Before doing a DNA test, read this:
Not long ago, a friend of mine had her DNA test done and I was in shock to see the results. It was something like “You are 10% Scandinavian, 7 percent German, 4 percent Irish, 3 percent Ashkenazi etc.”.
In other words: These are things many people know without paying 150 USD. Why would anyone pay this just to confirm what they already know? I then asked people on Eupedia where they believe to be the right places to get your DNA checked for a much more in-depth analysis and was told
The companies that specialize in deep subclades are Ftdna and the new LivingDNA.
which I have published on this blog.
I personally haven’t used those companies and cannot guarantee anything personally, but have no reason to believe that what a respected and knowledgable member had told me.
It is essential that you know your haplogroups. Those markers are scientific, but much of the analyses done by several genetic testing companies is not. Those companies pretty much think that you are dumb and OK with being and staying that way. Also in the US there are quite a few who have no clue as to what their ancestry might be, so those companies figure that whatever they put together is likely good enough to shine some light into the dark corners of people’s mind and make them feel enlightened enough to still wind up being one happy customer.
But we want more, right?
Sure, there are those who want to just be told what countries their ancestors are supposedly from, but mind you that a lot of the estimates given are plain wrong. Haplogroups might look like Chinese characters to some scaring them away and rather settling for what seems easy, but Eupedia has been a great forum where you can actually analyse everything and other members will help you. And as new research comes in, what was believed to be so yesterday, can change tomorrow drastically, so there is not always an easy answer, but there people can help you get a conclusive one.
Scientific knowledge can change. Your genetic markers won’t. So if in 20 years there are new discoveries, your data can be applied for you to stay on top of things rather than exclaiming “but I thought I was Armenian” in a victim-like voice.
You can also comment on this post and let me know what your markers are and I will help you analyse them or someone else here will. The important thing is that when we research ourselves and what we have in common, we need the real data. Only then can we get to the bottom of which ancestries many rh negatives have in common and get closer to our origins, which is what I have been working on for many years.
To give you one example of just how dumbed down many testing companies have become, read:
Haplogroup nicknames attributed by BritainsDNA on Eupedia.
The verdict: out of 59 haplogroups or subclades in the list, 18 are completely wrong or mostly wrong, 17 descriptions are too restrictive to be acceptable, 17 are acceptable but could be better rephrased, and only 7 are really correct.
That means chances are that based on your genetic markers, they will get your origin wrong.
Sad, right?
My advice is that if you get your DNA test done, go with the companies I have suggested above, read through Eupedia to see what others are satisfied with or read what hopefully other readers here advise you in the comment section.
If you yourself have taken a DNA test, share your experience and results if you like. The Basque-Sumerian-Rh Negative Connection can give you a prime example why such data can help us get closer to who we are. No DNA testing company sponsors me. So it makes no difference in terms of me having any type of loyalty to any specific one. But I do want us all to get an idea as to which is the best one to go with to ensure rh negatives are getting the knowledge they seek and to reward those who don’t take the easy road, but rather provide is with cold hard complete data.
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I have thoroughly enjoyed having my DNA analysis done. I was adopted and did not know my nationality. I have since linked up with my birth family who have also had theirs done. If you want to get the most out of your DNA it requires you do some research of your own to fully understand what the results mean. If you are going to have it done and are just going to take the results as is and that makes you happy that’s fine and your prerogative. I am absolutely fascinated with it all, haplogroups, Neanderthal variants, migrations, ancient human history etc. Were I a younger person I would pursue some aspect of career in this direction. I also have a friend who found out her results were quite different ancestry wise, than what she had believed. I wouldn’t knock it till you’ve tried it.
I was also adopted and very curious. I did both 23 and Me and Living DNA and got different results, although both reported I was part of H17 haplogroup, on my mother’s side. I do not know my biological father. Any insights about H17 are welcome, Mr. Dammann:) Thank you
Did they tell you if it was H17a, H17b or H17c?
No, Mike, neither test was any more specific. They just said H17.
OK, that is lame. In that case I can only tell you the wider regions where it would be most frequent which is mainly Scandinavia and the British isles. But could also be Lithuania or Germany. How long ago did you to the Living DNA one?
I have had 4 DNA tests done. I had the first one done through National Geographic Geno 2.0. That test is what started me on my journey to learn more about myself. It verified me as Haplogroup V. I then went through FTDNA. I met some 2nd & third cousins through FTDNA yet could not find the link to my immediate family. I then took the Ancestry test which has been very helpful in building my tree and I also created a Gedcom and entered it with GEDMATCH. I sent that to My Heritage and found immediate family I did not know I had but still not match to those on FTDNA. I took the Living DNA test thinking it might give me the missing links but I was rather disappointed. Firstly it was expensive and secondly it told me not much more that I had not been told on my 1st test with National Geographic. I am still just a plain V with no subclades. I am still over 96% Scottish/Irish and still missing some links to other parts of my family history. My advise is if you are looking for your journey then National Geographic is one of the best. If looking for family try either Ancestry or My Heritage. This is just my experience.
Thank you for this info, Catherine! So lovely that you’re meeting new family members! Have you visited the UK and felt a deep connection there? Sometimes when I’m traveling I feel an enormous connection to certain places but my ethnicity is so scattered I can’t be sure of it’s significance:)
Mike, I really appreciate this information. As a pensioner with a limited income (as well as living in a country with an unfavourable USD/local currency exchange rate), I have been saving up to have a DNA test done – thank goodness I saw your post before having it done. I would have been FURIOUS at getting such a wishy-washy reply.
Mike, what can you tell me about the maternal haplogroup H1a1? This haplogroup came from a test on 23andme I had done on myself.
Thank you,
Melody
H1a1 seems interesting. It was present in Iberia during the Neolithic.
“Two women and two men buried in the VII BC were tested for mtDNA with online databases, the results taken from not optimal samples were obtained for three individuals which PhyloTree classified as H – HV, H1, and H1a1. ”
Also among the Yamna people of central eastern Ukraine around 3,700 BC to 2,500 BC. It looks like around the same time, the region now Ukraine was almost if not half rh negative.
Yamna people:
Highly mobile steppe culture of pastoral nomads relying heavily on cattle (dairy farming). Sheep were also kept for their wool. Hunting, fishing and sporadic agriculture was practiced near rivers.
It looks like the Yamna’s vast majority had blue eyes, red hair frequencies were high and R1b dominated the y-DNA pool.
Hi Mike. Thank you for your quick response. I found the information you provided very interesting. I have bluish-green eyes and quite a bit of red to my natural hair color. Forgive my ignorance but could you explain R1b is and maybe how it dominated the gene pool. I’m also A- if that helps any.
Thank you,
Melody
Sorry, y-DNA R1b is known as the Celtic marker. If you look at data from Northwest Ireland, the frequencies there are something like 98+%. So it looks like at least on the male side, the Yamna “could have been the ones who turned into the Celts”. As for rh negative frequencies among the Yamna: There are indicators. But no accurate data. How far back have you traced your family?
Thank you. I was born in Scotland and my children were also born there. Part of me will always be Scottish, however flying across Ireland where I have great-great grandmother’s on both sides, (although I have never been there), and coming across Scotland made me long for the life I left over 40 years before.
However there is also a part of me that seeks to know more. I understand the V line would have originally come down the female lines to my Mother which are definitely Irish, but my mother was not RH -. Unfortunately as my grand-daughter who would carry the V line through my daughter has only boys, she will be the last of our V line. My grandchildren carry the RH- factor through at least 2 more generations.
My break down for each test was this and then I will do my best to try and answer your question.
DNA test through Ancestry break down is Great Britain 41%, Ireland/Scotland/Wales 26%, Europe West7%, Europe South 7%, Iberian Peninsula 7%, Scandinavia 6%, Finland/Northwest Russia 3%, Europe East 2%, Caucasus 1%.
DNA test through MyHeritage break down is Ireland/Scotland/Wales 64%, North and West Europe 31.1%, Italian 4.9%.
DNA test through 23andMe break down is French and German 35.4%, British & Irish 35%, Italian 2.8%, Eastern European 0.6%, Finnish 0.1%, Broadly Northwestern European 21.2%, Broadly Southern European 1.1%, Broadly European 3.7%, East Asian & Native American 0.1%, Native American 0.1%.
Now to try and answer your question. On my mom’s side especially the Irish side I’ve been able to go back as far as the late 1600’s. Her German heritage is a struggle due to a brick wall. The furthest I’ve been able to go back was on my dad’s side is the late 1500’s and they are from Kent England.
The variation of (gu)es(s)timates between the different testing companies is exactly what this article is about. But at least they have you the mtDNA marker so we can look deeper into this. Looking at your maternal line, it definitely fits what I have outlined. An Irish ancestry stemming back from potentially Iberian ancestry way back when (go Ancestry.com if you are right on that one, though I wished they would give more detail on how they have concluded such). And probably that line dating back to the Yamna. It looks like blue eyes have originated in that same Black Sea regions. Many Irish people have very blue eyes. It gives us some insight as to how the Yamna may have looked. And it definitely establishes a link how the Celts came to be.