Are Ancestry DNA results accurate?

[@jasoncowley4718]

Some of those small segment/cM matches can have a significant impact on your tree. I found a 9cM cousin with a tree that had the same paternal surname for a seventh! generation ancestor with all their children including my 6th Great Grandmother! I had the incorrect parents to her in my tree for many years thinking the records were correct. Distant DNA matches can really help break down brick walls. So people when you get your DNA tested, PLEASE CREATE A TREE!

[@ArntyouAKAValerieNosey]

Some do, they get as far as mum, dad and themselves, then get bored because it requires brain power thereafter. I think some people think that a family tree will magically appear once they have done the DNA test. My other bug bear is, private trees. Yep, get the living people privacy thing, but dead people? So annoying. Talk about lack of community spirit, working together. I personally think if they want their tree marked as private, then everyone else's tree should be private to them. Sad, really sad.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

First, I'm glad you were able to find a common ancestor with the small cMs. My recommendation still remains to first identify how everyone above 40 cMs relate to you, then tackling the small cMs. Small cMs have a high probability of being false matches or genealogically difficult to determine a relationship. I don't recommend it for anyone new to genetic genealogy.

[@redheadredemption5351]

Thank you! I’ve tested with 23 & Me but I think I’ll test with Ancestry now as well. I’m adopted and have no known relatives as references.

[@marjoriemorse9229]

As an adoptee, it benefits you to have your information out in as many databases as possible. Even a match on 23andMe can be “worked” on Ancestry to ascertain family lines.

[@spartanchuckles8743]

Hopefully you find something. As an adoptee, I got lucky. Did 23+me 1st, was better for me personally. Matched with a half sister (fathers side). And a 1st cousin once removed and her son (2nd cousin) on mother's side. Figured out both sides. Both ancestry and 23 had a number of 3rd cousins, a number of 2nd cousin and 1st cousin 1nce removed.

[@3foxylady27]

Also join DNA Detectives, a page on Facebook, and you can use test results from Ancestry and 23andMe (and you should test at both) and upload data to My Heritage, Family Tree DNA and GedMatch. You should cast your net wide because birth relatives may only test at one company and you want to find them wherever they test. Good luck.

[@3foxylady27]

You should cast your net wide to catch those already tested, or else you might be able to find birth relatives by searching through family trees. Also, you can ask at DNA Detectives for a search angel to help for free if you need help.

[@jasoncowley4718]

Try Gedmatch.

[@Jahida360]

I have a question and forgive my ignorance but if raw data never changes and I submitted a sample to ancestry is there a way to download raw data from them so that I can upload it to different sites or is that not advisable

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

You can download your dna from Ancestry and transfer it to MyHeritage, FamilyTreeDNA and Gedmatch kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4uXp6yBqriLl5Y

[@Jahida360]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics I finally did figure out how to do it , was so much easier then I thought with the zip files ,ty so much. ☀️💛

[@ahata7245]

Africa AncestryDna results are not accurate. Results depend on reference population Ancestry Dna have in their reference panel. For example, AncestryDna doesn't have Nilosaharian reference population. An example: AncestryDna tend to make South Sudanese look like they only descended from Mbuti Pygmy and West Africa/Bantoue which is very misleading since South Sudanese are distinct from West Africa and distinct from Bantoue.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

That is correct. The reference populations the companies compare your DNA to impacts your results greatly. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZS9pXuripxrpJY

[@Keithistall21]

Facts ..almost every black person who takes ancestry test is Nigerian

[@GothamCityStills]

There’s no way that any of these tests are accurate. I have taken literally hundreds of tests. They always change and contradict themselves. Leaves me more confused than I was before I started this whole journey.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Ahh... you're focusing on the ethnicity results, not the DNA matching. Please watch this video as a follow up. It's in our archive so you might have missed it. Blame Reference Populations if Your Ethnicity Results Are Wrong kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZS9pXuripxrpJY

[@tomjones3787]

Can you use any of the documents that you get from these companies in a legal Setting?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

No

[@tomjones3787]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics thank you

[@GothamCityStills]

These tests get more Euro-centric in my ethnicity report. I am not 100% European, at least I am pretty sure given that my GGfather was adopted. I have gotten wildly different results on probably over the 100 tests that I have done on myself over the last ten years or so. Do you have any idea why?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

I shared a link on your previous comment. The answer is still the same. Watch the video Blame Reference Populations if Your Ethnicity Results Are Wrong kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZS9pXuripxrpJY

[@tracylynn1461]

Umm I have thought about testing again just to see if it changes... Will CRISPR change that in the future? I wonder... I'd say dna does change but I am guessing there either naturally from environmental factors ect ect ect or the new editing of the genes.. as always ure this will be a great video and DNA still amazes me daily ♡ Yes I know I come at yall with some big questions..lol I just find it all so fascinating and the great things we are learning to do that also scare me a bit too;) pretty powerful ability they have uncovered

[@ThaCaliEnigma]

Your information changes as more samples are added to the database.

[@tracylynn1461]

@@ThaCaliEnigma thanks. I was just curious as this new tech starts being used more if it would have an impact... thanks for the reply ♡ I always have tough questions..

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Testing again at the same company will not change your results. Patience with the companies as they obtain more DNA from people to add to their reference population databases will.

[@ValorieZimmerman]

Your own testing results (raw data) will only change sometimes if you get a bone marrow transplant -- that's rather rare.

[@tracylynn1461]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics thanks I just was thinking that SNPs sounded similar to CRISPR when I was looking into a genetic disorder one day. Then wondered if this would be a factor in our future.. Now we have found some new unknown humanoids I hear.. That should be interesting (and really hope they finally tell us we are alien hybrids🤪) Haha Joke but ya never know I guess!! What a time to be alive Things have changed so much since I went to school, we had 3 states of matter not 16 and 2+2 was always 4..

[@patriciayohn6136]

I can't imagine you can change your DNA however, the matches you receive can change by how many more people test and gee all of a sudden you get more matches.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Yes, the RAW DNA doesn't change (except it may have different results depending on the chip used).

[@sclips798]

what would happen if a little bit of someone elses dna got mixed in the tube?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Ancestry runs a number of protocols to ensure it's one sample and you're aware of a possible twin (or that you submitted already). Check out this video to see what I did to test Ancestry. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJuVfHawjJlnp7c

[@Calatriste54]

Where is this link to a free guide..(?)

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

It's in the description section for the video, or you can click here. www.subscribepage.com/5dnaquestions

[@lawrencejackson4001]

What could explain a match at 17-25 cms with no shared matches?

[@donnaroberts281]

If it’s at AncestryDNA, they don’t give shared matches for matches under 20cM (I think that’s the cut off). Also it’s possible that no one else that shares that segment has tested.

[@lawrencejackson4001]

@@donnaroberts281 yes they do I have some with 9cms with stares

[@nickmiller76]

@@lawrencejackson4001 Ancestry don't give me shared matches below 20cM.

[@lawrencejackson4001]

@@nickmiller76 mine goes as low as 8cms

[@jasoncowley4718]

No common ancestors maybe or a whole new branch of your tree? I have tons of no shared matches in that range and match with distant 9cM as well, but it seems to do more with triangulation/common ancestors and people with trees that you match to.

[@rightofcl]

A lot of people who are realistically my third cousins don’t pop up on my results

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

A few reasons: 1. They might not have tested at the company you've tested at. 2. They might not have made their DNA results public. 3. You might not have inherited the same DNA from your common ancestors. Beginning with 3rd cousins, you don't share DNA will all of them. 4. You might not be biological 3rd cousins.

[@stevechrismillersarro5445]

What do you think, is more Accurate? Now... this has to with, Ancestry DNA site, because, they have the Side View, and they also have it, where you can see, what Ethnicities, you match with, with that Pacific Cousin. Now, on My Mother site, The Sideview says, all her Irish, is coming from, her Mother, (which is correct) But, when you go on, the Match list, and you click on, Parental Matches, some of the cousins, match Ireland. It's a match, because, its highlighted, in Black, (But Ireland, shouldn't be a match, on My Mother's Father side). So why does, My Mother match, a cousin, on her Father side, when the Side View shows, 0% Ireland, on the Parental, side. All of her Ireland, shows, that its coming from her Mother? Does not make sense, Match Ireland, with a cousin, on the Parental section, in your Match list, when the side view, from the Prenatal Side, says, 0% Ireland, and all of her Ireland, is coming from her Mother. It's not just Ireland, its, England in Northwestern Europe. And other Ethnicities to. The Side view, I think, shows the correct Ethnicities, Coming from, her Father, and mother. The side view, currently shows, Only, Jewish, Balkans and Albania and Greece, and that Definitely Correct. Other DNA sites, show more, Mediterranean Ethnicities, Middle Eastern, West Asian, Iberian. But what it shows, for My Mother's Father, on Side View, the Ethnicities, is correct. Most cousins, on My Mother's Father side, when you go, to the Match list, and go to the Parental side, (Most) cousins, on that side, match the, side view. But... there's still, a good enough cousins, on Parental side, that shouldn't match, with the, common Ethnicities, like... Ireland Scotland, England.my Grandfather, is only, Slavic and Mediterranean Ethnicities.

[@paulbolin7513]

These test are nationality test more than anything given they deal with locations. Place does not define who or what. There are only four original ethnicities and combinations of those. Just look in the mirror.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Looking in the mirror will not necessarily tell someone they are a mix of Irish, Swedish, Polish and a hint of Sub Saharan Africa. However, ethnicity results are only clues, particularly with small numbers of people to compare ourselves to in the reference populations (outside of the UK and Germany).

[@coquiangel]

I'm confused on matches and ethnicity. I'm adopted, I read somewhere, my birth father was Puerto Rican/or Afro-Latino. Ancestry, doesn't show this except for distant matches, that have Cuban, Dominican, Puerto Rican, etc Does that mean that it's correct but not enough data? Also, I've tested with 23andMe and it's a bit more different than Ancestry; with 23, there's recent ancestry from Jamaica. Some of the matches there also have PR either in their DNA or descendant.

[@tallycahamuhlhetru26]

It means you have work to do. 😉

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

You're adopted and you're Puerto Rico/Afro-Latino groups won't necessarily show up since they are not distinct populations due to historic migrations into those areas. So, instead of looking at your ethnicity, try to determine how you're related to DNA matches that Ancestry and 23andMe indicate are your close matches (parents/siblings to second cousins). If you don't have such close matches, you'll have to wait for more people from your biological family to test before you have a clue to proceed.

[@coquiangel]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics Thank you? For the reply! Here to hoping 😀

[@mreyespy13]

The ethnic guess work is ever changing..You start to lose faith when it changes every six months lol.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

That's one of the reason I'm not a big believer in the ethnicity results. Instead, I focus on DNA matching and triangulation.

[@sr2291]

It totally depends on which areas each DNA company is testing and which kind of tests are being used. Also if they are reporting where your ancestors lived or reporting what ethnicities you are. I am from Madeira and there were mixed races and ethnicities there so telling me I am 97 percent Portuguese probably isnt really accurate. Also Ancestry removed my North African ancestry.

[@JennyWebb5457]

Ancestry has not reported any North African , but My Heritage did! When I uploaded my DNA and several of my family fron Ancestry to My Heritage several popped up with Africa and other

[@sr2291]

@@JennyWebb5457 Yes. Me too. Also GEDMatch, FTDNA and DNALand.

[@JennyWebb5457]

@@sr2291 I tend to believe the reason Ancestry does not include my North African and 1% Nigerian is not because they removed it, but due to My Heritage having a much broader and diverse clientele. My Heritage is not a United States based company, whereas Ancestry is. I think the people who submit their DNA samples to My Heritage are from people throughout a greater geographical base, whereas I imagine the Ancestry members are more reflect the Colonial base of the 1600’s who were predominantly from Europe. This may be totally off kilter, but there has to be some explanation.

[@sr2291]

@@JennyWebb5457 I think you may be correct.

[@jasoncowley4718]

Ancestry once had trace ancestry results. Now I'm just a basic white dude. Uploaded my raw data to Myheritage. There's my southern Euro and trace Meso American results again. Ancestry is VERY American/Eurocentric/Colonial with their sample population.

[@konnierad]

Please do a CRIGENETICS test please and compare the results. My results were dramatically different with this company. My results for 23andMe and ANCESTRY DNA were similar. I would love to know why

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

I don't recommend CRI genetics and I won't spend that kind of money on something that won't help me build my family tree. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnbahJmjfbmDY7M

[@gaylecheung3087]

KMSL, You need to even ask that question in 2021, Infancy of DNA genealogy tracing

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

I don't know to ask but there are plenty of confused people on the internet asking this question time and time again. So, I answered it. I'm here to serve.

[@dawnemile7499]

The results are only as accurate as the one doing the reporting.

[@sherrykendrick1765]

No these test are not 99.9%. Had my tested just for laughs. And it was a laugh.. Said i was of German descent. I am 100% Cree. My skin is almost mahogany. Both of my parents are Cree. So are my grandparents and great grandparents.

[@jasoncowley4718]

Laughs aside, you need to be more specific, what test? What company?

[@jasoncowley4718]

Just for laughs upload your raw dna data file to Gedmatch and see who you match to, and then try out the ethnicity calculators.

[@sitihere]

@@jasoncowley4718 Im from Malaysia and i get my parents and Myself tested for MyHeritage. So far (25July2021) only my mom's result came out. MyHeritage Result: Filipino/Indonesian/Malay: 62.5% Thai/Cambodia:35% East European:1.3% Greek/South Italian:1.2% I was very shocked coz i tot my mom should have South Asian blood coz my late grandmother and my uncles also look a bit like Indian/Pakistan/Benggali but ehy no South Asian in the result.. Then I uploaded the raw data to GedMatch....and many calculator/project showing South Asian between 9% to 16%....

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Sherry... If you're 100% Cree, then a couple of things might be possible. Someone in your ancestral line had a child with a person from a Germanic tribe. That's not surprising because it did happen. Second, few Native peoples will allow DNA testing companies to test themselves of their tribe members. As such, nearly all testing companies do not have reference populations for the native people of North America. IF you can establish that your four grandparents are Cree, then it's possible that you can be included in a reference population (or your parents could). However, there might be agreements with native tribes that prevent the companies from building such a reference population. It's more complicated than "they just lie.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Siti Nabilah Huda Anuar ... There are VERY few people from Malaysia or any Southeast Asian countries in the different testing companies databases. As such, I would suspect that your DNA results are confusing. However, they did identify at least a portion of your DNA from that group. And it's also possible that the results are accurate since is an island that was on the route to China from Africa. As such, many races intermixed. In time, I would like to see how your percentages change as more people are tested in the groups you currently have percentages for.