MyTrue Ancestry - is it trustworthy?

Question

Does anyone have any experience using My True Ancestry?  Is it just another gimmick or is there any true benefits signing up to this website?  They do offer a free tier with basic features and then paid tiers for more detail and add-on features.

I did just see some positive feedback on Anthrogenica.  

Comments

I just saw a post saying they can match you with particular Scotts Clans. Thought it might be interesting to see what they say as I have a lot of Scotts in my tree.

Answer 1

I have not done my DNA yet, but I have reading up heavily on it. One of the things that has stuck with me, is a post from April of this year on DNA-Explained. In short:

Stay with the major testing companies that are known and respected entities in the community. A new, anonymous, overnight upstart isn’t going to provide a better analysis than a company with population geneticists working to provide a quality user experience.

Comments

Yes, I agree that one should stay with the major, respected DNA companies.  My True Ancestry isn't a DNA testing company. You just submit your raw data from FTDNA, Ancestry, LivingDNA, 23andMe, etc. to this company and they give an analysis of ancient groups and where you fit in.  I did try the freebie version and it was okay. I do find such analysis to be rather generalized and doesn't really solve or break through any ancestry walls that I need going back 600 to 1000 years.

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James, your opinion is inaccurate. DNA testing sites, not real DNA to test against for one's Ethnicity, All use one reference DNA sample, genetic K calculators, and user inputs. This supplies user's with their modern ethnicity. However,  My True Ancestry allows users to upload their raw DNA file to Mytrueancestry.com. It is tested against real DNA from archeological digs.  Once processed the uploaded file is deleted. The results are the users Ancient Ancestors going back 10,000  years.  The results are real. You wrote a falsified statement. My True Ancestry is HQ in Switzerland.  They have an LLC to operate in the US. However, they are governed by Swiss laws on Cybersecurity & net neutrality.  

The Philip Calvert excavation did produce DNA samples.  The genetic scientist involved in the DNA samples. Placed them in their databases located in America &. Europe.

Your statement was totally inaccurate and nonsensical.

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https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/978019/how-do-i-incorporate-this-information-in-my-tree?show=978267#a978267

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I quite enjoy MTA as I not only enjoy genealogy but also archaeology. Via my paper trail, I had already known of my connection to Phillip Calvert so it was thrilling to read about the dig and have DNA verification. It also verified just how long my ancestors had been in an area I had documented.

My late father had an odd sliver of Finnish that showed on the DNA that we haven't been able to track down through documentation. MTA was able to at least give me a timeframe and region where they had been at one time.

Answer 2

Joining My True Ancestry is free and easy and private. As the lowest level "commoner" you get 48 hours access- not much? well every time they update the site (regularly) you can log back in as a commoner and see what is new! I found that pretty cool. Cool enough to upgrade to Fottman when they were having one of their regular discounts (Swiss National day 40% off). I've now upgraded to Knight level (November discount month 40% off) which gives me unlimited access and view 40 samples.

Is it accurate? Well I'm not into the technical stuff but Ancestry has my ethnicity as 88% English with the rest as Sottish /Irish and Norse. My True ancestry shows me related to archaeological finds in Scandinavia, Scotland and England. There is also a cluster in Germany/Slovakia area from stone age times - which I would guess are the ancestors of the Celts who went to England.

I don't understand all the technical data as I said and there isn't much explanation on the site - a con for me but the maps are interesting- although I thought I was going to get migration paths with the premium maps and I didn't :-(  but discovering you are a relative of Cheddar Man and the "Amber Boy" (actually female but never mind) is a huge Pro :-).

How useful is it for family tree research? not very tbh, The samples are mostly from so far back that they will never go in the family tree- although there s an interesting cluster of results from the Cambridge area indicating that my family have been in the east midlands for a very long time- which is also borne out in my Ancestry communities.

I guess whether you think it is a gimmick or not is down to personal interests. I find the archaeological evidence really interesting. It is free to sign up and upload your existing DNA to have a look at. Although you only get details on your top 10 results on a free sign up it will actually show you a lot of other results in other sections (apparently I am also related to the severed head of King Louis the xvi !)

So a bit of fun with no cost unless you want to go further- what's to lose?

NB I am not affiliated in anyway to the company

Comments

Well, the cost is that you upload your full genome to a company linked to a US based company. But with all other data gatherers: the fun is what you see and get.

I am not associated to any but am skeptical, as known.

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Thank you for your insights Jane.  It would seem that just about everyone alive would be related to these ancient groups. I'm not sure if it would have much specific information on my personal genealogy. That is, would it show my connections to the 1200-1400s  I like the idea of this matching us to archaeological  discoveries. If it could assist me in finding my ancestral groups prior to 1000 A.D. I then might consider.

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Most of samples (mine anyway) are pre medaevil. There are a few later ones- I have one about 1110 in Normandy area. Two more intrigueing ones for me are the Philip Calvert coffins in Maryland 1600's- I have a general match with Philip but a deep dive with his baby! I guess that means his wife was my relative. Then there is an Icelandic murderer in the 1600's who is also a relative- whih I am guessing comes from a link to earlier matches in Iceland.

But you are not related to all groups- I have no Greek or African links, nothing in Italy, nothing in Asia . So it would seem to link you to your old ancestors- as far as Cheddar man is concerned apparently only about 1.5% of the UK population get a match to him - like I say I'm dead chuffed to claim him. So it would give you and idea of your ancient ancestry- you don't just end up related to everybody.

They have a flash sale on at the mo for the weekend- but as it is free to try out why not have a look?

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Thank you for your post Jane.  It is something I might be interested in  such as artifacts from 1600s and the deep dive feature. As long as the science behind My TrueAncestry is sound, that is my main concern. I did upload my DNA to My TrueAncestry and will consider the other levels.  I am mostly interested in the later samples from 10th century for example. I do follow My TrueAncestry on Facebook.