A DNA ancestry test looks at the DNA that you got from your mother or father or both and tells where your ancestors came from. Your DNA, because of how it is passed down through time, tells your family’s history.
For about $90 to $150 (5 to 10 crowns) you can order a test and do it at home: you use a cotton swab on the inside of your cheek and send it in. The testing company compares it against the thousands of samples they have from all over the world.
From such tests it is now a fact of science that everyone alive came from a woman in Africa. Not just that, but we can tell how mankind has spread across the world from there.
Humans left Africa not once but four times:
- Went to Arabia, India and, in time, Australia. Some of these places still have the darkest people outside of Africa. The land to the north was covered in ice.
- Entered the newly ice-free land of Europe and Siberia. Some went on to southern China and even the Americas.
- Went to East Asia, with some going on to the Americas.
- Crossed the Atlantic Ocean and came directly to the Americas, mainly as slaves.
According to DNA tests humans came to North America not once but four times before Columbus! In addition to #2 and #3, there were the Inuits (Eskimos) and the Vikings.
The most common sort of test looks at the mitochondrial DNA that you get from your mother. That is what the history I just gave is based on. Oprah took a test like that and found that her mother’s line came from Liberia in West Africa. Tests like that can pinpoint which part of which continent your mother’s line is from.
Another test looks at the Y chromosome that is passed from father to son. It can pinpoint where your father’s line is from. Women have to get a DNA sample from their father, brother or uncle on their father’s side.
A third kind of test looks at the DNA you get from both parents. These can tell how much of you is African, European, Native American and so on.
People have used these tests to try to lay claim to the casino money of some Native American tribes. But the tests cannot tell which tribe you came from, just that you are part Native American. And the tests are not always right.
One test, DNA Tribes, divides mankind this way:
- Americas: Alaskan, Athabaskan, North-east Amerindian, Salishan, South Amerindian, Mestizo
- Asia: Arabian, Asia Minor, North Indian, South Indian, Chinese, Japanese, South-east Asian, Tibetan
- Europe: Eastern European, Basque, Finno-Ugrian, Mediterranean, North-west European
- Africa: North African, Sub-Saharan African
- Oceania: Australian, Polynesian
While there are surprises – the family history you think you know is not always right – most Americans have a pretty good idea of their general ancestry. One study showed that when Americans check the box for race on forms, it is almost always the right one when checked against DNA tests.
- See also:
- DNA ancestry tests and Black Americans
- Is race biologically real?
- Ildi Silva
- BBC delves into Brazilians’ roots – the BBC did DNA tests of some famous Brazilians and found they were not always as European – or African – as they thought. Skin colour is not a sure guide, as it turns out.
- Oprah
abagond:
The DNA text from one’s father for a female (XX) is hard get results in contrast to the male because male’s have the xY sex chromosome and absolutely every male in his family up from him is stored and can be easily traced by the larger sized Y chromosome. The historical facts you mentioned are those that I found out via independent study; they are typically not taught in the history books of America as well as in most other places that study American history. I’ve been thinking about tracing my ancestry for a while now, and I would defiantly be interested in getting the home-kit. Good information.
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Actually these test can be a little misleading. For example, say your mother married a man from Africa. His genes are passed on. If they then have a girl, who has the two XX chromosomes, there is little genetic data about your dad. So any child of this daughter will not possess the DNA about her grandfather.
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Anybody out there that can help answer a DNA question:
I was looking into Y-DNA (Paternal lineage) and mtDNA (Maternal lineage) testing to look for genetic makers. Most importantly, I would like to find out about my enigmatic great grandfather on my Father’s side of the family.
The problem (or at least perceived problem) is that this male figure was my grandmother’s father. (My dad’s mom) Therefore, even if I do a Y-DNA test, I will not have access to his information because the Y chromosome, will only tell me about all the males: Fathers, Fathers, of Fathers, etc… and NOT tell me about the fathers of the mothers on my “dad’s side of the family.”
Conversely, the mtDNA test will only tell me the origins of my mothers, mothers, mothers, etc…. correct? If I am correct, then that means there are a lot of loose ends. Hypothetically, if my “enigmatic” great-grandfather were Sicilian or of Sub-Saharan African roots, then I would never know – correct?
This is the information I was referencing:
Paternal Lineage Test
If your goal is to try to expand your family tree, the Paternal Lineage tests provide the DNA results necessary to help find other participants who might be genetically related to you. The Paternal Lineage test analyzes specific segments of the Y-chromosome which is only found in males. And because the Y-chromosome is passed largely unchanged from father to son, DNA results from a male participant today can be used to represent the paternal lineage dozens of generations into the past.
If you are female, you can recruit a brother, father, or paternally related Uncle or Cousin to provide the DNA sample to use as if it were your own.
In addition to helping to expand your family tree, the Paternal Lineage test also provides insights into your Ancient Ancestry stretching back many thousands of years. Learn about where your ancient ancestors migrated and settled as humans spread throughout the continents.
Maternal Lineage Test
Available to both males and females, the Maternal Lineage test traces your ancient ancestry from your Mother’s side. As the earliest humans migrated out of Africa, they adapted to their new surroundings and became distinct populations from one another which can be detected by analyzing DNA. The Maternal Lineage test differs from the Paternal test in that it cannot validate a family relationship — so even if your maternal DNA is an identical match with another participant it can only prove that you may have been related thousands of years ago. On the other hand, if your results differ in any way, the results prove that your are definitively not related.
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I believe- and somebody please correct me if I’m wrong- that is currently impossible to find anything about your maternal grandfather (and his family) or your paternal grandmother. – UNLESS you have close relatives that can help you. So you need somebody (male) whose your maternal grandfather is father, or paternal grandfather, and you need somebody (of either gender) whose your paternal grandmother is mother or maternal grandmother.
But hey, at least you are a guy. Women can’t learn about their father’s family unless they have a father, brother or an uncle who would do the test (which I don’t have).
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Thanks Mira !!!
It’s crazy. This is the one grandfather the family knows nothing about, except for all the pictures (Sicilian Looking) we have of him – (People often thought my father as Italian or Latino and it was all from this guy.) Its kind of crazy to think about all the possible gaps when trying to get a truly accurate picture of your genetic history!!! (not really accurate accurate afterall) My grandmother is still alive, but all of her brothers have passed away. We know almost nothing about this side of the family. My grandmother does not even know where her father came from. (He left the family when she was young.)
Similar to this picture except with hair! http://www.krisvdv.net/pixelpost/images/20070916111234_sicilian_man_sigar.jpg
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@colorofluv,
Yes, get an ancestry test. You may well be 100% Euro, but who knows? You could be in for a surprise.
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I understand. So, there are no brothers or uncles that could take the test?
It sucks, I know the feeling. Well, hopefully, one day new tests might appear that could measure different “aspects” of your DNA. Remember, the tests and methods available today might not be the only one in a few years or decades.
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FG,
The problem is, he can only tell about his maternal grandmother and paternal grandfather’s family. If they were of European origin, but not the other grandfather and grandmother the result means nothing- he could still be 50% of other ethnicity.
My case: I can find out only about my maternal grandmother. As far as I know, her family “always” lived in Serbia/Balkans. So the test would show I’m 100% Serbian or whatever. But I know I am not. My paternal grandmother is of a different origin and so is my maternal grandfather.
But by all means, I’ll take the test as soon as I could afford it.
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“There is a third kind of test that looks at the DNA you get from both parents. These can tell how much of you is African, European, Native American and so on.”
This is the type of test I was saying Color should get. It can tell you your full composition if I understand correctly.
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Hmm… True, true. Sorry for misunderstanding.
Maybe that could help him to learn something more about his grandfather.
That test sure looks interesting, but I don’t know much about it. It’s not that really important in my part of the world.
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@ FG – I haven’t seen that test. My understanding is that it is only a “one way street” if you will. Therefore, my fathers, fathers, fathers, father, etc…. and my mother’s, mother’s mother’s, mother, etc….
If you are correct, do you know the name of the test you are referring to? Any links?
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I’d like to learn more about it. Like I said, I was unaware of the possibility you can learn anything about your maternal grandfather’s family and paternal grandmother’s.
If this test works like that, then it’s not much of the help, because it would still show only one half of your ancestry.
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“@ FG – I haven’t seen that test. My understanding is that it is only a “one way street” if you will. Therefore, my fathers, fathers, fathers, father, etc…. and my mother’s, mother’s mother’s, mother, etc….
If you are correct, do you know the name of the test you are referring to? Any links?”
http://www.ancestrybydna.com/
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It does look promising:
“AncestrybyDNA™ is a unique test in that it gives you percentages of your ancestral makeup based on markers across your 22 pairs of autosomes (non-sex chromosomes); therefore, it takes into account contributions from your full spectrum of ancestors. Other ancestry DNA tests, such as the maternal and paternal lineage tests offered here, only examine the maternally inherited mtDNA, or the paternally inherited Y-DNA. These latter tests give you information about your direct maternal and paternal lines, as shown in the diagram below.”
However, I am not sure if it “works”. They do claim race is not a biological fact; yet, they sort results into 4 categories. They do say “European” basically means “anything from Scandinavia to South Asia” (aka Caucasian), but it’s not really telling. So I’m not sure.
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“However, I am not sure if it “works”. They do claim race is not a biological fact; yet, they sort results into 4 categories. They do say “European” basically means “anything from Scandinavia to South Asia” (aka Caucasian), but it’s not really telling. So I’m not sure.”
It’s designed primarily for inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere, who tend to be some combination of white, black, and Native American. It probably isn’t as interesting to individuals who are a combination of ethnicities from just one of these groups.
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Also try: https://www.23andme.com/ancestry/
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To Colorofluv:
My grandmother is still alive, but all of her brothers have passed away. My grandmother is still alive, but all of her brothers have passed away.
If you want to know about your mysterious relative’s male lineage (Ydna) then the male children of your grandmother’s brothers could be tested or their male children.
You could also get an Autosomal DNA test
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genealogical_DNA_test#Geographic_origin_tests and http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/extras/molgen/auto_dna.html which sort of gives you an idea of admixture.
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@ FG, Mira, Jade, and Uncle Milton –
Thank you all for you input. I appreciate the links and information.
@ Uncle Milton – looks like I’ll have to do the autosomal DNA test. (or both)
THANKS AGAIN !!!
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I recently took an autosomal DNA test and It turns out I am even more mixed than I had realized. In addition to being Native American(32%) and European(45%), which I knew about, it turns out I am also 13% sub-Saharan African, and 10% East Asian. Caused quite a stir in my family, as no one seems to want to acknowledge that we have significant African ancestry. I would venture to guess the black and east Asian are from my mothers side, seeing as they are Mexican and many have this kind of admixture, whereas my father is métis, and less likely to have ancestry aside from european and Native American. Also there is an old picture of my one great grandmother that made me wonder, as she looks black to me. Interesting stuff these DNA tests.
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talked to a great phd at sorenson labs 2005–the total test– father and mother is called thumbprint — it gives both sides mom and dads — you can get maternal and paternal test but the common offer is this thumbprint —reference ancestry.com dna test in 2005 –my missing link was maternal gg grandfather — he was native american (did not know this!) and it showed up on dna from ancestry.com –it was a shocker but made all the research fall in place–
i am as white as the proverbial sheet with freckles —
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Abagond,
I saw this story and thought it would interesting and funny as h’ll !
This white woman is pale with red hair, and all her life, she was told her mother’s family were part Cherokee, (mother’s grandma) and family was very proud to be Native Americans.
She takes the DNA test expecting it to be confirmed but instead got the shock of her life:
DNA result: 15% African, 5% Native America, 80% European.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlhF8DTqhSs)
This chick then breaks down crying because she found out she is part black
and then says, “she’s glad her mother is dead, so she’ll never know”
another shiny example of white Americans being “colour-blind”
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New African American Ancestry Data now available through Accurate DNA Testing
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