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DNA testing for heritage. Anyone done this? Recommendations?
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design219
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Nov 6, 2012, 09:30 AM
 
The prices seem to range from around $100-$300 with a number of companies doing this.

I know almost nothing about how this works (or how well) but I want to get the most for my money. I'm not interested in connecting with relatives or anything like that, but I would like to know as much as I can about what parts of the world my ancestors came from.

Has anyone done this? Any recommendations?
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andi*pandi
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Nov 6, 2012, 09:54 AM
 
I'd be curious.
     
subego
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Nov 6, 2012, 09:54 AM
 
You are not the father.
     
design219  (op)
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Nov 6, 2012, 09:56 AM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
You are not the father.
Haha, no, those are cheaper!
__________________________________________________

My stupid iPhone game: Nesen Probe, it's rather old, annoying and pointless, but it's free.
Was free. Now it's gone. Never to be seen again.
Off to join its brother and sister apps that could not
keep up with the ever updating iOS. RIP Nesen Probe.
     
knifecarrier2
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Nov 6, 2012, 10:08 AM
 
Ask your parents.
     
andi*pandi
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Nov 6, 2012, 11:06 AM
 
If certain political campaigns are to be believed, anecdotal evidence doesn't count these days. Our parents are liars, our grandparents even more so.
     
Thorzdad
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Nov 6, 2012, 01:10 PM
 
Don't make me move this to PWL, Andi...
     
Demonhood
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Nov 6, 2012, 01:38 PM
 
I've done it. Half for the ancestry stuff, half to see what predispositions I have genetically. You can see which haplogroups you belong to, where they originated, etc. Much handier if you're a male, since you get both your mother and father's side. If you're a female, you have to get a brother/father/etc to take the test to get the complete picture.

I'm not doing anything with the information, but it's still interesting.
     
knifecarrier2
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Nov 6, 2012, 01:45 PM
 
How does your family not know this stuff?
     
Face Ache
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Nov 6, 2012, 02:15 PM
 
Originally Posted by andi*pandi View Post
If certain political campaigns are to be believed, anecdotal evidence doesn't count these days. Our parents are liars, our grandparents even more so.
After researching my family tree, I wasn't at all surprised to find the oral history of my family was wildly inaccurate. The truth was less romantic but far more interesting.
     
design219  (op)
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Nov 9, 2012, 10:32 AM
 
Originally Posted by Face Ache View Post
After researching my family tree, I wasn't at all surprised to find the oral history of my family was wildly inaccurate. The truth was less romantic but far more interesting.
Yes, this. I suspect that what little I've discovered about my family history is somewhat dubious. I have an aunt who is convinced through genealogy research that we are descendants of Pocahontas, but mostly English. My mom's side claims to be of Scottish ancestry, although, they are from Eastern Tennessee and have very thick, dark hair, so I've wondered if we have some Melungeon too. I'm still not clear as to how specific these tests will be.
__________________________________________________

My stupid iPhone game: Nesen Probe, it's rather old, annoying and pointless, but it's free.
Was free. Now it's gone. Never to be seen again.
Off to join its brother and sister apps that could not
keep up with the ever updating iOS. RIP Nesen Probe.
     
design219  (op)
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Nov 9, 2012, 10:34 AM
 
Originally Posted by Demonhood View Post
I've done it. Half for the ancestry stuff, half to see what predispositions I have genetically. You can see which haplogroups you belong to, where they originated, etc. Much handier if you're a male, since you get both your mother and father's side. If you're a female, you have to get a brother/father/etc to take the test to get the complete picture.
I'm not doing anything with the information, but it's still interesting.
Okay, I didn't know it made a difference whether male or female. I thought my wife could get one to so our kids would know their background... but maybe I should see if her brother would. Thanks for that.
__________________________________________________

My stupid iPhone game: Nesen Probe, it's rather old, annoying and pointless, but it's free.
Was free. Now it's gone. Never to be seen again.
Off to join its brother and sister apps that could not
keep up with the ever updating iOS. RIP Nesen Probe.
     
The Final Dakar
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Nov 9, 2012, 12:46 PM
 
I know how all these tests turns out. Turns out you're black.
     
jmiddel
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Nov 11, 2012, 11:17 AM
 
Very true. I wish everyone just got that and let go of their race-phobias. Anyhoo, NatGeo has a genetic test at: www.shopng.org/genographic for $199. Am seriously considering it. Why? Mostly just curiosity, to see where in this human soup of DNA I am situated. What if I had Denisovian or Neanderthal DNA? That would be such a hoot!
     
Shaddim
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Nov 19, 2012, 06:30 AM
 
We had our daughter fully tested for predispositions and possible ailments, not paternity (though that was verified too ), and it was fascinating and very detailed. It verified that she'd likely have partially webbed toes (she does) like my wife, though also like her, it isn't linked to Down's or similar type of disorder. Maybe she'll be a great swimmer, who knows? She also has the same markers that may be linked to higher than average IQ and superior memory, but that particular study is in its infancy (no pun intended).
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
- Thomas Paine
     
imitchellg5
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Nov 19, 2012, 07:07 AM
 
My grandfather and I decided last year that we should do our DNA testing for the fun of it. Turns out he's the second cousin twice removed of Queen Elizabeth II, which makes sense, as his grandmother, we had known, had been to Balmoral on several occasions. If like 80 people in England die, he could become the King. (He's still a UK citizen)
     
   
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