Community Chat

[Moonchilde]

I have weighed in over time on various DNA testing threads, and have had an experience I thought it might be helpful to relate for those deciding which test and which company.

I have already done autosomal testing with Ancestry and 23and me. I wanted to test at FTDNA to be "completeist." Since I already had two autosomal tests I opted for the mtDNA test at FTDNA. I *thought* I understood the purpose of this test, but it turns out I didn't, really.

I still had no results after almost four months and kept getting robo-replies which were infuriating. I eventually filed a complaint with the BBB, who followed through immediately - and so did FTDNA, to my surprise.

Because of what happened with me and my sample, they have made changes in their CS and lab procedures so hopefully it won't happen to anyone else.

I did get my results, and they are still refunding me the majority of the cost - and have also offered to do an autosomal test for free, which I will take them up on. Can't do better than that for a "we're sorry" make up.

FYI - the results of my mtDNA testing were not what I expected - the FORM of the results wasn't really usable to me. mtDNA does not give you this percent German, this percent Swedish, etc. or anything similar. It won't even really help with hereditary diseases much, in the way that most people want the data.

What it does is trace your DNA WAY back, i.e. Neolithic ancestors, out-of-Africa back. It gives you your specific genetic haplogroup - which honestly isn't good for much except to serious DNA students. It's interesting but not all that relatable for the average person. It's more the kind of data used in legal and forensic cases and to pinpoint things most people won't care about. It's also more expensive than their autosomal Family Finder test.

My thoughts and recommendations are that mtDNA testing is overkill and of limited use for most people in most situations, and that autosomal testing will tell the average person much of what they want to know - insofar as any genetic testing can answer specifics - sometimes it can't.

I understand that some don't see the point of, don't care about or aren't interested in DNA testing; this post was written for those who *are* interested and might have questions.

[chickenbutt]

Thank You, Moonchilde!  

I have a need to do something like this and this was one of the ones I was contemplating.

Pretty much, from my research so far, it just looks like you pay out a bunch of money and get some incomplete result.    I would have thought that this sort of technology was much more developed.  Sounds like I could get more information on the genetics of my golden retriever than being able to get the info I need on mine!      

[ALRATIBA]

I guess it's what you want to find out from the testing ... which testing you choose.  

 My only interest was to find out what our mtDNA and Y-DNA haplogroups are.  We already knew our recent ancestry and where everyone came from - we just wanted our "ancient origins."  

We did our DNA testing with Family Tree DNA ... through a seminar and presentation that my local genealogical society had back in 2006.  We have matches all over Europe and the US.

Turns out our Y-DNA is one of the most common European  haplogroup.  And the subgroup is also quite large.  We have records showing family history back to the 16th century - and have located "cousins" all over Europe just using historical records ... there is no need for any further testing.  We have a paper trail.

I did a full sequence mtDNA ... and it's one of the smallest haplogroups with origins about 13,000 years ago (after last Ice Age) in Iberia.   My matches are primarily from NW Europe - the largest group being in Fiinland.  As long as I know where I "fit into the scheme of things" ... I'm content.

Some books you might want to take a look at that addresses genetic ancestry:

Trace Your Roots with DNA:  Using Genetic Tests to Explore your Family Tree

Seven Daughters of Eve (Bryan Sykes)

Journey of Man (Spencer Wells)

[athenian]

Thank you @Moonchilde, you have explained my National Geographic test.  Evidently they didn't have enough in my group to trace it past 8000 years ago.  Disappointing, but since they are trying to have a complete picture of human migration and origin, I guess my sample added to that research.

[MyGirlsMom]

Hi @Moonchilde,

Wow!  Your post "said" a lot.  A few years ago I had my dna tested through ancestry.com and I was surprised about the findings.  What I liked is that it did separate the regions of the world (in a pie chart) of where my ancestors wee from.  percentages were given to 1% or lower.  Also, I received my results within six weeks via email.

[Moonchilde]

@chickenbutt, it truly depends on what, exactly, you hope to find out.

Nearly all DNA testing results are based upon data bases and comparing of data. The information is as accurate as the database is large.

Complete accuracy also depends on whether you are only testing yourself, or male relatives as well; females who have no male relatives to be tested can only ever learn about half of their ancestry. We are the sum total of BOTH sides of our family, and if we can't test the other side the results will never be 100% "complete/accurate."

The common results available, the one most people want, is that X percent of your DNA comes from X, Y and Z regions of the world - because your DNA matches, to varying degrees, others who are from that geographical area, over time. 

Many people want to know if/want "proof" they are Native American. There is no definitive DNA test for this because (1) There are many tribes, and (2) Relatively few NA people have been tested and are therefore in any database, so there isn't a large comparison pool. Also, if you are not 1/2 to 3/4 yourself the DNA is so diluted it may not show, especially if it's only in one parent and both sides can't be tested (this directly from FTDNA).

[Moonchilde]

@ALRATIBA, I'm unable to get any Y results, since I have only myself to test. My mtDNA haplogroup is very common in the UK and Scandinavia. Interestingly, my HVR1 is from Iberia as well - Cyprus and Portugal.

My basic findings fit well with what I know of my genealogy, which has been traced back to the England of Shakespeare's day.

But other than Neolithic and Bronze Age migration patterns, not sure that my mtDNA data will be of any use to me. I'm really not much interested in 3rd-5th cousins, none of which have surnames in my existing family tree.

I'm still investigating websites and forums to hopefully make me more interested in my haplogroup ;-)

[Moonchilde]

@MyGirlsMom, I think mtDNA testing might a slightly different amount of time to test than autosomal (what you had), but I'm not sure.

What happened with me is that my sample kept failing and they kept re-testing it - and re-testing and re-testing - without telling me what was going on. They just kept bumping up my dates with no explanation and no individual email to me. At the point where I contacted the BBB, FTDNA had started manual, hand-done testing on my sample as a last resort - again without cluing me in. So, that worked, and shortly after I filed, results came back.

I have been assured that their protocol has now changed and the non-communication won't happen to anyone else in a similar situation. They've been very nice (because I've been pretty nice in my responses), have answered all my questions, and have offered me a free autosomal test, which I said yes to. A bad experience that has been turned around pretty well by them.

I wanted to comment on the general usefulness of the mtDNA testing because not only is it more expensive, but most people would look at the results and think "big whoop - WT* can I do with this info!?" 😏

[ALRATIBA]

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@Moonchilde wrote:

@ALRATIBA, I'm unable to get any Y results, since I have only myself to test. My mtDNA haplogroup is very common in the UK and Scandinavia. Interestingly, my HVR1 is from Iberia as well - Cyprus and Portugal.

---(SNIP)

I'm still investigating websites and forums to hopefully make me more interested in my haplogroup ;-)

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@MoonchildeYou might want to check Facebook and see if there's a FB group for your haplogroup.  I belong to one for each haplogroup ... and a couple of others that are related. to Irish and German ancestry.  

They share lots of information, articles, new websites ... check it out.

[Moonchilde]

@ALRATIBA, great idea, thanks - I will!