Genetic Genealogy: How to Get Started

Have you been thinking about taking a DNA test and don't know where to start or which test to select?

Are your parents or grandparents elderly and you want to make sure you get a DNA sample?

Is there only one male left in the direct male line of your family tree?

Have you encountered a brick wall in your genealogy research and don't know what to do next?

Getting started with DNA testing for genealogy is not any more difficult than the various records you have learned about as you have pursued your family history research. A science background is not necessary.

This getting started guide covers the different DNA tests available, and will help you select a test.

There are two types of DNA tests available for genealogy: Y DNA Tests and mtDNA Tests.

The Y DNA tests are only available for males, since this test involves testing a small portion of the Y chromosome, which is passed from father to son, typically unchanged. Males have both an X and a Y chromosome. They receive the X chromosome from their mother, and the Y chromosome from their father. Females have two X chromosomes, one each from their father and mother.

Testing Y DNA provides information about the direct male line which would be the father, his father, his father, and so forth, back in time. Scientists have discovered that a small portion of the Y chromosome is passed from father to son virtually unchanged. Therefore, if a father and son are tested, their results would usually match. If two male cousins are tested, who have the same grandfather, their results would match or be a close match.

By comparing the result from a Y DNA test of two males, you can determine if they are related and approximately when the common ancestor occurred.

The locations tested on the Y chromosome for the Y DNA test are called Markers. There are 4 versions of the Y DNA test available:

Y-DNA12 tests 12 Markers
Y-DNA25 tests 25 Markers (For Surname Projects Only)
Y-DNA37 tests 37 Markers
Y-DNA59 tests 59 Markers

The 25 Marker test includes the Markers that are tested in the 12 Marker test. The 37 Marker test includes the Markers that are tested in the 25 Marker test. The 59 Marker test includes the Markers tested in the 37 Marker test.

If a person starts with the 12 Marker test, they can later upgrade to either the 25 Marker test(for Surname Projects) or the 37 Marker test or the 59 Marker tests. The 25 Marker test can be upgraded to 37 Markers or 59 Markers, and the 37 Marker test can also be upgraded to 59 Markers.

Selecting the number of Markers to test is primarily a budget consideration. More Markers provide more information. More Markers will also provide more accuracy in the estimated time frame for the common ancestor. In addition, more Markers will eliminate matches that aren't relevant in a genealogical time frame.

The 12 Marker test is best at proving that two males do not have a common ancestor in a genealogical time frame. For all other situations, the 37 Marker or 59 Marker test is recommended. The additional information from the 37 Marker or 59 Marker test far exceeds the incremental cost.

When the budget is available, select the 37 Marker or 59 Marker test. In most cases, those who start with the 12 Marker test or 25 Marker test typically upgrade later. You can save on your cost of testing by selecting the 59 Marker test initially.

Y DNA testing has a wide range of applications because the Y chromosome typically follows surnames. In addition, the Y DNA test can resolve a broad spectrum of problems and provides information about the direct male line.

Y DNA testing is used in Surname Projects. Surname Projects involve testing one or more males from each identified line or family tree of a surname, to determine which lines are related, and therefore have a common ancestor. Surname Projects can also identify the number of origins for a surname. In addition, Surname Projects often provide clues for further family history research and locations for research, as well as save people research time with these clues.

Both males and females inherit mtDNA from their mothers. Testing mtDNA provides information about the direct female line of the person, which would be their mother, their mother’s mother, and so forth.

mtDNA testing provides information about the origin of your direct female ancestral line. The result of the mtDNA test would tell you which of the "Daughters of Eve" was your ancestor.

There are situations where mtDNA testing can also be applied to your genealogy research. An example of utilizing mtDNA testing for genealogy would be where an ancestor had two wives, and multiple daughters, and you want to determine which daughters had which mother. In this case, you would need to find direct descent female descendents of the daughters and test them. Lets assume that Daughter 1 is documented with Mother A and Daughter 4 is documented with Mother B. You are uncertain of the mother for Daughters 2 and 3. You would find female descendents of the daughters, in the direct female line, and test 1 descendent of each of the 4 daughters. The descendents of Daughter 1 and Daughter 4 should have different results, and depending on which of these results the descendents of Daughter 2 and 3 match, tells you whom the mother was of Daughters 2 and 3.

The mtDNA test is available in 2 versions. These tests are called:

mtDNA
mtDNA Plus

The test called mtDNA provides a result for the region of mtDNA called HVR1. The test called mtDNA Plus tests two regions of mtDNA, HVR1 and HVR2. (HVR stands for Hyper Variable Region).

If you want to find mtDNA matches in a genealogical time frame, select the mtDNA Plus test.

Anyone with an understanding of family history research can utilize DNA testing. It isn't necessary to have a scientific background. The few scientific terms you will encounter will be explained.

It is easy to get started. Typically, you would want to start with a test of your direct male line and your direct female line. If you are female, you would need your father or brother or other close male relative to participate for the Y DNA test to represent your direct male line.

If you find a Surname Project for your direct male line, order your DNA tests as a member of this Surname Project. The Group Administrator will provide you with assistance in interpreting your results. In addition, telephone and email support and consultation is available from Family Tree DNA.

If you don't find a Surname Project, to order a Y DNA and/or mtDNA test:

http://www.familytreeDNA.com/products.html

DNA testing is the most powerful tool to ever become available to genealogists. For those who are new to DNA testing for family history, it can seem overwhelming and technical. Genetic Genealogy is not any more complicated than learning about the various records available that may contain information about your ancestors.

The easiest way to learn is to take a DNA test.