are yDNA tests the same as mDNA tests or regular DNA tests?

Question

I recently heard about different tests one can take, like mDNA and yDNA, as well as the usual DNA test. I know what the different tests are for, I'm just wondering if they give more info we might want to know that the DNA test we originally got. I thought if they gave more detailed information they might be worth buying. Of course, as a female, I wouldn't take the yDNA test. Anybody know the answer

Answer 1

Which test have you taken?  An autosomal test will (usually) give you matches for all parts of your tree.  An mtDNA test will only give you matches from your direct maternal line.  In my own experience, often people don't get useful matches from their mtDNA tests because the matches are too far back to trace.  However, if you are trying to prove or disprove your direct maternal line and know someone who could be a maternal relative (through their own direct maternal line), you can use the mtDNA test(s) to prove or disprove that connection.

Some people take more than one autosomal test because they want to find all possible matches, and different companies can give you different matches.

Here is more information:  https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:DNA_Tests

Comments

Thanks for the star, Susan.

Answer 2

Hi Shirley,  Thank you for joining our one world WikiTree!  This is part of a comment on my colonial ancestors DNA Project:  https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/colonial-ancestors/activity-feed<p>

December 29 @ 8:50pm

Hello! Thank you for checking out our new Colonial Ancestors DNA Project! <p>

There are three types of DNA that we are working with. Most of you have a Family Finder DNA test from FamilyTreeDNA, or an autosomal DNA test that you copied to FamilyTreeDNA from an AncestryDNA, MyHeritage or 23andme account. The autosomal/Family Finder DNA test will give cousin matches across all family lines for the past 6 to 8 generations. See the au marks on the fan chart. <p>

YDNA is passed from each father to each of his sons and shows us the paternal line of forefathers (no females). FamilyTreeDNA offers the YDNA test to test a male’s paternal genetic ancestry. The YDNA remains relatively unchanged for millennia except for occasional mutations. See the blue YDNA marks on the chart. <p>

Everyone has a mother, so everyone has mitochondrial DNA. MtDNA is passed from each mother to each of her children and remains relatively unchanged for millennia except for occasional mutations. See the pink mtDNA marks on the chart.