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Shocking Ethnicity Estimate Leads to Life-Altering Discovery

October 2, 2020 by Paul - Legacy Tree Genealogists Researcher 17 Comments

A surprising ethnicity estimate leads Tom to explore the possibility that the father who raised him was not his biological father. Sometimes, genetic genealogy test results don’t fit with what you might expect given what you know (or think you know) about your family tree. These anomalies can sometimes be explained by the way in which estimates are generated. Other times, surprising ethnicity results are instead due to cases of recent misattributed parentage. Such was the case with Tom.  We … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adoption & Genetic Genealogy, Uncategorized Tagged With: biological father, DNA, DNA test results, ethnicity estimate, genetic genealogy, misattributed parentage

The Journey of DNA’s Inheritance Paths: mtDNA and Y-DNA

September 18, 2020 by Paul - Legacy Tree Genealogists Researcher Leave a Comment

DNA has taken a far-ranging journey from our ancestors of long ago. The stories in this article demonstrate how mtDNA and Y-DNA can be used to solve research problems based on DNA inheritance patterns. *This article originally appeared in NGS Magazine, and is reprinted with permission. Each human has DNA, a biological code that affects many physical, emotional, and behavioral characteristics. Humans inherit copies of DNA from their parents, who in turn inherited portions of DNA from their … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adoption & Genetic Genealogy Tagged With: ancestry, DNA, dna inheritance patterns, genealogy, genetic genealogy, genetic inheritance, mitochondial DNA, mtDNA, Y-DNA

Are You Set Up for Success? 4 Tips to Get the Most from Your 23andMe DNA Test

September 4, 2020 by Legacy Tree Genealogists 3 Comments

Are you set up for success? We share four tips to help you get the most from your 23andMe DNA test. The popularity of DNA testing in recent years has resulted in a tremendous increase in the numbers of testers in the DNA companies’ databases. Those testers represent a wide spectrum of motivations, genealogy experience, and understanding of test results. But regardless of where you fall on the spectrum, one thing is certain: everyone wants something in return for their investment. So how can you … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adoption & Genetic Genealogy Tagged With: 23andme, DNA, DNA testing, genetic genealogy, tips

The Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of Y-DNA Testing

June 5, 2020 by Gretchen - Legacy Tree Genealogists Researcher 27 Comments

YDNA haplogroups

What is Y-DNA testing, and what is it used for? We'll explain the who, what, where, when why, and how of Y-DNA testing, and its applications for genealogy. DNA testing for genealogy has become really popular in the past few years, and incredible discoveries are being made through DNA testing that in many cases, could not be made any other way. Most of the recent attention has been on autosomal testing. However, Y-DNA testing also provides great genealogical value, and while more limited in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adoption & Genetic Genealogy Tagged With: DNA, DNA testing, family history, genealogy brick walls, genetic genealogy, surname projects, YDNA

To Test or Not to Test – An Excellent Question

May 29, 2020 by Paul - Legacy Tree Genealogists Researcher 2 Comments

"Should I take a DNA test?" We evaluate the reasons for - and against- taking a DNA test. *This article originally appeared in NGS Magazine, and is reprinted with permission. The first hurdle a researcher may face as they contemplate engaging with the growing field of genetic genealogy may be the decision of whether or not to take a DNA test in the first place. While DNA testing is increasingly useful for the genealogist, the power of genetic genealogy to reveal surprising or unexpected … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adoption & Genetic Genealogy Tagged With: DNA, DNA test, family history, genealogy, genetic genealogy, legacy tree, NGS magazine

“Go Fish!” 7 Tips for Casting a Wide DNA Net

May 1, 2020 by Brandt - Legacy Tree Genealogists Researcher 1 Comment

When seeking to identify a biological relationship, don't overlook the importance of casting a wide DNA net. We'll show you how! *names have been changes to protect privacy What Does "Casting a Wide DNA Net" Mean? Over the last decade, DNA testing has proven to be a powerful tool in genealogy research. One of the strategies repeated most often is the recommendation to "cast a wide net", or test at all the major testing companies. This is also commonly referred to as “fishing in all ponds.” … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adoption & Genetic Genealogy, Genealogy Tips & Best Practices Tagged With: DNA, DNA testing, genealogy, genetic genealogy

How Do I Determine Genetically Equivalent Relationships?

November 15, 2019 by Paul - Legacy Tree Genealogists Researcher 79 Comments

free downloadable family history chart

An understanding of genealogical relationships is necessary before diving into genetically equivalent relationships in your family history. This article will provide an overview of both concepts. Correctly evaluating shared DNA within the context of genetically equivalent relationships first requires mastery of genealogical relationships. Here we review important genealogical relationships based on some of the pertinent variables. For the sake of simplicity, we limit our analysis to biological … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adoption & Genetic Genealogy, Methodology Tagged With: charts, DNA, family history, genealogy research, genetic genealogy

Exploring Ethnicity with DNA: Part I

March 28, 2016 by Paul - Legacy Tree Genealogists Researcher 1 Comment

DNA tests can reveal important details regarding ancestry and ethnic origins. We explore how DNA and ethnicity are intertwined. Many of the queries we receive at Legacy Tree Genealogists concern elusive ancestors who are difficult to trace. Sometimes there are rumors of descent from Native American, African, or Jewish ancestry. Other times there are no clues at all regarding an ancestor’s origins. In cases of ethnic origins, DNA testing is a unique tool that can assist in proving or … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adoption & Genetic Genealogy Tagged With: DNA, DNA testing, estimates, ethnicity, genetic genealogy

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