DNA Testing - Why Not

[grandma]

But if you never take the plunge, you`ll never know what surprises are waiting out there.

And the more that do the test, more DNA info is uncovered. There can be an unknown uncle /brother waiting for an answer.

Mary

[mike175]

But if you never take the plunge, you`ll never know what surprises are waiting out there

. . . and if you don't buy a ticket you'll never win the lottery  

But you'll probably never win if you do buy one

[grandma]

Yes, but when we got the DNA results back. it was just like winning the lottery!!

Mary

[Flattybasher9]

Just curious, but since the originator of this thread is American or at least living there, does he know, has anyone traced the DNA of the native American tribes, and if so, what did the results show. Do they have African roots??


Regards

Malky

[nickgc]

Hello Malky.  No on the African roots for native Americans except in the sense that we all have African roots if we go back far enough.  American Indians show up in DNA tests as having an Asian profile, as had been assumed by many.

There is an excellent National Geographic program called "Journey of Man: a Genetic Odyssey on youtube.  It explains quite a bit in 2 hours in nicely digestible 10 minute chunks. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV6A8oGtPc4

I recall one thing pointed out in this film was that many native Americans did not want to be tested since they didn't want hear anything that might negate their creation myths.

Nick

[Nick29]

I suspect that only those who have particular problems are prepared to invest the several hundred pounds/dollars necessary to pursue this course. The same amount invested in Ancestry, FindMyPast, Origins, etc. would seem to have far greater chance of yielding useful information.

Been there, done that (for quite a few years).   No tee-shirt     

For me it was a choice of paying these sites year after year with no promise of a breakthrough.  Or take a risk that something would turn up with DNA testing.

[california dreamin]

Hi all

I view DNA testing as an investment for the future.  Even though what it offers now is so interesting I think the "science" will get better and in the future more avenues & possibilities may open up - and perhaps in my dotage I will find out something further about my family through the test taken today.  My Dad who has done the test for our family will have been long gone but what a legacy to leave your family..clues to your past.

Kind regards

[grandma]

In my case time is running out. I have just turned 80 on Christmas day. So far only one of my kids is interested but maybe some of the grandkids in time will be interested in what I have found. I paid for my brother to take the test on Ancestry so we at least know who are unknow gr gr grandfather was. We have a match with another man 6 generations down the line. Only hoping some day we will find the common denominater.The paper trail dabbers of somewhere in Ireland at the beginning of the 1800`s.

So any Lynchs out there please take contact with me. I`ll gladly pay for the test!!

Mary

[mike175]

I would never try to dissuade anybody from taking a DNA test, if they can afford it. I just can't see any reason for doing it myself at present, which is my answer to the original question.

Were I to take a test and find a distant cousin, unless he had information that I don't have, I would be no further forward. Even if he did, having seen what passes for research in so many other people's trees, I'm not sure I would be any the wiser anyway.

Mike.