Novice question - any use in mother testing after I have already done so ?

[SiGr]

Hi,

A basic question from a DNA novice.

I have already done Ancestry and 23andme DNA tests.

I was just wondering, is there any real use/benefit in my mother doing one as well ?

I should add that there are no 'maternity concerns'; I am just wondering if her doing a test will help us expand and explore our family tree any more.

Thanks in advance for any comments.

Simon

[Ruskie]

It might help you work out which side of the family your matches come from. Not all matches are always logical though - for example, you could have matches that she does not, or the percentages of DNA that you share with some matches may be higher than she has.

I think most people will agree that it is a good idea to test parents if possible. 

[Mowsehowse]

I think it could be very useful, as Ruskie says.
You have your Mother's DNA, (obvs,) but you also have your Father's, which she does not, (obvs,) so if you got a match which your Ma did not match, one could suppose it is most likely to be from your father's side.

[Nanna52]

My son and I did ancestry dna a couple of years ago.  His now has mothers side written on matches we share.  Also more distant links show up with me, but are not as clear with him or less than 20cM.

[phil57]

You only have 50% of your mother's DNA (and 50% of your father's). Actually, as a male, the amounts are very slightly different, but 50% is good enough.

Your mother has 100% of her DNA (obviously) but that consists of 50% of each of her parents DNA.

In other words, each of your parents has double the amount of ancestors DNA as you, and your grandparents have triple. You can therefore increase the reach and probable strength of your DNA matches substantially, and as Ruskie has said, you also have the possibility of segregating out matches to the maternal or paternal side of your family, which can save a lot of time and effort in investigating matches when you are unsure where the connection lies.

Always test as far back as you can, before you lose the chance  

[Galium]

My mother has many matches that I don't have, and there are some (probably more than I have found yet) branches of her family that I wouldn't know about at all if I didn't have the advantage of being able to see her test results.
Absolutely get her to test if she is willing.

[Simon62]

Hi Simon,

Yes, the more family members you test, the greater the probability of matches you can be confident of that share DNA with them and you but also not you but you are related to. If that makes sense.

Andy Lea explains.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C0FYCsTGAg&ab_channel=FamilyHistoryFanatics

Best Wishes
Simon

[brigidmac]

i would always recommend that you get older members of families to test .
i am very lucky that my mother and one of her cousins tested .it will prove links to your tree  going back an extra generation,

[SiGr]

Hi, everyone,

A big thank you for your helpful and informative replies.

My mother is keen to proceed now we know it will be worthwhile.

Best wishes.

Simon