Bill and Ladies, Have been reading these DNA posts. I am so interested and I must admit it all gives me a big headache. I am so totally uninformed and find it all very confusing when trying to learn what to expect. Some of you who have had the testing done seem so excited and I wonder exactly what I will know, after I have a test, that I do not know now? I do not know of anyone in my family that has been tested. Subscribing to another site is not something I wish to do right now. Can anyone recommend a book that would help? Thank you. Joanne Yeager Thorne ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Davidson" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Monday, February 27, 2012 5:49 PM Subject: Re: [VA-ROOTS] Genealogy > Doris, > > In addition to the "male Y chromosome test" that is "representative" of a > male (only) DNA donor, his father, his father's father, his father's > father's father, etc., there is also a "female test" (the mtDNA test) that > is "representative" of a male or a female donor, his/her mother, his/her > mother's mother, his/her mother's mother's mother, etc. (note: each of > those women will typically have had a different "birth last name" as well > as a different "married last name," so using this test presents an extra > "research challenge" for that reason). There is now a third test that > anyone (male or female) can take, and it will show DNA "matches" to any > "biological cousins" who also took that test....male or female and > irrespective of their surnames....who share a common ancestor within about > 4 or so "generations back" (this test apparently gets a little unreliable > back beyond 4 generations or so). Using this test also presents an extra > "research challenge," since you will probably get matches to some surnames > that you never knew had any connection to your family (the same could also > be true, of course, with the above mtDNA test). As this third test > becomes more popular, the "odds" of finding many "matches" will continue > to increase. Family Tree DNA calls this last/third test the "Family > Finder" test. I used Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) for my Y chromosome test. > That is the same company that National Geographic uses for DNA testing, > and I can highly recommend them. > > Bill D. > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions > at > http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html