How accurate is DNA testing that gives ethnicity results? How can you best interpret the results?
In the MRCA (most recent common ancestor) If the test says you have DNA in common with an ethnic group that samples were taken from one group in the United States(it's state specific) and the percentage was one of the higher percentages could you accurately assume the ancestry comes with in the past 200 years?
I've taken the test already. My family may be some tough cookies to convince of the results
Tags: ancestry, common ancestor, dna, ethnic group, mrca, percentages, tough cookies, united states
September 8th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Well, they say it is 99.999% accurate. A good example of it can be found here http://www.africanancestry.com/roots/
It traces African-American ancestry/dna but also traces European, Asian and Native american ancestry and dna.
Also, here’s a link to PBS’ site http://www.byub.org/ancestors/
they did a great ancesters geneology series last year. You might find it helpful. They were able to tell Oprah were her ancesters came from and what ethnicity they were. They also did Chris Tucker’s (Rush hour) ethnicity as well among some others who were on the show.
This is just another one to look at. Same as the first link but more information http://africanancestry.com/ and this one is an article of the pbs showhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/02/09/DI2006020901668.html
and here’s a ancetry by dna site http://www.ancestrybydna.com/welcome/home/index.php
If you want to buy the PBS dvd here’s the link to view it on amazon http://www.amazon.com/African-American-Lives-Henry-Louis/dp/B000E6EHNG. Hope this helps any.
September 8th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
I would say this isn’t a particularly accurate test. A company, familytreedna, formerly offered, but stopped because they felt it still had a bugs. They may, however, using it again when it has been perfected. Also, some anecdotal evidence a Pennsylvania Dutchman took one of those tests and came out 21% Asian once and 7% the next. Now, that is a fairly big jump. If anything, he should have had Native American DNA. Here’s a link to the site.
http://www.kerchner.com/pa-gerdna.htm
In another case, a Frenchman took this test and turned out 12% Native American. It seems highly unlikely that this person had any ancestors from the Americas. I unfortunately can’t find the link for that.