Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all! We have been experiencing an issue on site where threads have been missing the latest postings. The platform host Vanilla are working on this issue. A workaround that has been used by some is to navigate back from 1 to 10+ pages to re-sync the thread and this will then show the latest posts. Thanks, Mike.
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

DNA Analysis

1…910121415…22

Comments

  • #552
    pinkypinky
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,676 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    Y DNA won't change that much.

    I think it'd be more valuable to get your grandfather's autosomal DNA as he will have matches further back than you. With FTDNA, they keep the sample, so you can always add the Y later.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • #553
    Hermy
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 11,426 Mod ✭✭✭✭Hermy


    pinkypinky wrote: »
    With FTDNA, they keep the sample, so you can always add the Y later.

    That's a good thing to know.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • #554
    DamoRed
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 394 ✭✭DamoRed


    If you wish to add further tests to your FTDNA profile, you can take advantage of the offer prices without having to pay added postage costs.


  • #555
    Ipso
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,995 ✭✭✭Ipso


    Tombom1 wrote: »
    Well he's 92 but even his grandfather who lived through the famine lived to his 90s and his father to 97.I plan on getting him a autosomal DNA test and his older sister (95),but I don't want to scare him ,getting him all these tests!

    The question I'm asking is,is it really necessary for him to do a ydna compared to me as the y chromosome doesn't really change ?would I be able to go further back?how far exactly I'm new to DNA tests.

    I don’t think there’s anybadvantage to get his sister tested. Maybe getting another relative from the other side of the family, that way you may be able to identify what side of your family matches are based upon which relative they match.


  • #556
    Tombom1
    Registered Users Posts: 50 ✭✭Tombom1


    Ipso wrote: »
    I don’t think there’s anybadvantage to get his sister tested. Maybe getting another relative from the other side of the family, that way you may be able to identify what side of your family matches are based upon which relative they match.

    So you mean test one of his first cousins from his mother's side of the family or first cousin once removed if possible?

    Good idea ,but I don't know how I would approach them about doing a DNA test,as I don't really know them.
    Have you gone about this before ? How did you do it?

    Edit: from researching about DNA testing, I was told it was best to get more than one person to get a autDna test as the further back you go the less likely they carry DNA that relates them to a distant relative, but your chances increase as both their inherited DNA is different and likely one of them has still DNA that can match them to a distant relative.
    For example a 4-5 time great grandfather being the last shared relative.
    Am I right or is it worth the money for the small difference?

    Also time isn't really on my side as my grandaunt
    Isn't the healthiest right now.


  • #557
    pinkypinky
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,676 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    At that age, I would consider getting both siblings tested for autosomal and then approach the more distant ones later. Each one will have a different 50% DNA from each parents so their matches won't be the same at the more distant levels.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • #558
    Tombom1
    Registered Users Posts: 50 ✭✭Tombom1


    I am going to buy two DNA kits on ancestry ,if I buy another one on Ftdna would it be any good in going further back when comparing the two brother and sister for cM against a say distant relative?
    I heard ancestry do 700,000 markers how many do Ftdna ?

    It would save me 20 euro :) haha

    Also I would have access to Ftdna without transfer fees and would get their tools ,but my main concern is going the furthest back.


  • #559
    pinkypinky
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,676 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    I don't really understand what you mean.

    Ancestry has the biggest database but I'm not aware of their test being better than FTDNA's. Indeed, the lack of a chromosome browser is a serious downside for Ancestry.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • #560
    dubhthach
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,284 ✭✭✭dubhthach


    You can always transfer results from AncestryDNA to FTDNA.

    see: https://www.familytreedna.com/learn/imports/transfer-autosomal-ancestry/family-tree-dna-family-finder-transfer-program/

    The advantage of this is that you can test in say 23andme or Ancestry (Ancestry would have bigger database) and then transfer results to FTDNA. The cost is less then sending a second sample to FTDNA. In which case you end up in two seperate databases.

    Of course if you want to then add additional tests in FTDNA (say Y-DNA testing in event sample is male) they will have to send out new sample tubes to collect a DNA sample to run tests on.

    Generally both Ancestry and FTDNA's autosomal test products are fairly comparable when it comes to the SNP's the cover on the autosomal part of your genome (the 44 recombing chromosomes which aren't sex-linked)


  • #561
    spurious
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,264 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    I thought one of FTDNA's many plusses was that you didn't need to send another sample to get an additional test on an already tested person?


  • Advertisement
  • #562
    srmf5
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 311 ✭✭srmf5


    spurious wrote: »
    I thought one of FTDNA's many plusses was that you didn't need to send another sample to get an additional test on an already tested person?

    That's the case if they already have your sample at FTDNA. However, if it's an autosomal transfer from another company, they won't have your sample to do further tests on. A sample needs to be submitted for further testing if they don't already have your sample.


  • #563
    cat_r
    Registered Users Posts: 37 ✭cat_r


    Tombom1 wrote: »
    but my main concern is going the furthest back.

    Since that is your goal, getting tested by FTDNA should be considered. Since summer 2016 the kits the two companies use have not been the same. This means that if you upload your Ancestry results to FTDNA, you'll only see about 20% of the matches compared with people who have tested directly with FTDNA. Along with the availability of a chromosome browser and other tools, these extra matches could hold the key to solving mysteries. This link explains it better than I can: https://dna-explained.com/2017/12/04/testing-strategy-should-i-test-at-ancestry-and-transfer-to-family-tree-dna/


  • #564
    pinkypinky
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,676 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    You can pay to unlock the full list of matches. FWIW, I transferred someone there and he still has a couple of thousand matches without paying to unlock.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • #565
    cat_r
    Registered Users Posts: 37 ✭cat_r


    pinkypinky wrote: »
    You can pay to unlock the full list of matches. FWIW, I transferred someone there and he still has a couple of thousand matches without paying to unlock.

    That used to be their business model but they changed it. Now everyone gets a full list of matches but needs to pay to use the tools.

    My family tested with Ancestry after their kits changed in 2016. They also tested with FamilyTreeDNA. With their FTDNA tests they've got about 3000 matches. When I transfered in their Ancestry results to FTDNA as an experiment, they only got about 300-500 matches.


  • #566
    vektarman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,923 ✭✭✭vektarman


    dubhthach wrote: »
    You can always transfer results from AncestryDNA to FTDNA.

    see: https://www.familytreedna.com/learn/imports/transfer-autosomal-ancestry/family-tree-dna-family-finder-transfer-program/

    I'd like to share my success story about this. I had been searching records on and off for a couple of years trying to discover my Great-Grandfather's Swedish roots, he was a sailor who arrived in Dublin in the 1870's and stayed and married my Great-Grandmother who was from the docks area of Dublin.
    I hit a wall regarding written records about him and decided to do an AncestryDNA test, I then transferred the results to FTDNA and within a day I was in touch with distant cousins from Sweden through the FTDNA site. Not only was I able to find details of my Swedish Great-Grandfather, including birth date, birth place etc. but also details of his (and my) family going back to the 1600's thanks to my cousins detailed family trees on FTDNA.
    I was overwhelmed to discover this information and I'm now planning to visit his birthplace soon and perhaps meet up with my Swedish cousins. A big thumbs up for DNA testing and results.:):):)


  • #567
    Ipso
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,995 ✭✭✭Ipso


    I have a good few distant relatives at FTDNA from Sweden, there’s no known history in my background. They all have trees going way back with no other ancestry and i contacted a couple of them and they don’t know of any Irish ancestry or ancestry outside of Sweden.


  • #568
    DamoRed
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 394 ✭✭DamoRed


    Delighted to read that success story, Vektarman. For it to yield results so quick is really wonderful.

    May I ask, was there more than one match from Sweden, and what range of cM was there? 3rd-5th cousins or 5th to remote?


  • #569
    vektarman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,923 ✭✭✭vektarman


    DamoRed wrote: »
    Delighted to read that success story, Vektarman. For it to yield results so quick is really wonderful.

    May I ask, was there more than one match from Sweden, and what range of cM was there? 3rd-5th cousins or 5th to remote?

    I found two Swedish matches in the first four overall matches, the first one was a 2nd to 4th cousin with 89 cMs and the other was a 3rd to 5th cousin with 66 cMs, they both had their own separate but linked family trees, the common link between the three of us went back five generations ago, to a small townland where our ancestors were from, a place called Misterhult in Småland.


  • #570
    pinkypinky
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,676 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    Fantastic success - and very satisfying.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • Advertisement
  • #571
    VirginiaB
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 407 ✭✭VirginiaB


    Ancestry just updated its DNA results again. They added more regions, with a total of 92 for Ireland. My ethnicity remained the same as the last update--89% Ireland-Scotland, 11% England-Wales-NW Europe--but I now have four regions I didn't have before, all in Munster. On the other hand, my numerous ancestors from Westmeath & Meath and Co Antrim are not mentioned. Two versions ago, I was 13% Iberian--I have a gt grandfather from Asturias in northern Spain--but that vanished with the last version and this one. Confusing.

    Anyway, thanks to the good folks of Munster for taking the Ancestry DNA test and narrowing my results. Did anyone else get this update?


  • #572
    pinkypinky
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,676 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    I did too, and I am very impressed.
    It's identified West Clare, North Munster and in Leinster "Wicklow, Carlow and Wexford".

    I have ancestors from Clare, Limerick, Wicklow and Carlow that are known.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • #573
    montgo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 565 ✭✭✭montgo


    I've changed from 84% Ireland, Gr. Britain 1%, W. Europe 15% to 100% Ireland/Scotland/Wales!!


  • #574
    srmf5
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 311 ✭✭srmf5


    Mine has changed also. I now have four communities North Connacht, West Roscommon & East Mayo, West Roscommon, East Mayo & North Galway and South Sligo & North Roscommon.


  • #575
    OU812
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,075 ✭✭✭OU812


    So... my dad’s dna results adjusted & apparently my g-g-grandmother (1848-1905) was born in the US. (Eastern/south) I have very little information on her. No surname and no history that I can find.

    I’d love to know what brought her to Ireland before meeting & marrying my g-g-grandfather.

    It also introduced trace of Native American. This wasn’t present I. His previous results & im guessing it came through her.

    Again, no ideas but intriguing none the less.

    It’s a welcome introduction as the family of the time didn’t move around far from the area they were reared.


  • #576
    pedroeibar1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,108 ✭✭✭pedroeibar1


    No major change in my results, just a little refinement. I was 99% Ireland & Scotland (Munster), 1% England & Wales. The update makes me 99% Ireland & Scotland (adding North Munster, East Cork & Waterford, North Tipp.) and 1% England & Wales. The community boundaries are rather 'fuzzy' so no surprises there.


  • Advertisement
  • #577
    dubhthach
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,284 ✭✭✭dubhthach


    I'm 100% Ireland/Scotland. What's interesting is I do think their 'genetic community' calculator can't handle people who are 'mixed' (in sense their grandparents come from geographic distant parts of one geographic group).

    So for example my father is also 100% Ireland/Scotland and has 'Ulster' specifically
    • Tyrone, Derry and Antrim
    • South Derry and East Antrim

    ancestry-dad-gc.png

    His father was from Belfast, however his mother was from East Galway (his grandfather as well, but his grandmother was from half Cork/half Killkenny)

    In turn my mother who is from North Clare got a spot on result:
    ancestry-mom-gc.png#

    She gets 4 Munster Genetic Communities in her result.

    In comparison I end up with 'Munster' and three Munster Genetic communities:
    ancestry-me-gc.png

    Basically their calculator appears to only be able to see distinct sub-clusters of a region (eg. North Clare etc.) when you have a number of great-grandparents from that region. When you have ancestors bit more distant added in they basically don't show up.

    Now I should point out that of my 8 great-grandparents the following holds true:
    • 4 from Clare
    • 1 from East Galway
    • 1 half Kilkenny and half Cork
    • 1 from Belfast
    • 1 who was Liverpool Irish (but of Ulster origin)

    It's quite possible as a result that in the 50% I got from my dad that the autosomal contribution from my grandmother (Galway/Cork/Kilkenny) was higher (eg. greater then 50%) then what I got from my grandfather. In which case I'm not surprised that 'Munster' would win out as a result.

    (For the record I was born and raised in Galway)


  • #578
    kanadams123
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 403 ✭✭kanadams123


    I've had a quick search to see if my question was answered already elsewhere, but I couldn't find anything so sorry if this is a repetition.

    On my ancestry DNA matches I have matched with a person "A".
    I had a look at our shared DNA matches and I see we share a match with a person "B".

    I look at the shared matches between myself and person "B". Person "A" is not present on this.
    So B is on A's list of shared matches, A is not on B's list of shared matches.
    How can this be?

    P.S. I know my connection with both A and B, and the connection between themselves. "A" is my father's 2nd cousin, "B" is my 3rd cousin.
    "A" is the first cousin of "B"'s father.


  • #579
    Aska
    Registered Users Posts: 373 ✭✭Aska


    May I ask,

    I did the 'my heritage' test last year, I managed to get no 'close family' as they say on the site and only 1 extended family (on the site as : 1st cousin twice removed - 3rd cousin once removed, about 80yrs in the USA) so I didn't bother looking into it.

    Would Ancestry be a good option to try also, or would there be any point?

    Thanks


  • #580
    A New earth
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 551 ✭✭✭A New earth


    kanadams123 wrote: »
    I've had a quick search to see if my question was answered already elsewhere, but I couldn't find anything so sorry if this is a repetition.

    On my ancestry DNA matches I have matched with a person "A".
    I had a look at our shared DNA matches and I see we share a match with a person "B".

    I look at the shared matches between myself and person "B". Person "A" is not present on this.
    So B is on A's list of shared matches, A is not on B's list of shared matches.
    How can this be?

    P.S. I know my connection with both A and B, and the connection between themselves. "A" is my father's 2nd cousin, "B" is my 3rd cousin.
    "A" is the first cousin of "B"'s father.

    Ancestry only show shared matches over 20 cMs, so if person A has a sharing with you of less than 20 cMs they will not appear as a shared match on your list of shared matches with B. Is this the case?


    Ancestry have been criticized for the high limit but have yet to reduce it to a more meaningful figure of say 10 cMs or even 15.


  • #581
    A New earth
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 551 ✭✭✭A New earth


    Aska wrote: »
    May I ask,

    I did the 'my heritage' test last year, I managed to get no 'close family' as they say on the site and only 1 extended family (on the site as : 1st cousin twice removed - 3rd cousin once removed, about 80yrs in the USA) so I didn't bother looking into it.

    Would Ancestry be a good option to try also, or would there be any point?

    Thanks

    Do you know that you can easily upload the MyHeritage test to other sites for free, the main ones being FTDNA and Gedmatch. There is a charge of I think it's $19 on FTDNA if you want to use some more of their tools but you will see your matches that are on their databank for free.

    Gedmatch is particularly useful as it has lots of free tools eg "are your parents related" which they can tell from your test. They have more in-depth tools that you can try for $10 for a months use.

    Moving on to your question about taking an Ancestry test. I find most of my matches on Ancestry and if you are into Family Trees at all, I would say it is advisable to test with Ancestry as links the matches to trees which is very useful, although this might be only if you pay a subscription every year.
    Either way, Ancestry have the biggest database so I think it is worth testing there. Unfortunately, you can't upload your test to Ancestry or indeed to the other largish one 23andme, you have to do separate tests.


  • Advertisement
  • #582
    kanadams123
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 403 ✭✭kanadams123


    A New earth wrote: »
    Ancestry only show shared matches over 20 cMs, so if person A has a sharing with you of less than 20 cMs they will not appear as a shared match on your list of shared matches with B. Is this the case?


    Ancestry have been criticized for the high limit but have yet to reduce it to a more meaningful figure of say 10 cMs or even 15.

    Thank you for this. That would explain my situation yes.
    I agree that 10 or 15 cMs would make more sense and be more helpful!!!!!!

    Cheers!


  • #583
    pinkypinky
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,676 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    A New earth wrote: »
    Moving on to your question about taking an Ancestry test. I find most of my matches on Ancestry and if you are into Family Trees at all, I would say it is advisable to test with Ancestry as links the matches to trees which is very useful, although this might be only if you pay a subscription every year.
    Either way, Ancestry have the biggest database so I think it is worth testing there. Unfortunately, you can't upload your test to Ancestry or indeed to the other largish one 23andme, you have to do separate tests.

    If you've taken a DNA test with them, they usually offer a one-off 50% subscription on the annual membership.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • #584
    RobMc59
    Registered Users Posts: 4,831 ✭✭✭RobMc59


    I've recently had a DNA test using the ancestry co.uk test.It has identified I have 48%Irish/Scottish ethnicity,I'm under the impression this is usual as there is little difference between Ireland and Scotland as they have invaded each other over the centuries.Is this correct?I was unsure as my paternal line was from the Raphoe area of Donegal (Ulster plantation,possibly Scottish?)but I also have Irish ancestry,I have no Scottish history in my family tree as far back as I can trace (circa 1806)I wondered if anyone could give me any pointers on narrowing this down?


  • #585
    pinkypinky
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,676 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    Ethnicity estimates are just a bit of fun at the moment, but expect them to improve with time.

    Unless you have knowledge of Scottish ancestry, then assume you've just Irish at this stage.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • #586
    leck
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,364 ✭✭✭leck


    RobMc59 wrote: »
    I've recently had a DNA test using the ancestry co.uk test.It has identified I have 48%Irish/Scottish ethnicity,I'm under the impression this is usual as there is little difference between Ireland and Scotland as they have invaded each other over the centuries.Is this correct?I was unsure as my paternal line was from the Raphoe area of Donegal (Ulster plantation,possibly Scottish?)but I also have Irish ancestry,I have no Scottish history in my family tree as far back as I can trace (circa 1806)I wondered if anyone could give me any pointers on narrowing this down?
    If you are at all interested in genealogy, work on your cousin matches. Ignore the ethnicity report, it's really not going to be a lot of help.


  • #587
    RobMc59
    Registered Users Posts: 4,831 ✭✭✭RobMc59


    leck wrote: »
    RobMc59 wrote: »
    I've recently had a DNA test using the ancestry co.uk test.It has identified I have 48%Irish/Scottish ethnicity,I'm under the impression this is usual as there is little difference between Ireland and Scotland as they have invaded each other over the centuries.Is this correct?I was unsure as my paternal line was from the Raphoe area of Donegal (Ulster plantation,possibly Scottish?)but I also have Irish ancestry,I have no Scottish history in my family tree as far back as I can trace (circa 1806)I wondered if anyone could give me any pointers on narrowing this down?
    If you are at all interested in genealogy, work on your cousin matches. Ignore the ethnicity report, it's really not going to be a lot of help.
    Should I try and read up on this,as I'm not sure what the significance of cousin matches is?-I've had a brief look through these on ancestry and have spoken to my nearest cousin by message,(he is my 3rd cousin)-any advice would be very welcome.


  • #588
    pinkypinky
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,676 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    Cousin matches are the best bit!

    Some excellent videos on the Genetic Genealogy Ireland (both for beginners and more advanced)Youtube channel. Obviously focus on the autosomal stuff.

    Upload a gedcom of at least your direct ancestors to Ancestry so your matches can see it - this way you can quickly see if there's an obvious match.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • #589
    wellboss
    Registered Users Posts: 179 ✭✭wellboss


    Hello,

    Sorry if this has been asked recently but I cannot seem to find the information. I am hoping to do the DNA testing soon and am unsure which site to use. Ancestry or Family Tree or another maybe? . Which has the largest database for Ireland at present.


    At present I am trying to do two things.

    1)

    I am trying to trace links to a family in Mayo, where I am from myself and the line runs dry in the mid 1850 on paper but I am pretty sure I have identified a brother or cousin of my great great grandfathers. I have contact with 2 female members of this branch and they are also looking to do the testing. I am hoping to find the link genetically.

    Would autosomal testing be best for this. I could potentially have a male member of that line test also.

    2)

    My overall objective is also to try and get as many people with my family name in the region to do the paternal Y-DNA testing and see can we find a common ancestor. It's a very rare name (Reape) and is only commonly found in North mayo and North Sligo regions.


    I am not sure Which test I should do or would I need to do two tests, the Y-DNA and autosomal.

    Any guidance would be great, I am slowing learning about the DNA testing so apologies if the above doesn't make sense.



    Thanks in advance


  • #590
    A New earth
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 551 ✭✭✭A New earth


    I have done autosomal tests with Ancestry and 23andme and uploaded the DNA to Family Tree, MyHeritage and Gedmatch.

    I find Ancestry by far the best for getting matches, they have the biggest database and the DNA is usually linked into Family Trees which is handy (you would have to subscribe though if you wanted to look at the trees in detail but I think they have a 14 day free trial period)

    What they don't have though (unlike all the others) is a breakdown of the DNA to show the segments you match on but you could find this by uploading for free to gedmatch (of course your match would need to do that too)

    They say MyHeritage has more Irish people on it but I'm not convinced.

    I also did Y DNA with Family Tree but not good for finding matches.

    All the sites have either sales at the moment or coming up for black Friday, thanksgiving etc.

    You can't upload your DNA that you have tested with another firm to Ancestry (or to 23andme) but you can to the others although some of them charge a fee for getting full information on the matches


  • #591
    Ipso
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,995 ✭✭✭Ipso


    wellboss wrote: »
    Hello,

    Sorry if this has been asked recently but I cannot seem to find the information. I am hoping to do the DNA testing soon and am unsure which site to use. Ancestry or Family Tree or another maybe? . Which has the largest database for Ireland at present.


    At present I am trying to do two things.

    1)

    I am trying to trace links to a family in Mayo, where I am from myself and the line runs dry in the mid 1850 on paper but I am pretty sure I have identified a brother or cousin of my great great grandfathers. I have contact with 2 female members of this branch and they are also looking to do the testing. I am hoping to find the link genetically.

    Would autosomal testing be best for this. I could potentially have a male member of that line test also.

    2)

    My overall objective is also to try and get as many people with my family name in the region to do the paternal Y-DNA testing and see can we find a common ancestor. It's a very rare name (Reape) and is only commonly found in North mayo and North Sligo regions.


    I am not sure Which test I should do or would I need to do two tests, the Y-DNA and autosomal.

    Any guidance would be great, I am slowing learning about the DNA testing so apologies if the above doesn't make sense.



    Thanks in advance

    A Y-DNA test is the best one for confirming your male line. Most Irish males get a lot of matches but if you have a rare surname the problem is that leaves less people to test and it increases the chances of the male line dying or daughtering out.


  • Advertisement
  • #592
    srmf5
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 311 ✭✭srmf5


    Ipso wrote: »
    A Y-DNA test is the best one for confirming your male line. Most Irish males get a lot of matches but if you have a rare surname the problem is that leaves less people to test and it increases the chances of the male line dying or daughtering out.

    I agree. Irish people generally get a good number of matches but it can vary. Some can be luckier than others. In my dad's case, he has 126 Y-37 matches, 51 Y-67 matches, 21 Y-111 matches, and 38 Big Y matches. He has two matches that he appears to have a common ancestor back around the 1700s (still unconfirmed).


  • #593
    Ipso
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,995 ✭✭✭Ipso


    I have only 5 matches, the joys of not being part of the R1b brigade.


  • #594
    pinkypinky
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,676 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    There is no data on which database has the most Irish people in it but Ancestry has the biggest database by far.

    Autosomal for no1.

    Y-DNA is definitely the way to go if you have a hypothesis like yours and candidates to test. However, it will only tell you that are related and won't identify how recently.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • #595
    wellboss
    Registered Users Posts: 179 ✭✭wellboss


    pinkypinky wrote: »
    There is no data on which database has the most Irish people in it but Ancestry has the biggest database by far.

    Autosomal for no1.

    Y-DNA is definitely the way to go if you have a hypothesis like yours and candidates to test. However, it will only tell you that are related and won't identify how recently.

    Thanks for that, I have seen people on here talk about cousins 4 and 5 times removed via DNA testing, could we not extrapolate where the common ancestor may be from that ie 3 x great grandfather


  • #596
    paddysdream
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,779 ✭✭✭paddysdream


    Hi all

    Quick question for those that understand more re. DNA than I do.

    Have a match on Ancestry of 46cM across one segment with a person.Its only on one chromosome (same with all shared matches with that person)
    Thats more than with a good few known 3rd/4th cousins.Also have 60 plus shared matches with this person.Most are showing as sharing 20 to 40 cM with me.
    Two problems.
    Have gone through the shared match list one by one ,looking at shared matches and who they match with .Not one match with any known(to me) relative.It seems to be a closed loop.
    Second problem is that many have tree's attached to their test and looking at them they seem to indicate family in USA long pre 1800 and no real Irish connection although many trees contain a similar surname to my own.

    These matches are on my fathers side as no match to my mothers DNA test.
    Any ideas?


  • #597
    pinkypinky
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,676 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    wellboss wrote: »
    Thanks for that, I have seen people on here talk about cousins 4 and 5 times removed via DNA testing, could we not extrapolate where the common ancestor may be from that ie 3 x great grandfather

    The problem with Y-DNA is that it changes very slowly so even a genetic distance of 0 at Y-37 means a match in the last 500 years. See here for more detail:

    https://learn.familytreedna.com/y-dna-testing/y-str/two-men-share-surname-genetic-distance-37-y-chromosome-str-markers-interpreted/

    If you test the people for Y AND autosomal, you might get more out of it.

    I suggest you read a book like the recently published Tracing your Ancestors using DNA.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • #598
    srmf5
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 311 ✭✭srmf5


    Testing autosomal DNA is the best test to buy starting off since it covers every line. It is also much cheaper than Y-DNA testing. I have tested with AncestryDNA, FTDNA, MyHeritage, and Living DNA. Out of these, I have the most confirmed matches on AncestryDNA. It would then be folowed by MyHeritage, followed by FTDNA and I only match my parents on FTDNA but both parents have an extra match.


  • #599
    pinkypinky
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,676 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    But it is definitely the time of year to get the best price on a Y test - Black Friday is imminent.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • #600
    RobMc59
    Registered Users Posts: 4,831 ✭✭✭RobMc59


    Having recently had an ancestry.co.uk DNA test I was slightly confused to receive a revised profile fairly quickly which changed my DNA makeup quite significantly.
    As a total novice to the interpretation of DNA,could anyone give me any pointers on how to find out about 'DNA marks'.I saw this on a tv programme which traced people's ancestry,the programme was sponsored by 'ancestry'?


  • Advertisement
  • #601
    pinkypinky
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 6,676 Mod ✭✭✭✭pinkypinky


    It would be worth your while reading our sticky which covers some of the basics.

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057779502

    Ethnicity is just a bit of fun and should not be taken seriously.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



Advertisement