Can DNA Testing Verify Your Genealogical Research?
- DNA testing can help you identify those persons who share a common ancestor with you through DNA matching.
- DNA testing does not replace the need for traditional genealogy research but it can provide clues for locating others who are researching your same family lines.
What Types of Tests are Available?
- Y-DNA tests are available for males only who want to discover their paternal lineage back through time. Y-DNA is passed down from father to son, generation to generation with very few changes. Testing can be done on 37, 67 or 111 markers (or locations). More markers tested will provide better results. Provides your haplotype. Sold only by FamilyTree DNA.
- mtDNA (mitochondrial) tests are available for females who want to trace the DNA they inherited from their mother. MtDNA is passed from a mother to all of her children regardless of gender, but only the female children pass it down to the next generation. So mtDNA shows a record of the direct maternal line. Provides your haplotype. Sold only by FamilyTree DNA.
- Autosomal (atDNA) tests can be taken by males or females to show DNA received from both their mother and father. We each receive half of our DNA from our paternal line and half from our maternal line. They, in turn, received half of their DNA from each of their parents. Because DNA recombines just prior to passing to the next generation, you and your siblings will receive a different mixture of DNA from your parents.
- Admixture testing is the ability to determine different ethnicities and locations which can be compared to your traditional research. This information is included with each of the tests mentioned here.
Links to Testing Companies
