13
votes
Accepted
Generational Loss of Data with DNA Testing
(Note: I did not view the updated part of the question before writing this answer, so my original answer does not address the specific scenario added in the update. See the section below the dividing ...
- 24.3k
8
votes
Accepted
Is it common to have no close yDNA matches on Family Tree DNA?
Yes it is very common to only have few or no matches at higher levels.
I recently have been advising someone who got screaming mad (literally) about spending so much money and having no matches.. so ...
- 5,521
7
votes
Accepted
Genetic Distance to Generations Calculation for Y-STR DNA tests
First, it is important to note that all the probabilities provided in these charts are estimations. Different formulas have been proposed and used to give us an idea of what a relationship might be ...
- 18.5k
7
votes
Accepted
My Father passed away - next test(s) on what remains of his DNA sample?
The short answer is being you have completed a very basic Y test and you should have met ftDNA's internal requirements of first doing a Y-## test before being able to order a BigY test and even if ...
- 5,521
7
votes
Accepted
If you plan on getting a Big Y test, is there any value in going beyond yDNA-37?
I think there is still value to upgrading beyond Y37 (to at least 67) even if you are 100% confident you are going to do a BigY.
Short version: You get near term genealogical value matching with Y67+ ...
- 5,521
7
votes
Accepted
Y-DNA haplogroup R1a1ab2 Z93 Z94 in England?
The service you used, Living DNA, seems to try on its web site to avoid telling much about what kind of testing it is doing, especially avoiding standard terms. Digging though its help system, it ...
- 3,857
6
votes
Y-DNA match a false positive?
It is extremely rare for Y-DNA analysis to give a false positive. However, the people you match to may connect 10, 20, or 30 generations back which is likely not genealogically relevant since you won'...
- 16.5k
6
votes
Accepted
How to understand differences in paternal haplogroups from different companies?
They are effectively the same result with different levels of granularity / detail.
There are a couple things to keep in mind in regards to Y Haplogroups in general and the four main things are to ...
- 5,521
6
votes
Accepted
What do the asterisks mean in the Y-DNA Standard Y-STR values table on Family Tree DNA?
In the FTDNA help pages are the following notes:
** DYS19 is also known as DYS394.
*** The Family Tree DNA and the Genographic Project report DYS389II differently.
So the asterisks are just ...
- 18.5k
6
votes
Generational Loss of Data with DNA Testing
I am not an expert on DNA testing. But I learnt (and still learn) a lot through the story of Michael Lacopo at his blog "Hoosier Daddy?" where he blogs about how (tries) to find the biological father ...
- 161
6
votes
Accepted
Does AncestryDNA sequence the Y Chromosome, and if so, to what extent?
First a comment on terminology – AncestryDNA and none of the autosomal DNA testing companies do "DNA sequencing". They do use single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and/or short tandem ...
- 18.5k
5
votes
Template or Tool for Comparing Y-DNA Results
There are a number of free downloadable Y-DNA Tools available at Genetic Genealogy Tools by Felix Immanuel, including:
Y-STR Kit
Y-Tree Creator
ISOGG Y-Tree AddOn for Google Chrome
23andMe To YSNPs
...
- 16.5k
5
votes
Accepted
How many generations back is suggested by 6 mutations on a yDNA-67 match?
If you use Moses Walker's MRCA Calculator and plug in their suggested mutation rate of .0043, you can get an approximate answer to your question. The tool only goes down to 62 of 67 matches, but it is ...
- 16.5k
5
votes
Is it common to have no close yDNA matches on Family Tree DNA?
In our case, based on research we figure there aren't many living males left with the surname that have tested. We did the yDNA-67 test and we have no matches at the 67 marker level, 5 matches at the ...
- 727
5
votes
Accepted
Why would Y-DNA matches have different paternal haplogroups?
The answer is actually relatively straight forward that you started to lead onto yourself.
It really comes down to the level of testing the individual has done, and further testing may actually ...
- 5,521
5
votes
Different genetic relation strength through maternal vs paternal line?
You inherit exactly half your DNA from each parent. So, no, you are not more related to one parent or the other.
However, it is unlikely for you to inherit exactly a quarter of each of your ...
- 981
5
votes
No shared X DNA segments found
The lack of shared X-DNA segments is to be expected and does not imply you are unrelated. Men get their X chromosome from their mother and their Y chromosome from their father. If two men had the same ...
- 2,219
4
votes
Accepted
After a Big-Y test on FamilyTreeDNA does it make sense to order further SNP tests?
Before I ordered any extra SNP tests, I would wait a few weeks or months. Big Y tests an awful lot of markers, and unlike most other tests, it also discovers hitherto unknown markers (kind of like a "...
- 56
4
votes
Explaining and interpreting YFull raw data statistics?
I've been doing a bit of research on the subject myself and might be of some assistance.
ChrY BAM file size is straight forward, pretty much just the file size of the raw data that maps to the Y ...
- 41
4
votes
ISOGG Y-DNA Haplogroup Tree download
I do not believe they provided a download mechanism. The tree is hierarchical, and html with hyperlinks to lower levels with color coding was an efficient way for ISOGG to create and maintain the ...
- 16.5k
4
votes
How likely is it that ftDNA made a mistake about my y-haplogroup?
I'm by no means an expert, but given that the second test confirmed the result in question from the first, I would be inclined to accept the answer as valid, unless both tests/testers are known to ...
- 141
4
votes
Generational Loss of Data with DNA Testing
Let me see if I can answer your three questions:
What's the benefit of A-E for Autosomal?
Autosomal testing is excellent for finding relatives in non-endogamous families up to about 5th cousins ...
- 16.5k
4
votes
Accepted
Different genetic relation strength through maternal vs paternal line?
For the record and for those interested, I want to give a little more detail than is in Leah's answer. Leah's answer is a very good overview and has the important points that a beginning genetic ...
- 3,857
3
votes
Accepted
What is considered a strong match on a Big-Y DNA test?
My understanding is as a general rule of thumb 'to start with' used by some of the more advanced Big-Y/Y-Full groups in terms of known SNP differences as FamilyTreeDNA displays the information is that ...
- 5,521
3
votes
Forensic Y-STR DNA test provider that can provide results at greater than a Y-37?
The short answer that as of June 23, 2015 the answer specifically to my question of whether "a Forensic DNA test is currently available to obtain a Y-DNA STR test of greater than Y-37" is:
No; as ...
- 5,521
3
votes
Forensic Y-STR DNA test provider that can provide results at greater than a Y-37?
You'll have to find a commercial lab that will do non-standard DNA tests for you. Most major cities will have them. But it may be somewhat expensive. A university lab may provide better prices.
Hair ...
- 16.5k
3
votes
Forensic Y-STR DNA test provider that can provide results at greater than a Y-37?
Best of luck with this, but keep in mind that the chances of recovering sufficient Y-DNA from an old hair or toothbrush is very low, and it will be very expensive (whether successful or not).
I think ...
- 18.5k
3
votes
After a Big-Y test on FamilyTreeDNA does it make sense to order further SNP tests?
In general I would say no, but there are couple of reasons in which you might.
I covered them in this answer "If you plan on getting a BigY is there any value in going beyond Y37 to a degree too.
...
- 5,521
3
votes
Y-DNA STR Testing - Zero Matches?
Y-chromosome STR tests measure particular aspects of the DNA (tandem repeats) which happen to change at a faster rate than most other forms of DNA change. Each STR site ("DYS" locus) tends to have an ...
- 3,857
2
votes
Y-DNA STR Testing - Zero Matches?
The match list is very limited to persons who are at distance of 10 steps from you at Y111... Some mutations may be rare, but others can happen between generations simultaneously in multiple places. ...
- 1,075
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