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Week 17: DNA #52Ancestorsin52Weeks

 DNA testing is now immensely popular and programmes such as "Who Do You Think You Are?" on BBC,  "DNA Journey" on STV and "Finding your Roots" on PBS are bringing it more to the fore. Companies such as Ancestry, 23andme, My Heritage and Family Tree DNA all offer the opportunity to have your DNA tested and have a variety of tests on offer. The 'normal' DNA test is called an autosomal test. The process is simple - you spit into a tube, post the test back and a few weeks later you get your results. Then the fun begins!

But firstly - why would anyone want to do a DNA test? Many people are interested in what their DNA can tell them about their ethnicity. Some are seeking information about their genetic health (only 23and me provide this). Others are seeking to find answers about family that DNA could provide - adoptees seeking to find their parents, people wanting to identify an 'unknown' parent/grandparent. DNA is a powerful tool in those situations. Although I haven't had to use it like that for myself, I have used DNA to 'solve' a friend's father's unknown parentage and help another confirm a suspected grandfather. Not with DNA alone, I hasten to add, but using DNA test results alongside traditional genealogy. Science and hard graft!

My own DNA journey started off  with a test at Ancestry, the company which has the largest database of testers.  This gave me a breakdown of my ethnicity. As you can see, I'm not very exotic!


However, it also confirms all the genealogical research I've done, which is a good thing. No surprises there.

More interesting, however, is the list of your DNA matches which they provide for you. Every person on that list shares some of your DNA. Every person on the list is related to you in some way. And this is where I get excited as I absolutely love trying to find out how I am related to these people. Do we share great grandparents? Do we share great great great great ..... grandparents??

Finding those connections is what I find fun.  I have over 26,000 DNA matches on Ancestry alone and more with other companies. It's like a never ending puzzle just waiting to be solved. Not everyone's cup of tea, but it is mine.

Researching those connections allows you to confirm or reassess the information you have in your family tree. I've been lucky in that I have turned up no shocks or surprises. I haven't discovered any " mis-attributed parent" ... yet. But it is one thing that should be considered before you do a test - are you ready for what your DNA might tell you, that your family didn't? Or that your family didn't know? 

But back to those connections I mentioned. Connecting the dots on paper is one thing, but you can make real life connections too. I have met a couple of my DNA matches. Lorraine, who is my half fourth cousin twice removed, our common ancestor being my 3 x great grandmother Jean Russell, who married twice. Lorraine actually still lives in the same Lanarkshire village as our common ancestor did! I've also met a much further flung 'cousin' - Robyn, who lives in Australia! She came to Scotland with her husband a few years ago and we met up in Glasgow. She is my third cousin once removed - we have my 2 x great grandparents in common.

I've made many more connections through messages and emails, backwards and forwards from my 'cousins', some seeking information, some just saying hi. Jean, who lives in Canada, is related to me on both my dad's (fourth cousin) and my mum's  (fifth cousin) side of the family and is a friend on Facebook.  Last week I was contacted from someone who lives in East Kilbride - I've still to work out who she is :)

I'll continue my own DNA journey as there are always new puzzles to solve, new relationships to discover and confirm, and I am always willing to help others start their DNA journey too. Are you tempted??


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