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DNA test
interpretation
Confused by what your DNA results mean?
Have them interpreted. Unclear on Y-DNA, autosomal DNA and
mitochondrial-DNA?
Guidance is here.
Y-DNA
- this can link you to genetic relatives as far back as 1,000
years distant.
autosomal DNA - cousin matches 5 to 6 generations back, plus
"ethnicity estimates" which are unreliable
mitochondrial DNA - maternal line from a male or a female |
Mitochondrial DNA (mt-DNA) - tracks a man or woman to his or
her mother, her mother etc.
Can be taken by males or females.
If you have been tested by another company, it may be possible to
transfer these results into the Family Tree DNA database.
Matches
Because a surname is not usually passed on maternally, finding an origin for
a maternal line can be trickier. However, it may be possible to
determine where Scottish maternal ancestors lived. It can also show
the ancient migration routes your maternal ancestors may have taken
after humans came out of Africa tens of thousands of years ago.
But do remember that mtDNA mutates more slowly than nuclear
DNA, so it will probably not help you learn about your more recent
origins (within the past 200-500 years).
That said, you may find matches with people who have
established "paper" genealogies.
Some people also
take these tests:
Y-DNA - for males only,
indicating origins and matches as far as 1,000 years ago.
autosomal
DNA (Family Finder) - cousin matches 5 to 6 generations back,
plus "ethnicity estimates" which are generally unreliable.
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