Native American/Asian.That 3% is what made me decide to have another company analyze and compare my raw data.I know that I have no NA ancestry, (no offence to the NA) because the indigenous people of the Caribbean were gone by the time my ancestors got there, but there is a story that one of my maternal ancestors was from India, and I do have a
Chinesecousin.23andMe.com is the company that Dr. Gates uses for his program "Who do you think you are", on PBS. They will analyze a saliva sample for $99. it takes 6 weeks, and not only do you get an Ancestral analysis there is also a Health analysis, which for some of us is quite useful, turns out I cannot have Worfrin if I have surgery. I would suggest having yours done, it might help to fill in some of the blanks in your tree.Ann