How do I take the same geneology test that Oprah took?

Question

I watched some segment where Oprah, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Tucker, and other stars took some DNA testing to find out their roots. Some had European blood, Asian blood, Native American blood, etc.

Is there a way for me to take this test?

Answer 1

Why would you want to do that, her test was WRONG.  And I'll tell you why it was wrong.

Fact 1.  Oprah is indeed the descendant of slaves.

Fact 2. No Zulu (the tribe the DNA testing company told her she descended from) were taken as slaves.

Not to hard to figure out is it.  She can't be both descended from slaves and Zulu at the same time...

Here is a webpage that will tell you what DNA testing can and cannot do.

http://www.coolrogue.net/genealogy/dnate...

Answer 2

GBegay is 100% correct on this.  After the show originally aired there were many unanswered questions.  Another genealogist did some more work and found out that it's true.  No Zulu were ever taken as slaves.  The slave traders captured people from the shore countries and did not venture deep into Africa where the Zulu lived.

There is no way Oprah could be of the Zulu tribe.

Answer 3

Eliza is a moron.  The other responders are more accurate.  There are a lot of places that do this testing and the fees will vary by facility as well as by the complexity of the specific test you request to have done.  There are several test options, so it is not as simple as just asking to get a "DNA" test done.  You have to be specific to which type you want done.

Answer 4

I'm going to guess it was this show on PBS or related to it?

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/2006/sci...

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/

It was this company, I'd already previous bookmarked it myself. ; )

http://www.ancestrybydna.com

So you know it's that site... As mentioned here: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/resource...  "The website of DNAPrint Genomics, the company that designed the admixture testing process used in AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES"

Yeah, DNA tests are rather expensive. I'd try it myself out of curiosity if it wasn't so costly.

Answer 5

If you can afford to spend a few hundred thousand dollars on this, I'm sure someone will take it from you.

However, if you are Christian, I can save you some money.  

Adam & Eve!

Answer 6

They don't cost a few hundred thousand. I never heard anything so ridiculous. Ancestry.com offers a thorough service starting at about $130. It will give you the same results that the celebrities get. But be aware that if you want more in-depth results, it will cost you up to $500. But the basic test will tell you what you want to know.

Answer 7

National Geographic have a test that costs you about $125 american dollars....