DNA Testing - Why Not

[heywood]

Thanks Jane. I am sure I will fathom some of it given time. 

[Nova67]

My main motivation in testing and getting multiple family members to test is to discover how long my family has been in Australia, and particularly breaking down the brickwalls of my female ancestors to VDL. I am interested in knowing my earliest convicts and their significance to the history of European settlement here.

[brigidmac]

I ordered a kit today ...Was tempted by the offer of 2nd kit half price because i want to do both my own and my mother's

it's very expensive so i do hope some matches turn up

My father's sister is now 90 it would be good if we could get her to do it too as my father has passed away .

[Bobby G]

Absolutely love how I can use DNA with my ancestry. I currently have 3 folks connected to my tree through paper and DNA. No close rellies, family have taken a test yet but I'm slowly working on that. I have my DNA in as many databases as possible (4). Have also taken a test with livingDNA, result from this will be exportable some time this year. Best decision that I took a test. Would recommend to anyone.

[Liviani]

I haven't done my DNA yet, but I am very interested in getting this done.

Trouble is, I'm female. I am more interested in my paternal line. I have no brothers and I don't have a good relationship with my father for him to get a sample done.

As far as I understand if I was to do a test it would trace through my mother, then her mother, her mother and so on?
I will probably do it out of curiosity at some point. 

If my son (he is still a child so I'm not sure if this is allowed?) had his DNA analysed would this show his father's line only and nothing from me?

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Liviani, your basic understanding is correct.

To find out your Dad's Y DNA line, he would need to take a test.

If you tested your Son once is is old enough, this would show his Father's Y DNA line.

Being Female you have two options.

1) Do an MT DNA test. This would show your Mum's line.

2) Do an Autosomal test: this would give you genetic make up inherited from your parents and Grandparents going back about 500 years.

Hope this helps?

Cheers, Ade.

[Guy Etchells]

Illegitimate children rarely inherit their father's surname.  DNA doesn't lie, but unfortunately people do.  I remember reading somewhere that as many as 60% of children do not know their biological father.  However, on a subject like this, it's difficult to collect reliable data.

It is assertions like this that makes me laugh.
DNA testing is very much in its infancy and is based on tiny samples.
Nothing has as yet been proven as definitive. Babies have been observed being born but when their DNA has been tested it does not match their mother's DNA.

Perhaps in 20 or 30 years things may have changed but now DNA testing is little more than an expensive toy that proves nothing but claims much

Cheers
Guy

[Liviani]

Hi Liviani, your basic understanding is correct.

To find out your Dad's Y DNA line, he would need to take a test.

If you tested your Son once is is old enough, this would show his Father's Y DNA line.

Being Female you have two options.

1) Do an MT DNA test. This would show your Mum's line.

2) Do an Autosomal test: this would give you genetic make up inherited from your parents and Grandparents going back about 500 years.

Hope this helps?

Cheers, Ade.

This is very helpful indeed. Thank you. So the autosomal test is more restrictive in time than say an MT line?

[shellyesq]

Perhaps in 20 or 30 years things may have changed but now DNA testing is little more than an expensive toy that proves nothing but claims much

I found my birthfather's family through DNA testing, so certainly not an expensive toy for me.  I can provide you with many news stories with a similar result to mine.  I've also tested my husband's DNA, and his matches conform with the paper trail. 

I'd certainly be interested to see a story that supports your claim that a child's DNA doesn't match their mother's without some unusual medical explanation for it.  The law of my country certainly finds that DNA legally proves where a child comes from.  I imagine it's the same in yours.