Genealogy

My Autosomal DNA (atDNA) and the Whole Family Tree

Family Tree DNA also provides the Family Finder test. This test looks at autosomal DNA (atDNA), which is passed down through all ancestral lines. Therefore it is possible to determine cousin relationships between descendants of the same ancestor, even where they have different surnames. As autosomal DNA gets passed down randomly through each parent, it isn’t possible to determine which line the common ancestor is from without further research. The test can prove a relationship between two people, but cannot disprove a relationship as the common ancestor may be too many generations back for the two testers to share DNA. This test seems to be able to locate common ancestors back to about 5 or 6 generations.

It is difficult to confirm matches because each person in the match must have a fairly complete family tree that goes back at least 5 or 6 generations in order to find the link. I have had one confirmed match which verified the Daniell branch of the family tree on the Perry side of the family. The verified common ancestor was William Daniell (1743-1840), who fought  in the Revolutionary War and was the grandson of Governor Robert Daniell (1646-1718) . Here is the email that I received confirming the match from Emily Archer:

Lawrence,

Thanks for having your GEDCOM already loaded on the Family Finder site. 

I am assuming that you are “person 1” on the GEDCOM that I can see for your y-DNA data.

Our lines do intersect at William Daniell and Mary “Polly” Melton, and we appear to be 5th

 cousins, once removed.

Your great great grandmother Eleanor Daniell and my great great great grandfather Beaton Daniell were sister and brother.

My line traced backwards is :

Myself > Ruth Boehning > Grace Emma Clark > Lutie E Daniell > Kenyon Daniell > Beaton Daniell > William Daniell / Mary Melton .

You and my mother Ruth Boehning are 5th cousins, thus I am once removed.

I have designated you as a ‘match’ on the family finder site.

BTW, you are the 3rd person that I have identified as a cousin via Family Finder.  I am relatively surprised that this actually works.

Thanks, 

Emily Archer

At Family Tree DNA, they also have a myOrigins page that also uses the autosomal DNA to indicate which of 90 reference populations around the world contributed to your DNA. The Family Tree DNA world DNA population database consists of samples from many scientific studies.

My results show the following:

At Ancestry DNA, they have an Ethnicity Estimate page that also uses the autosomal DNA to indicate which of over 1,500 reference populations around the world contributed to your DNA.

My results show the following: