I thought I knew somewhat of ancestral DNA testing until I attended RootsTech 2014 in early February. What I know is a drop in the proverbial bucket. Ancestry is only one of several marketers of DNA genealogical products, but the only one in which I am dipping my toe so far. Each collects, analyzes and distributes information in a different way so it's likely that someday I will try another provider.
The latest update to Ancestry DNA upgraded my possible ethnic connections:
From 53% Central European to 56% Europe West
From 34% British Isles to 25% Ireland & 6% Great Britain
From 9% Scandinavian to 7% Scandinavian
From 4% Uncertain to 6% Trace
While I could have roughly predicted the results of the original and update to the ethnicity estimate based on my meager knowledge of my heritage, it was the Uncertain/Trace parts of my ancestry that were the most enlightening:
Finland/Northwest Russia 2%
European Jewish 1%
Iberian Peninsula <1%
Europe East <1%
Does the Jewish portion come from the Sheckles/Shackles line or does the Jewish ancestry rumor come from a misspelling of the name and the ethnicity is actually another long-lost ancestor? From which line comes the Iberian, perhaps Spanish, DNA? Did the Jew convert to Christianity during the Inquisitions? I'm sure the Russian connection is through the same Viking line, some of whom went to Russia and others who went to France and then invaded England with the Conquerer in 1066. Oh, the possibilities! The romantic daydreams!
Is the Western European bit from my Algonquin Indian grandmother? The National Geographic Daily News from November 20, 2013, states in the article "GreatSurprise" -- Native Americans Have West Eurasian Origins that "Nearly one-third
of Native American genes come from west Eurasian people linked to the Middle
East and Europe, rather than entirely from East Asians as previously thought,
according to a newly sequenced genome." The FIRM Foundation recently commented in an email newsletter regarding the National Geographic genome project, "Not surprisingly, the one-third of
Native Americans having the Middle Eastern DNA are primarily those of the
Algonquian tribes of North America, just as Joseph Smith indicated through his
revelations, writings and actions." Those Ten Tribes seem to have gotten around! Great-grandfather Frederick's varied Patriarchal blessings may give a hint.
http://debsdelvings.blogspot.com/2013/10/x-dna-inheritance-charts.html
Because it is wise to collect DNA samples from the oldest living members of one's direct line, Mom and Dad have sent in their DNA. I learned at RootsTech that after only 10 generations a mere 12% of one's ancestors actually contribute to your genome. My parents gave exactly 50% of my DNA, but my grandparents are not guaranteed to contribute an exact 25%. Their contribution could be 1-2% off and beyond 10 generations some ancestors' DNA has dropped off entirely. Quoting from Blaine Bettinger writing on The Genetic Genealogist:
"At each generation, only 50% of a person’s DNA is passed to their children. That 50% is almost completely random. Further, at about 5-9 generations, ancestors start to completely fall off your Genetic Family Tree. This means that your Genetic Family Tree is a small subset of your Genealogical Family Tree, and without DNA testing you have no idea what subset that is." - posted February 16, 2014. The Ancestry DNA Witch Hunt.
Oh the possibilities of my hidden descent! The imagination runs wild!
