Reliable Geneologic DNA testing?

Question

I would like to have my DNA tested to find out my origin/ethnicity. I'm mixed so basically, I just want to know my percentages & so far I'm pretty sure I'm 12% English, 12% Irish, maybe Native American on my mom's side.

My question is.......are there any testing sites that don't require a common ancestor? In other words, can they find out anything on MY DNA alone?

Answer 1

With your DNA only they can only compare your results to other results the testing company has in their database.  They can tell you if you have markers in common with other of known "race" or ethnic group. Example:  they can tell you that you have 12% of markers in common with known Native American samples they have.  They can tell you that you have 33% markers in common with known Irish samples they have and so on.  And that is as much as they can tell you period!!  Anything else is just supposition on the part of the testing company.  Example: one company told Oprah Winfrey that she descends from the Zulu tribe in Africa, but that just can't be because 1. She is the descendant of slaves.  2. No Zulu were ever taken as slaves.  So how could she be descended from the Zulu Tribe??

I have researched DNA testing and have published the results of that research, you can find the information at:

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

Answer 2

This is a reply I have given to a similar previous question,

I think it also answers your query.

Human cells contain 23 pairs of chromosomes: 22 pairs of autosomes, and one pair of s*x chromosomes. Females carry a pair of X chromosomes that can swap, or recombine, similar regions of DNA during meiosis. However, males harbor one X chromosome and one Y chromosome, and significant recombination between these dissimilar s*x chromosomes does not occur. Therefore, the non-recombining region of the Y chromosome (NRY) remains largely unchanged over many generations, directly passed from father to son, son to grandson, and so on, along with genetic variations in the NRY that may be present. Scientists can use genetic variations, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), on the Y chromosome as markers of human ancestry and migration.

It is very effective and the best companies will retest until they get a conclusive result.

If you have, say, just the first 12 markers tested($149 with FTDNA), that will give an indication of where you originated, the more markers you test on, the more information is gained, if you test on the maximumum of, say 67 markers ($349 with FTDNA), it is possible then to find a match to someone else carrying your own, or a different surname, and to prove a link where perhaps no "paper trail" exists. It can therefore pinpoint a place in which your ancestors probably lived in recent history but DNA does not, obviously,

have a surname attached to it, surnames have only been used for around 700 years and of course your DNA originated 10s of thousands of years ago. You can also have a SNP test which will help show the migratory pattern of your ancient ancestors, having said that, you can join a Surname project (e.g. with FTDNA) and receive discounted prices on your tests.

I recommend that you make yourself aware of the various tests available, and the costs with each testing company.

Plus, check out what is available to you after you have tested.

I used Family Tree DNA ,they were the first in the field (founded in 1999), have the largest data base, and do the testing for the National Geographic's Genome project, their "after sales" is excellent and I consider they are the best, but you have to make your own decision on that.

http://www.familytreedna.org

NOTE :-

If you are female, you only carry your mother's Mtdna, and her mother's Mtdna, and her mother's Mtdna etc.,etc.,etc. and that will show only your mother's lineage (you will pass that Mtdna on to your daughters and sons, but your sons will not pass it on to their children). You do not inherit your father's Y-DNA.

If you are male, you inherit your father's Y-DNA, his father's Y-DNA, his father's Y-DNA, and so on back to your origin. You also inherit your mother's Mtdna, but you only pass your Y-DNA on to your sons.