Why Everyone Should Take a DNA Test
Wonder why take a DNA test? The two reasons in genealogy are finding your ethnicity and finding genetic matches. DNA doesn’t lie.
The Rise for DNA Testing for Genealogy
Why take a DNA test? I hear that often, mostly from people that don’t know how valuable this information is to us, and future generations. DNA testing for genealogical purposes has exploded in popularity in recent years. In 2018 and even 2019 there was much ado about the reasons why it wasn’t a good idea. Fast forward 4-5 years and it seems like everyone wants to take a DNA test. All new things are scary but exposure and experience brings acceptance.
Sites like Ancestry, 23andme and MyHeritage allow us to easily and affordably take a DNA test; order one, provide a saliva sample, mail it off and within weeks unlock a treasure trove of information about our ethnicity and our family history.
Often people receive these tests as gifts, sort of a novelty. Most of them just want to know their ethnicity. That’s a fun topic! I’d love to be able to brag I was French or Greek… but alas, I am a mutt. European, English and Scottish. But, many of us are interested in finding our people. I am disconnected from my family. Genealogy has opened up an entire family tree of people I am proud of and fascinated by. I have met no less 28 new cousins to me as of mid 2023. I feel connected. I think many others are seeking that same sense of belonging.
If I Take a DNA Test, Which DNA Test Should I Take?
If you are ready to take a DNA test, it is important to understand the different types of tests available and what they can tell you about your genetic makeup.
There are several types of DNA tests out there:
– Ancestry DNA tests
– Health & Wellness DNA tests
– Genetic Predisposition
– Paternity DNA tests
And there are several well known companies offering them:
– Ancestry: autosomal only
– 23andme: autosomal, mtDNA, Y-DNA
– MyHeritage: autosomal
– FamilyTreeDNA: autosomal, Y-DNA, mtDNA
For this blog post, we will be sticking to ancestry DNA tests to determine our ethnicity and family ancestry.
These tests analyze your autosomal DNA, which is the DNA you inherit from both of your parents. By comparing your DNA to a database of genetic markers from people around the world, these tests can give you an estimate of your ethnic ancestry- where your ancestors came from, migrated from and settled.
The other feature is to determine relationships between individuals and their ancestors. By comparing DNA samples, genetic genealogy can help identify shared ancestors and determine the likelihood of two people being related.
Understanding DNA Tests
DNA testing can provide valuable insights into your genetic makeup.
There are several types of DNA tests available, including:
- Autosomal DNA tests: these All the companies I mentioned offer this type of DNA testing. It seems to be the most common. Autosomal DNA refers to the 22 pairs of chromosomes we all have- one set from Mom and one set from Dad. Every generation the 50% your Mom or Dad is passing along gets diluted. So you’ll see the closer a match is to you, the higher centimorgans (cM’s) you’ll share and the further you go back in the family tree, the less cM’s you’ll share. You’ll soon be able to look at the number of cM’s you share and decide which level of grandparents they are most likely coming from. It’s fascinating! This type of testing can identify relatives up to about 5 generations back.
- mtDNA or Mitochondrial DNA tests trace a person’s matrilineal line (mother), through their mitochondria which mothers pass on to their children. We all have mitochondria so we can all take this type of test, but remember, it is only tracing your mother’s line through the females: grandmother, great grandmother, great great-grandmother, etc… This is the right test if you have an unknown person in your direct maternal line. Since our mitochondria remains fairly unchanged through the generations, this type of test can go as far back as ancient times.
- Y-DNA tests test on the Y chromosome. Y-chromosomes are passed from father to son virtually unchanged. So again, it is only tracing the father’s line through the males: grandfather, great grandfather, great great grandfather, etc… This is the right test to determine if two men share a paternal line or a common male ancestor.
All three of these tests have a place in genealogy research. As you learn more about DNA and the role it plays in doing our genealogy work, you’ll become well versed in which test you need and by whom. Please remember that we do 2 different things in genealogy- we build our genealogical tree based on documentation. We explore our genetic matches through DNA and DNA does not lie. Sometimes it can cause quite a shake up.
When I first started learning about DNA, an instructor said if you are going to ask someone to take a DNA test because you are looking for people or trying to knock down a brick wall, Ancestry has the largest database therefore the best chance of being matched to relatives. If you’re looking for your ethnicity, 23andme is spot on. That is sort of the rule of thumb I use to determine which one I might ask a possible DNA match/ connection to take.
Benefits of Taking a DNA Test
Taking a DNA test can provide valuable information about your ancestry and your biological family. Here are some of the benefits of taking a DNA test:
- Discovering Your Ancestry
- One of the most popular reasons for taking a DNA test is to discover your ancestry. DNA testing can help you trace your ethnic background and identify where your family is from and your ancestors’ migration patterns. By analyzing your DNA, testing companies can provide a detailed breakdown of your ethnic groups and places of origin. This information can help you better understand your family history and cultural heritage.
- Finding Biological Family
- For folks that were adopted or have limited knowledge of their biological family, DNA testing can help connect them with relatives they may not know existed. DNA testing can help identify biological parents, siblings, and other relatives. This information can provide a sense of belonging and one of closure. Finding the answer to these questions will better help individuals to understand their family history and genetic makeup.
I think we all agree why everyone should take a DNA test! They will provide valuable information about your ancestry and biological family. By analyzing your DNA, DNA testing companies can provide a detailed breakdown of your ethnicity and what area your family came from and it provides a chance to find and connect with biological relatives.
Concerns of Taking a DNA Test
This world is moving fast. Technology is moving even faster. Yet there are still people that are not comfortable with the idea of taking a DNA test. This is something each of us has to decide for ourselves. Personally, I’ve had surgeries, blood drawn and carry an iPhone- I figure the man upstairs knows everything he needs to know about me. I can’t stop that, I just have to do my due diligence in understanding how my DNA will be used and I have to be comfortable with that. A few reasons I have heard:
- Privacy Issues
- One of the things I hear the most is they are worried about privacy violations. When you take a DNA test, you are providing a sample of your genetic material that contains very specific information about your health, ancestry, and other traits. There is a possibility this could be used against us if privacy laws are not created and enforced, such as insurance underwriting, employment decisions, or criminal investigations. I suggest sticking with reputable well-known companies and reading their policies.
- Surprises
- More and more these days, people are worried about taking a DNA tests because they are afraid they will find out something they are afraid of. This is a negative blight on our society nowadays, but an unavoidable one. I would hope everyone would want to know where they come from, where they really come from! I believe that we carry the genes of our ancestors through the generations and finding out our true genetic family can often explain talents, struggles, health conditions and more that will give us a peace of mind. But not everyone is ready and we have to respect that.
In closing,
DNA testing has revolutionized genealogical research and provided new tools for people to explore their ancestry and family history. While there are valid concerns around privacy and potential surprises when deciding to take a DNA test, the benefits of discovering one’s origins and connecting with relatives outweigh the risks for most.
For those seeking to break down brick walls in their family tree or gain insights into their genetic makeup, consumer DNA tests offer an affordable and convenient option. As the science continues advancing and companies expand their databases, DNA testing will become a powerful way to achieve a deeper understanding of our shared human connections across time and geography.
Our quest to know where we come from and feeling like we are part of something bigger, something that matters, is profoundly human. If you’re ready to embrace it, DNA testing for ancestry will provide answers and give us a chance to rewrite our futures with the wisdom of our past. With care taken to the mitigate risks, our DNA can reveal more about ourselves and our shared humanity than ever imagined.
How accurate are DNA tests in determining ethnicity?
If you take a DNA test for ethnicity, keep in mind that these DNA tests use reference populations to estimate your ethnicity, but it is not an exact science. If a company has a reference group of 700 people from a remote place, the person testing has to be related to one of those 700 people, within about 5 generations, to determine they are indeed that ethnicity. Keep in mind that results can vary from company to company because they are not using identical reference populations. At best, these are educated guesses. Scientific educated guesses.
How far back can DNA trace our ancestry?
Autosomal DNA tests can detect genetic relationships back about 5 generations. After that the amount of DNA passed to us from that far back is just too minimal. Y-DNA and mtDNA trace the paternal or maternal lines specifically and can go back hundreds of years.
How do I connect with new genetic matches?
First review their genealogical tree if they have one. Look for surnames or locations that match your tree. Try and determine who they may be or where they may fit. Compose a brief email highlighting your mutual ancestors or locations. Ask them if you could share some information with them about your branch of the tree and let them know you would appreciate the same. Thank them collaborating with you, in advance. Once you develop a rapport with them, share your trees, jump on the phone, exchange photos and documents in email. And most of all, enjoy your new relative. Make sure you foster a relationship with them as individuals on your family tree.
