DNA genealogy tests have progressed in the last five years since the first genetic genealogy home test introduction in 2000. Starting with a basic 12 marker male test in 2000, an ancestor correlation going back to twelve generations could be established with about 50% accuracy.
Today, there are 111 male markers with over 95% accuracy using these home type tests. The home test is a basic cheek swab or saliva sample sent to the testing lab for analysis.
According to the International Society of Genetic Genealogy in 2013, they have estimated over 700,000 genealogists in the U.S. have taken different genealogy DNA tests to locate their ancestors.
Many genealogists have been successful in finding their ancestors. However, many genealogists have been disappointed in the tests results because they didn’t understand the different types of DNA tests. The reason for DNA testing is no ancestry paper trail exists.
Most genealogists order the simple autosomal (aka 23 chromosome) tests, which basically tells them where their ancestors likely originated from regarding ethnicity. There is the more complex autosomal paternity DNA test (not a home test) to prove your parental relationship with 99.99% accuracy. Most genealogists want to know what family line they are related to. That requires either Y chromosome testing for males or mtDNA for first generation males or all generation females or the paternal DNA tests.
DNA tests range from $99 for the simple autosomal test to about $700 for all tests except paternity. So be careful in what type of testing you want and understand what each test really does for you. Visit the ISOGG website (isogg.org) to learn more.
Bob Larson is a technologist, speaker, author, and instructor for Larimer County Genealogical Society
and other regional societies. Please attend any of our events as posted on our website at www.lcgsco.org or our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/.lcgsco.