*** NOTE That due to the popularity of the recent sale that AncestryDNA ( both Canada and U.S.) Ancestry has extended their sale until November 29th, 2016 midnight Pacific Time. I have posted the links for each country below.
Perhaps you’ve toyed with the idea of doing a DNA test. You’ve seen the commercials on the television where the guy is talking about whether he should be wearing lederhosen or not. But now you’re really starting to give it some consideration. I’d like to tell you 5 reasons why you should do a DNA test.
- You’ll learn more about your ethnic origin. All kidding aside; by doing a DNA test, you’ll find out about your deep ancestral origin. Your DNA is compared to people from all over the world. You are given an estimate of what your DNA makeup is comprised of. No matter which company you choose, your ethnic origins are provided by each of the three major DNA providers. These are my DNA ethnic results on Ancestry.
- You might solve a family mystery. I’ve been working on my genealogy for many years and haven’t been able to get past my great-grandfather; William Beaton because I’ve not been able to find a birth document for him. The family story I was told is that William (Willie) was adopted by his father but not raised by his mother. What does that mean? Well, it could have meant that his father was William Beaton Sr. who I found in Pittsburgh Township, Kingston, Ontario where Willie listed as his birthplace in so many documents. But through DNA I was able to figure out that wasn’t the case. I’ve tested other descendants of William Beaton Sr and they were not a match to my mom’s DNA. Have I figured out who Willie’s parents were? Not yet; but I feel I’m closer to that answer as I have found distantly related people through triangulation to a DNA authenticated 2nd cousin of my mom’s. If more people test perhaps I’ll get my answer. So if you have a mystery perhaps you’ll find your answer.
- You can find out about your family health through DNA. You can do this either by testing at 23andMe where they specialize in your DNA and your health. Or another way you can do it is by testing at any of the other two major testing companies; such as Family Tree DNA or AncestryDNA and then transferring your raw DNA data to a site called Prometheus.
- If you’re a genealogist it may help you prove your genealogy. As you work through your matches and find your connection it will prove or disprove what you research tells you. Just remember as you go further back on your tree you may have a tree connection to someone but not a DNA connection. This isn’t because you are not related it only means that you didn’t receive that part of the DNA from your parent or grandparent, or great-grandparent, etc.
- You’ll confirm your ancestral surname. That is of course if you do a YDNA test with Family Tree DNA
But the best thing you find is you’ll find is new cousins. Cousins who may be interested in genealogy like you. Cousins who may want to share their part of the tree with you. Cousins who have photos that you’ve never seen before. You may be the first connection with that part of the family in 100’s of years.
So if you’d like to find cousins, there are three major companies to test with; Family Tree DNA (FTDNA), 23andMe and AncestryDNA in Canada you need to go HERE and if you live in the U.S. then you need to go HERE
Best of all FTDNA has a sale on all their DNA kits so you can find out not only about your autosomal DNA but you can find out about your YDNA or your mtDNA.
After all; I’m always looking for cousins.
Note: This blog contains affiliate marketing that helps to support The DNA Angel Project™