22 Reasons for DNA Testing

In celebration of reaching 22,222 views on my blog, I'm posting my top 22 reasons why you should have your DNA tested.  Even though there are hundreds of reasons to test your genes, you may only need one.

1. Validate your paternal & maternal line genealogies - more
2. Identify your paternal & maternal line deep ancestries - more
3. Map your tribal migration - more
4. Adds data to your entire family tree - more
5. Identify your ethnicity - more
6. Contact genetic cousins
7. Helps with adoptee research
8. Helps with genealogy research on illegitimate ancestors - more
9. Identify health risk factors - more
10. Validate your old world homeland - more
11. Connect with historical events - more
12. Jump over genealogical brick walls
13. There is a test type for nearly every research need - more
14. Prove or disprove oral history - more
15. Prove or disprove genealogical theories
16. Find out if you are part Neandertal - more
17. An invaluable tool in your genealogy - more
18. Connect related family lines
19. Eliminate incorrect research paths
20. Calculate how any two people are related - more
21. Get a better understanding of who you really are - more
22. Get a better understanding of what it means to be human - more

DNA tests can unlock valuable information about your past, present and future.

What’s in My gDNA Toolbox

   If I were talking about my regular genealogy toolbox, I would be listing links to all the great websites with digital records (e.g. FamilySearch).  I would also talk about great repositories like NARA, BPL or the Mass Archives.  Or, I would mention tips and techniques like Nearest Neighbor and the Hidden Treasures in old photos.

   Now that we are adding DNA as a tool for genealogy, we have to pack a new toolbox.

The Databases – record sources to compare your DNA against

· Ysearch.org – Y-DNA database
· Mitosearch.org – mtDNA database
· FTDNA.com – DNA Project database
· WorldFamilies.net – DNA Project database
· SMGF.org – DNA Project database

The Testing Companies – many different testing companies that are not all equal – do your homework

· FTDNA.com – DNA testing  (my favorite)
· 23andMe.com – DNA testing
· SMGF.org – DNA testing
· Ancestry.com – DNA testing
· GeneTree.com - DNA testing

Sources of gDNA Knowledge – There are many areas of genetic genealogy that are open for interpretation.  Read everything and come to your own conclusions.

· ISoGG.org – Advocates for the use of genetics as a tool for genealogical research
· Wikipedia  - Haplogroup details
· nationalgeographic.com/genographic

Analysis Tools – DNA results love to be compared and analyzed

· hprg.com/hapest5/index.html – Whit Athey’s Haplogroup predictor
· mymcgee.com/tools/ - Dean McGee’s Y-DNA comparison tools
· www.math.mun.ca/~dapike/FF23utils/ - David Pike’s autosomal comparison tools
· http://gedmatch.com/ - Autosomal comparison tools
· PHYLIP – phylogenetic tree creation

DNA Data Management – you need to organize and manage your DNA records

· Legacy Family Tree – supports DNA records (the one I use)
· Family Tree Maker, RootsMagic, Ancestral Quest and The Master Genealogist – supports DNA
· Excel – spreadsheet tools
Misc
· Google Maps – User defined maps – you never know when you might want to build your own custom map

   This is hardly an exhaustive list.  I use most of these tools on a weekly basis.  I’m always looking for new tools (or creating ones that don’t exist).

   What's in your toolbox?  Let me know what tools you are using.

#gDNA