Heritage Album

I plan to have my DNA analyzed. I understand that there are two major companies that do this sort of ?

thing. One is called Family Tree DNA, and the other is called Ancestry.com. If you have had experiences with these companies, please tell me about their services and if you were pleased with them. Which one would you suggest?

Public Comments

1. I have been doing family research for sebveral years and have used both sites. My preference is Ancestry.com. My son just recently mentioned the DNA testing. I have given it some thought and just might try it, but in the meantime, would you let me know how your experience went?
2. Yes-- Family Tree, and I entered a surname group. The drawback I find is that while you are "alerted" that there is a "close" match, not all are interested in Genealogy. Some don't furnish a pedigree chart and so you're not sure whether or not you're related. To a non-techie, the discussion can be a snoozer but it is interesting and who knows, you might find that long-lost family connection. Besides, it makes great cocktail party conversation!
3. FamilyTreeDNA is the oldest and largest. Now, what they test is Y & Mitochondrial which goes back in a straight line virtually unchanged. Y goes directly from father to son. Mitochondrial goes from mother to both sons and daughters but only the daughters pass it on to their children. It will not give you any information on the spouses and families that have married into your direct Y & Mitochondrial lines. However, if you use it as a research tool and by matching yourself with other family trees, it will no doubt enable you to discover the spouses and families that have married into those 2 lines. Your ancestry pyramids as you go back. If you get back to your 6xgreat grandparents(that is 9 generations including yourself), barring any duplicates, you are directly descended from 510 individuals. Of those 510, you get your Mitochondrial DNA from 8 and if you are a male you get your Y DNA from 8, leaving out 494 people.