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DNA Test

Discussion in 'DNA Questions and Answers' started by PaulB, Jun 1, 2016.

  1. PaulB

    PaulB LostCousins Member

    I am researching a friend's family tree and found a lost cousin for him, my friend's Gt Grandfather is his cousin's Gt Gt Grandfather. My friend and his cousin, well, 2nd cousin once removed want to take a DNA test. Which should they go for? Also the cousin lives in Malta so can it be done at a distance? The line goes through my friend's grandfather's wife's side.

    Thanks
     
    PaulB, Jun 1, 2016
    #1
  2. peter

    peter Administrator Staff Member

    Paul, you haven't said what the aim of the tests is - so it's impossible to give definitive advice - but in 99% of cases this is the best test to take.

    By the way, distance is irrelevant - it's all done by post.
     
    peter, Jun 2, 2016
    #2
  3. PaulB

    PaulB LostCousins Member

    Hi Peter
    My friend is just interested in finding out where 'he comes from'; the other reason is that the relative in Malta is not sure whether his father is the real son of his grandfather (hope that makes sense). Hopefully this test would confirm this and that my friend and him are relatives.
     
    PaulB, Jun 2, 2016
    #3
  4. peter

    peter Administrator Staff Member

    Paul, I touched on the issue of ethnicity in this article in my 23rd May newsletter - the chances are that someone taking a DNA test to find out where their ancestors came from will be wasting their money (at best), or seriously misled (at worst). But if your friend has good reason to think that one of his recent ancestors came from outside Europe then he might be one of the exceptions.

    DNA tests are, on the other hand, pretty good at determining whether or not two people are close relatives. So it's worth doing the tests anyway - just don't put too much faith in the ethnicity estimates.
     
    peter, Jun 2, 2016
    #4
  5. SuzanneD

    SuzanneD LostCousins Star

    Family historians may well find this xkcd comic strip an amusing take on Peter's point...
     
    SuzanneD, Jul 13, 2016
    #5
  6. peter

    peter Administrator Staff Member

    Here's an article that offers a less amusing, but equally damning, take.
     
    peter, Jul 13, 2016
    #6
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