RootsChat.Com

Excellent suggestion... I was unaware of Mundial.  I am currently connected and waiting (not so) patiently for the tree and possible personal info of tree creator to show up.  Two trees have the thumbnail photo I referred to, so I hope this gives me what I need.

Thanks!

Nick

Hi Liz -

Current prices at 23andme are still $99 and $ 9/month subs for minimum of a year.  FTDNA is $289 with no subs. so the costs even out after 2 1/2 (or so years).

23andme has a much larger database, BUT FTDNA has more people interested in genealogy versus 23andme's health oriented research.  23 gives you Y and mito haplotypes, but not the detailed info you on each you get from FTDNA (but which are separate from, and additional cost to, autosomal tests).

After less than 5 months I have 992 matches at 23.  In February FTDNA allowed 23 customers to add their data for $50 and I did:  I have under 170 matches there which indicates their database is about 20% the size.

I still think the 23andme user forums are infinitely better than FTDNA's in the knowledge and helpfulness of their membership.

Five generations is well within the range for DNA to be relevant - you only have to hope that your distant relatives test and that they have paper trails that compliment your own.

Nick

Malky,

Please provide some scientific journal references for your claim that males can pass on mtDNA.  Unless you are talking about bivalves rather than humans, I don't think you will be able to.

I am aware of a single study, of a single individual, where the researchers claim this happened.  It was done 10 years ago.  One case does not make for a generalizable claim.  As far as I know, nobody claims that that mtDNA can be inherited from the paternal line.  Science requires that claims be backed up with evidence, and that studies can be replicated, before they are accepted as providing valid conclusions.

Nick

Hi Folks.  For some reason I haven't been getting email notices of updates to this thread.  Consequently haven't checked it for a week or ten days.

I agree that there need to be more success stories, or that those that happen need to be popularized more.  The ones that seem to get the most press are adoptees who happen to find their birth families.  I have been following a particularly poignant one of those at 23andMe that has just been resolved.  One report is here:

http://www.yourgeneticgenealogist.com/2011/12/adoptee-reunites-with-birth-family-at.html

Most of us either know, or can figure out from records, our 1st cousins, second cousins, and some third cousins, etc.  The gold standard (IMO) is to connect through DNA to a cousin who helps us break through a brickwall  in our ancestry.  It is unlikely in the extreme that will happen until more people get the testing done.

So to essentially say "I'm not going to get my DNA tested until more people get theirs tested", is extremely counterproductive for genealogists.

Here is my success story that happened just recently, although it is really pretty minor.  A third great grandmother born in a certain area in 1818.  I had notes as to her possible father (2 possibilities), but did not include in my tree since I have stringent requirements for doing so.  Three weeks ago I started working with a matching DNA "cousin" on 23andMe.  Comparing surnames, family first names over generations, and geographical locations, we determined that our ancestors had to be related.

We did not find the exact link  It was probably circa 1720-1740, a few years prior to when our records "run out" about 1770.  But what we worked out together gave me the confidence to finally define which of the two possibilities was my 4th great grandfather and finally, after many years, include him in my tree.

Now if only a cousin or two who are related through my direct line 3rd grt gpa and my only missing 3rd great grandparents Dunn would test.

Nick