Asking a distant relative for a DNA sample (genealogy)?

Question

Hi,

Recently I have made contact with my great, great aunt. She is the last living person in America with my Lithuanian great, great grandmother's DNA. The thing is, I want to ask for a DNA sample so I can use it to find other relatives and build my family tree. The problem is that I don't know her very well, but to be honest I'm frightened she may die soon (she is very old) so I want to get it immediately.

Has anyone had any experience with this sort of thing?

thanks

Gen

Answer 1

Most likely, the DNA will not find other relatives.  For that, you need to research.

Have you asked your aunt questions about the family?

That could be more valuable than any DNA test.

Don't wait too long.

Can't ask questions after they are gone.  I think of all the questions I wish I had asked.

Answer 2

If you're afraid to ask........steal her hairbrush!

Answer 3

If this great-great aunt is on your mother's line, you will have the same Mtdna as her. You have the same as your mother,

as your grand mother, as your great grand mother and as your great-great grand mother (continuing back to the very beginning of her maternal line 10s of thousands of years ago) and she was the sister of your great-great aunt.

You share the same Mtdna with all of them, except each generation adds another marker.

Edit : DNA testing can be used for verifying relatives who have, in the past, either changed their last name or had it changed to something quite different to the original, or even if it is a simple name variation and there is no paper trail to make a link. There are a number of ways in which it can prove, or disprove relationships, for example where adoptions are involved. It is without doubt an invaluable tool for use in genealogy.

It can of course also be used to establish a positive connection between two families with exactly the same last names if no paper trail exists, which is often the case.