Finding Out About the Last 5 Generations of Your Family through DNA!

If you have been interested in discovering your true ethnic and racial background, there are many genetics tests you can take that offer this information. Family Tree DNA services are also used by the people doing the National Geographic Genographic project, giving them some credibility beyond many other companies.

What I found interesting, is that it doesn't matter whether the link is paternal or maternal as it uses a type of DNA classified as "autosomal" DNA, which is different from the Y-DNA (paternal side) and the mtDNA (maternal side) samples you may have had analyzed.

Both my husband, his sister, my brother and I have had our DNA tested through the National Geographic's study and it was pretty darn fascinating to see where our 'genes' resided 50,000 years ago.

Finding out about the last five generations, however, can dispel or validate those family stories and help people who may have special medical issues gain additional information.

Here is a recent advertisement outlining the services which are available for existing customers, but you can get the drift of what it offers to new customers too:

By now you may have already heard of our newest test, which has received substantial exposure in the press: the Family Finder test.

Since several people who have seen the news about this test have approached us for more information, allow me to briefly give you the key elements of the Family Finder test:

1. You may find relatives on any of your lines within the past 5 generations!
2. It doesn't matter if you are male or female; your results will be compared to anyone who has taken Family Finder!*
3. You can test “suspected relatives” including aunts, uncles, parents, half-siblings, or cousins.

Population Finder determines the percentages of different ancestries that comprise your genetics by matching your DNA data from the Family Finder test against data from multiple populations from around the world**.

Based on your DNA, Population Finder will assign your sample to 1-4 population groups, giving the corresponding percentages of your genetic makeup.

The Family Finder Test lets you:

• Sort your matches by degree of relationships.
• View the names of your matches and communicate via e-mail
• Share genealogical information with ease.
• See the “location” on your chromosomes where you match and compare your matches with each other!
• Determine the percentages of different ancestries that comprise your genetics by matching your autosomal DNA against data from multiple populations. 

Special Note: The Family Finder test requires an untouched vial of DNA. If your kit does not have an extra vial on file, we will mail a collection kit for a new DNA extraction. After ordering you will be notified by email whether we are able to use a stored vial or will be mailing a new collection kit.

*Family Finder results can only be compared with other Family Finder results. The Family Finder test uses autosomal DNA which is different from Y-DNA or mtDNA.

**You will be able to see your basic ethnic makeup, broken down by percentage. This test is based on a comparison of your Family Finder sequences to data collected by population geneticists. Populations studies consist of a number of representative populations including: European, Native American, Asian, African, etc.