If you’re a regular reader of this blog, then you know that I am a strong proponent of genetic testing for genealogical purposes. I believe that when used correctly genetic testing can serve as a valuable tool in the genealogist’s toolbox.
A recent visitor found my blog with the search term “Is ‘genetic genealogy’ a scam?” When I recreated the search, I discovered that a previous post on this blog is the leading link for this search. The process made me think about the many people who are skeptical or wary of genetic genealogy. As a scientist, I appreciate and encourage healthy skepticism. After all, genetic genealogy has been available for less than a decade, and it has changed considerably since it was first offered. I believe that anyone who forays into the world of genetic genealogy should have a basic understanding of the science and the application of the results. Just reading about genetic genealogy in the media can give one a distorted view of the technology. Along this point, I recommend reading an interesting article by Rebecca Skloot (author of the upcoming book “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”, which I can’t wait to read). I was referred to that article by a post on her blog (Culture Dish) entitled “The Bogus-ness of DNA Testing for Genealogy Research” in which she reiterates the point that genetic genealogy tests “simply can’t tell you anything definitive about your heredity unless you’re testing your DNA and comparing it to someone else’s to find out if you’re related.”
I agree with Ms. Skloot – the skepticism and wariness about genetic genealogy comes from the interpretation of the results. As a scientist, I believe that a DNA sequence is a DNA sequence and a person can’t argue with those results. But, using that DNA sequence to tell a person that they are 50% Native American is the type of data interpretation that should be viewed skeptically. It can be exciting, but the science is still too new. For me, the verdict is still out on autosomal testing (click on About Genetic Genealogy at the top of the page to learn more about autosomal testing).
On the other hand, I strongly believe in mtDNA and Y-DNA testing. The results are nothing but DNA sequence and an approximate haplogroup determination. These tests CAN tell you if your Y chromosome or your mtDNA is Native American or distinctly European. The information from these test can serve a multitude of functions. For example, I run a surname project to determine if all people in North America and
Genetic genealogy best serves people who are ready for genetic testing to add to their basket of knowledge. It is not as well suited for people who have no experience in genealogical research or who know nothing about their past (unless, of course, they are unable to know anything about their past – then it’s perfect), although it can still be a useful tool for the beginner.
Genetic genealogy is definitely not a hoax. DNA sequence can be a very useful and exciting addition to a genealogist’s research, IF that genealogist is aware of meaning and consequences of genetic testing. If you have any questions or thoughts about the usefulness of genetic genealogy, leave a comment below.
Note: When writing this post I attempted to find other online sources or blogs that had discussed this topic. Unfortunately, I failed to discover a fantastic review of the subject written by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak at the Family History Circle (available here). If your interest was piqued by my post, please be sure to read hers. Interestingly, the format of the posts are remarkably similar and both mention the article and blog post by Ms. Skloot (although in much more detail at Family History Circle)! Nothing like re-inventing the wheel!
7 Comments
Dna Tribes or http://www.dnatribes.com
Never sent my results but
charged my card.
Even had a Fex ex con# they recieved it.
Try to get help but just got
the lab..who says they are not associated.
Humm..lost $225
I sent for my dad’s DNA from DNA Tribes. And unlike the other post I did receive the results and now I’m sorry I did. I did it primarily for indian results. My French Canadian, Scotch Irish, Sioux dad came back, Italian, Arabic and Puerto Rican. Three nationalities that are an impossiblity in my family going back 300 years. So now I really an wondering if his results got switched with someone else’s. I was warned that these DNA studies aren’t accurate, but I didn’t listen. Save your money and savor the mystery.
Our family spent over $600 for DNA testing by http://www.ancestry.com. A brother, sister, and her husband submitted swabs. The results were botched, mixed up, difficult to access. The results for the unrelated brothers-in-law were identical which is impossible. Whether this is a blatant fraud or incompetency is not clear; the end results are the same: worthless.
Hi,
read this blog entry and would like to get your opinion on this. I am female and adopted and know that on my mother’s side, I am European (Eng. Irish and Scot.) but have no idea about my father’s side, and no real way of finding out through anyone. I have no contact with my birth mother and from the letter from the agency I read, she seems to have been protecting the father’s identity. I have been asked many times whether I’m native american…greek…and a few other things, and my answer always has to be “I don’t really know”. It gets frustrating.
I recently came across things like dnatribes.com and was considering getting the basic $150 test to try and figure out my patrilineal side, since there’s really no one I could meet or talk to in order to find out about it. But it’s beginning, from the other comments, to sound like these things are scams or unreliable…?
I would just do the National Geographic one to test my y-chromosome, but again, no male relatives I can contact. : ( Any ideas or advice? Your feedback/input would be VERY much appreciated.
Thanks!
I have a DNATribes analysis. I do not believe the results. Actually, I wonder whether this is a scam perpetrated to take advantage of the growing interest in DNA use in genealogy. Obviously, their people are well educated and intelligent. I read all of the purple prose and realize that I have no recourse. I chose to order the DNA analysis, regardless.
In my case, I believe that the expensive report is wrong. I base this opinion upon my genealogical research. With documents, I have proved 41 Revolutionary ancestors and several Magna Charta ancestors to several hereditary societies. I have a BS and an MBA.
I have a German surname, Metz/Mitts/Metts. However, the more than a hundred surnames in my family tree are English, German and Scottish. There are no Polish names or ancestors. (I would have no reason to be ashamed of Polish ancestors! In fact, I would welcome them, but there are none.). The report shows that over half of my ancestry is Polish!
I suspect that my German surname was considered and they sent me a pre prepared mid European report. I wonder whether any lab work was done. They may have “boiler plate” prose, which can be doctored with a computer and sent to people like me! I knew better as I read their literature. I have no one to blame but myself. I knew better.
Please notify me of followup comments by e-mail.
Al - I don’t think you were scammed, I think that the results of your test weren’t fully explained to you. As I understand the analysis your DNA received, the test looks at 21 locations on your autosomal (non-X or Y) chromosomes. This is, of course, the big limitation of autosomal testing – it looks at just a very few locations out of 3 billion in the entire genome! As a result, the results you received examined your inherited ancestry only at those 21 locations. They then compared your results to other people in their database. It would appear that your results most closely match people who are native to Poland. Thus, the results you received were accurate; they were just not as informative as you might have believed them to be. If you are only interested in learning about your ancestry percentages (i.e. autosomal testing), then I suggest you wait for a few years for whole-genome sequencing to revolutionize this field. Otherwise, Y-chromosome or mtDNA might be more to your liking (for more about that, click “About Genetic Genealogy” above). I just answered a question related to yours for an writer at Wired Magazine. You can see it here: http://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/16-11/st_kia.
As for your match with Poland, I don’t think that result is too unexpected. First, it might be that there just aren’t any more accurate matches in their database, and your closest matches were in Poland. Second, genes have plenty of ways of moving around geographically. Just because we have a complete family tree doesn’t mean that it represents our actual biological ancestry; non-paternal events (including adoption, illegitimate children, etc) have occurred frequently throughout history (the estimated rate is anywhere from 2% to 10%!!).
I hope this answers your concerns, and that you are dissuaded from genetic genealogy; it has plenty of great uses. For example, did you know that there is a Metz DNA Project (http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/metz/)? A simple Y-DNA test will tell you whether or not you are related to these Metz’s.
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[…] Is Genetic Genealogy A Scam? (The Genetic Genealogist) If you’re a regular reader of this blog, then you know that I am a strong proponent of genetic testing for genealogical purposes. I believe that when used correctly genetic testing can serve as a valuable tool in the genealogist’s toolbox… the skepticism and wariness about genetic genealogy comes from the interpretation of the results. […]