DNA - I have my parents results - would I learn anything different if I took a DNA test?

Question

My siblings and I had our parents take a DNA test (23&me) several years ago which confirmed our research that the family originated in the UK and Scandinavia. If I as a woman or my brothers to take a DNA test would we discover anything more? Would it bring certain traits more into focus?

This question is purely out of curiosity - I am just looking to see if there is any value in going wider within the family or with other companies with the testing or not? Those that have gone wider has this helped or just confirmed the first tests?

Answer 1

If you have money to spend on more DNA tests, I would suggest asking your parents to test with Ancestry. They have the biggest database of users (including plenty of British people) and you're likely to find other people with whom you share DNA.

Answer 2

Kim,

You would not learn more about your parents ancestors, you would be able to confirm that they are your parents.

If you are trying to confirm relationships with DNA you should have a test done.  Next steps should probably be cousins and second cousins if possible.

You are I are 7th cousins once removed, it is possible that we share DNA and with more work it might be possible to confirm our connection and in doing so you will have confirmed a fairly long line.

If you wish to work on DNA on Wikitree I strongly suggest that your parents tests be added, they will have to do it, and add your own, and add all of them to Gedmatch so others can work on matches as well.

Comments

Further clarification of Philip's comments:

Since your parents are living, they will need to register here to add their tests. However, DNA test data for deceased persons can be uploaded by the profile manager.

Another possible benefit that DNA testing can provide for you is health information specific to you. Some of the DNA testing companies (notably including 23andMe) offer health-related information as part of a DNA test package.

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Indeed. The thing is, the ethnicity estimates they give you are VERY approximate, and are no substitute at all for actually working out your tree and doing DNA confirmation. Your DNA confirmation starts with you, and so if you haven't confirmed who your parents are, you have nothing.

It should be mentioned that downloading results, and then uploading to GEDmatch.com is FREE. Don't be frightened by the wall of legal stuff that makes it sound like you're signing away your soul or something, when you sign up. I've never heard of anyone having any problem for having uploaded there, but some people are pretty paranoid about this stuff.

Whole Genome Sequencing has also been mentioned on here. I think that has recently, or is about to, come down in price. Regular tests don't look at every part of your DNA that might be relevant, and different tests look at different things. The idea of the Whole Genome is that they do the whole thing. That's something that would be worth testing your parents with - no need to do the expensive test for you too. If your parents aren't real old, maybe wait for it to come down in price some more.

Answer 3

If you wanted to get into chromosome painting it would be helpful, as you would be able to see which segments come from which grandparents.

You may want to consider Whole Genome Sequencing, it is more expensive, but tells you much mre (and more accurately) and will stand the test of time longer.

Answer 4

Kim,

It really depends on what you are looking for.  If you are satisfied knowing that you have UK and Scandinavian roots and have no curiosity beyond that point, then I would say no, it's not worth the extra expense. No one NEEDS a DNA test (except for some medical issues).

If however you are curious about how you differ from your brothers, how much of what did you really inherit from each of your parents and grand-parents, does the DNA match what is on paper, etc. then I would say to test test test!

I have tested with several companies and each one shows a slightly different read.  I have taken the average ethnicity between myself and my two brothers.  Each of us are a little different, but while the main ethnicities are the same, each of us have something unique when compared to the others. Even though we get 50% from each parent, it's a totally random 50%. So while you may be 65% Irish (as an example), one of your brothers might be only 15% Irish. An actual average of you and your siblings could be in the 45% range for Irish, which is probably much closer to the average % of Irish between your parents. It's not 100% accurate, but it's probably much closer to reality than your DNA test alone. So the bottom line... YES, test yourself and siblings. And whatever tests you do, load these up to GEDMatch so they can be compared with testers from other companies.

I have also arranged the testing of several 1st cousins and found a few surprises along the way that were ONLY discovered through DNA testing and triangulation. Would you be very surprised to learn that rumored adoption was actually true, or that a great-grandparent was really friendly with the hired help!

I would also recommend that one of your brothers get a Y-DNA test (Big-Y or Whole Genome Sequencing) so you can follow that line back further than with AuDNA testing. The same goes for MtDNA testing for you or your sister.

The bottom line is the more you test, the more you know or can learn. DNA testing is continually advancing, but at a very slow pace. I personally don't think it's worth the wait for the next big thing in DNA testing before getting a test because that might be 20 years...

Good luck!!!

Comments

It is my understanding that both females and males can test for mtDNA.  Men don't pass on mtDNA, but they do receive it from their mothers.

If I am misunderstanding that, please let me know. Have a blessed day.

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You are correct

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Yes, both can test for MtDNA, however it is only passed on by females.

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Thank you, Jonathan.

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Thank you, Ken. That is what I thought, but one of the comments made me think I had misunderstood.

Answer 5

There's no benefit in testing yourself once your parents have tested.  If you are curious about what DNA you inherited from each of your parents, then you can test.  Or if you want health information, you can test with 23ndMe.  If you want to use DNA to work on your genealogy, you will want to get your parents to do additional DNA testing (with FTDNA and ancestry).  For your dad, you would want to test his Y-DNA and his mtDNA.  For your mother, you would test her mtDNA (Y-DNA and mtDNA would be done with FTDNA).  As/if you get into genetic genealogy, you would then want to test aunts and uncles if you have any, and 2nd cousins (shared grandparents).

I've tested both of my parents as well as myself, but mine was just for curiosity's sake (and health information).  For genetic genealogy, I work exclusively with my parents' tests.