Who should test to represent a deceased parent's DNA? | Genetic Genealogy

[@greghanson407]

I had my mother tested 3 years ago, she was 96 at the time (she died at age 98), plus her 1st cousin on her father's side had also tested. I was able to use that to separate her mother and father's side. That was all very helpful. My father was an only child, he died over 50 years ago and both his parents are of course deceased. However, the son of my dad's first cousin on his mother's side has also tested, that was also helpful.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Awesome! My wife, Devon, is jealous of the tests you have access to.

[@WendyMoule]

I have exactly this problem. I'm trying to prove who my father is. My 3rd cousin has documented my paternal side really well and I have many Paternal DNA cousins. My potential father is deceased and an only child and my potential half brother is unwilling to do a DNA test. To get over these stumbling blocks, I am trying to prove who my paternal grandmother is via DNA matches. The problem is on my maternal side my grand fathers line is not as the paper trail says so there are loads of distant cousins. It is hard to figure out how we all fit together. Its a whole can of worms to untangle but I like a good puzzle.

[@AdultThirdCultureKid1971]

I've had both paternal relatives and former schoolmates ask me whether I've considered researching my father's side of the family.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Yep. When you have the kind of roadblocks you've mentioned, it can be difficult. See if you can figure out who the half-brother's half-siblings or full cousins might be. There are ways to filter your DNA by using these folks who you know how they are related to someone on your family tree.

[@DanSolo871]

I wish there was an option to go one step beyond phasing, in that a DNA profile would be created and used as an individual for matching. So if I use my father's, brother's, sister's DNA file and perhaps a maternal uncle, I could create a file for my deceased mother. My DNA, my brother, sister and uncle create the overlapped segments and my father's DNA is used to minus out his segments.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Have you tried a Lazarus kit? kzbin.info/www/bejne/jauxf4N4Zahsorc

[@jacquelineruff9918]

Thank you so much for all the helpful and informative videos from yourself and Devon. I found your channel a little while ago and it has help me tremendously to get closer to finding my paternal grandfather. You referenced using the phasing tool on GEDmatch... Do you have a video on that? Thanks again to you both!!

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Thanks for your compliments. We appreciate it. The GEDmatch phasing tool, did you see these videos? kzbin.info/aero/PLcVx-GSCjcdmL5iamZ0ORFfPUmsc3eaAI

[@petea1918]

I did get mum tested about 3 years ago. Mum died last year so was lucky to get mum’s DNA analysed

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Yes. That's a definite blessing in your DNA research.

[@kbonez3431]

My mom told me a guy was my dad for 18 years , one day his wife came to my door and provided me with a DNA test saying that he wasn't the father . Then my mom told me that another guy was my father and I do look like him a bit , but the messed up part is she told me 2 months after that guy had died . So if he is my dad he never knew he had a child cause my mom said she didn't tell him . I'm just trying to find out how I can know for sure since he's gone. He didn't have any other kids so no siblings I can test with . I might be out of luck .

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

You're not entirely out of luck. If possible, build a genealogical family tree for the second man. That way, you become familiar with the names of the persons that could appear in your tree if you match. You'll also need this to find potential persons you can test to substitute for that second man. Check out this video that explains why. "Who should test to represent a deceased parent's DNA?" kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5LPiZ2AfMuSra8

[@BonnieDragonKat]

I was adopted. I have no clue who my Biological father is. My DNA test did solve the mystery of who my biological maternal grandfather is. My mother passed thinking she was another man's child. My siblings that took DNA tests are only half siblings (different dads)

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

I'm glad you discovered some clues. Keep at it. I hope you find more.

[@deckocards6988]

Andy--what if your parents siblings are all dead? Can you represent that parents DNA thru JUST the children?

[@richarddcamp1773]

I had this same question.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

The more children and cousins you can have tested the better. As you know, Devon's parents were deceased before we could test them. Her father was an only child. However, on his side, she tested his living 1st cousins. We also tested her two aunts, her mother's 1st cousin and Devon's 1st cousin. We also tested Devon's brother. We have not fully replicated her parent's DNA but she has captured more than nothing. Do the best with what you can to test all the 'surrounding' relatives of your parents.

[@alicejeffrieskeel6435]

My brother had his dna done with Ancestry DNA. His tree is unlinked and unpu blished. How can I get him tested and His dna linked to my tree without messing up his. Our parents are deceased. How can I get him to test again and link to my tree?

[@utonmcintosh9994]

My father died in 2003. I got my aunt who his only full sibling to get tested. She represents my paternal side.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Perfect. My wife has to use her father's first cousins as he had no siblings and he is deceased. She used her mother's sisters and her mother is deceased.

[@utonmcintosh9994]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics 1st cousins in my opinion are distant to me for someone to represent the person or their side of family. It will be like that sometimes.

[@dbaroness1]

So can any calculation be done W/ mother being tested , her 2 children … the father has passed away but dna is has been done on the “children “of the father siblings ?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

If I'm reading this correctly. You have 2 children being tested along with their mother. That would definitely help filter the DNA match results for the children between their maternal and paternal lines. If you also test the father's nieces and nephews, that would create more triangulation points to father your research. I do have a Channel Member video about Triangulation here kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5eudph8otiIo68

[@jessikamoore5033]

What about my situation? Both my parents are gone and I was their only child. However, my mom had a child 10 years before me so my half sister. Which she has tested. Then I discovered my mom had a half sister she never knew about who also tested. Then my dad's brother and nephew also tested. I discovered my parents were related going back to my 4th great grandfathers who were brothers. My mom descends from one and Dad the other. There is tons of overlap in my tree because of where I live and it has been difficult.

[@theshecreature]

Love your channel, but you’ve got to watch some tutorials about reducing desk vibration noise. You mic picks up every time you move your elbows and sounds like you’re constantly bumping the mic itself, but it’s just desk sounds vibrating through.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Noted. We're working this out. It hasn't always been a problem but it has shown up in recent videos.

[@lisbethME]

My question pertains to painting the segments onto DNA painter. I presume the deceased parent is the base so who do you compare the test kits with to get the segments to compare? Or is the base you and you compare to your other siblings to yourself and to your deceased parent's sibling (s) to yourself? If you have a phased kit for your siblings and yourself, to whom do you compare that to in order to get segments to paint?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

All of these are GREAT questions. However, watch this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmevqYB-Zd-Ga5Y tutorial. Then let me know if the questions still remain. Reply on that video please so I can see it.

[@lorabedford7391]

My father and all of his siblings have passed. He does have two double cousins though. Would they be a good candidate for doing a DNA test?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Testing any known relatives to help you sort through your DNA matches is helpful. The double first cousins will present a number of problems. So see if you can find cousins who aren't doubles. Halfs work wonders as well.

[@esterherschkovich6499]

There are so many questions which need answering here🤔I have my own question..Can you help please Andy.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

It depends on the question. Send me an email through our contact form. www.familyhistoryfanatics.com/contact

[@robertyoung2279]

My sister never knew her Father, we know his name and the area he`s from, we want to see if she has half siblings, how would that work, thank you for any advise.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Watch the videos in this series to help your research. Even if she wasn't adopted, the steps are the same. kzbin.info/aero/PLcVx-GSCjcdk1GsAs9NfLWKvACcjE3Afg

[@sharonjacob4782]

How would you deal with this scenario: the entire family is gone. So no siblings. But two children of one sibling and one of the target person has tested plus the mother (wife of target) of that one child has also tested. What percentage DNA could we reconstruct from that combination?

[@raeb745]

That is also my scenario! My dad died 20 years ago long before home DNA test kits were a thing. My mom and I have both tested and I still have living cousins on his side but all of his siblings are gone.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Maximum would be around 50%, although likely you will get much less. I doubt this would be enough to make the 1500cM threshhold.

[@sharonjacob9771]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics well since I last wrote we discovered a 1/2 sister and now have her DNA and her daughter also. I will soon have DNA from the child of each of the passed siblings. Would this not reconstitute more than 50%?

[@petea1918]

I had my uncle (Whitehead) tested and all is going well with further back DNA ancestors

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

But what about recent genetic ancestors?

[@petea1918]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics got lots of recent DNA connections and friends with a good few on Facebook

[@esterherschkovich6499]

Here is my dilemma..My biological Father is dead and his one son is dead...but with one of my half brothers sons my CM are 1,320..says on ancestry he is a close family??The reason why I did my DNA was looking for information as I was put into an orphanage..Once I was contacted my these lovely people I the USA I had always wondered who my Father was..am in the UK...Any thoughts..

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

First, take a look at the Shared cM project tool to see all the possible relationships you have with someone that shares 1320 cMs. dnapainter.com/tools/sharedcmv4 Next, start seeing how other DNA matches that also match that DNA match match you. You could develop a WATO tree to analyze your findings and confirm where people should appear on the family tree based on the tree you've build, the shared cMS and probability statistics. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmevqYB-Zd-Ga5Y

[@FogataMexicana]

Can you recommend a company to test DNA on a deceased parent? What type of specimen is best and how do I begin the process? My mortuary does not work with any company but they are working with me because this is an estranged parent that hasn’t been seen by the child in 36 years.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

You can try to test a hair sample or a postage stamp. Be advised, the hair sample might not be theirs or they might not have licked the postage stamp on the letter they wrote. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIrOe5ahgNWaqKc The other option is to create a Lazarus Kit using DNA from as many of the deceased person's children's lines. This new video (released 5/25/22) show you how kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXWUg2x3fqt1ZsU

[@jessikamoore5033]

I am confused when you say 2 children and 2 parents. Do you mean my children? Shouldn't it be my parent's siblings? Then grandparent's siblings if grandparents are dead?

[@richarddcamp1773]

First, let me say I love your videos! Keep them coming - maybe one day I'll finally understand everything you are telling us! In my case, my mom died (quite young), and then her sister died (also young). Their brother, my uncle, is still living (97 years) and I did convince him to take a DNA test (Ancestry). They were just the three siblings. His daughter, my first cousin, also took a DNA test, but no one else from that family so far. My mom's sister has, so far, had one son (my cousin) take a DNA test, and then (so far) one of my brothers has also taken the Ancestry DNA test. Is it possible to come up with a similar chart using first cousins (my sibling, or two of mom's children) and one sibling (her brother) and his daughter and the son of their third sibling? I have samples of my mom's hair (from her baby book, etc.) and I have thought about looking into getting that DNA tested, but I guess no company does ancestral DNA testing from any other samples than saliva. :o( I am holding on to it in case that day comes. In the meantime, having my uncle's DNA has helped me isolate ancestors from my mom's side of the family from my dad's. (Dad also took a DNA test, and he is still living). I don't know why it feels important to me to find this out, I knew my mother and loved her - that should be enough. But, there have been some surprises on my maternal line, so it would be fascinating to know how that shakes out in me and my brothers. - Oh yeah, is there a difference in the DNA being mitochondrial or not in this type of breakdown? I noticed you used only the male line to determine the missing male parent. Does that make this equation different?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

So many great questions. Focus on building your family tree using the genetic matches you share and that your cousins and so on (who have tested) share with you and your matches. You can use the autosomal tests you've likely taken (Ancestry). Learn how to make a Leeds Chart and also how to do triangulation. I have several videos on these topics, as do other genetic genealogists. I wouldn't worry about mitochondrial DNA or y-DNA at this point. There is so much you can do with autosomal that I wouldn't put any energy here. As for DNA from hair. I did make a video about this topic kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIrOe5ahgNWaqKc But again, I would focus on using the DNA matches you share in common with your relatives who have taken DNA tests first. When you've figured out how you and your known relatives match all of your Genetic matches who share more than 40 cMs with you, then you can explore the other test options.

[@isipags6567]

Hello can a child have a DNA that neither parent has. My daughter on her DNA results shows 14% French, neither my husband nor I show French on our DNA.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Your question is two parts. A child can only have DNA that their parents have if that location is a mutation. However, those mutations are few. Thus, you first need to ensure that the child is indeed a biological child of the parents based on the amount of shared cMs between them. Then, yes, the children can have ethnicity results that aren't in common with their parents because the algorithms are comparing your DNA to a reference population. Not all ethnic groups are represented (or represented in significant amounts). I recommend ignoring the ethnicity results and focus on building genetic trees using DNA matches. The ethnicity results are a 'party trick' but the real answer to your heritage comes from building your family tree.

[@winntergraycedesigncreatio9935]

Thank you so much for your video. My mother gave me a saliva sample before she died. 23 and me could not use that sample. I have a blood sample from my mother. Is there any place I can use that to get DNA for ancestry?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

The commercial genetic genealogy companies that I recommend for the purposes of DNA matching do not accept blood samples to my knowledge. There are other companies that seem to take blood samples but they do not provide DNA matching so I don't review, utilize, or recommend them. Someone else might have a different opinion.

[@JozelH-bj5om]

I did my DNA Test with Myheritage but the Problem is, that i ate, chewed gums and drink water within 20minutes. But I shouldnt eat, drink and chew gums within minimum 30minutes. But now however i got my results. Are the results much more repressed? So in Puntdnal i got 7% SW Asia and 3% Horn of Africa as a Kurd. Could both be more or lower? I didnt see the Attention on the Kit 😥

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

If the eating impacted your DNA test, the company would tell you. If they gave you results, you're good. As for the test results. Have you watched this video about reference populations? If not, go there. It should help understand why your percentages might not be what you expected. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZS9pXuripxrpJY Also check out these videos about ethnicity results .kzbin.info/aero/PLcVx-GSCjcdlvwsLScE4NPKwGA-XUNhhM

[@roncapps9876]

Unfortunately, I am the oldest surviving member of my family line with one biological sister. My wife and I have already processed our DNA through Ancestry. The question I have involves what I would gain by supplementing that DNA Result by having my Y-DNA and mtDNA also tested? If I choose to have those tests processed, can they then be exported to other platforms I have shared the Ancestry DNA Data with (eg. My History, Family Search, Geneanet, Geni, etc)? If they can, does it reveal or confirm additional relatives and insights?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Multiple questions to answer: If you're the oldest of your line, taking a Y-DNA or mt-DNA test might not help you at present (or anytime soon), but you could leave your results for future research, particularly if you line your DNA to a documented family tree. Y-DNA and mt-DNA are primarily a FamilyTreeDNA and mito-yDNA platfom test. They aren't accepted by MyHeritage. You can export your Ancestry DNA results to MyHeritage, Living DNA (if you have UK ancestors), Family Tree DNA, and GEDmatch. I would recommend that you transfer your DNA and upload family trees to each platform. Then let other researchers utilize DNA matching to build off what you have made available. I explain the downloading process in this playlist kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4uXp6yBqriLl5Y Geni, FamilySearch, and I believe Geneanet do not accept DNA data. But they do accept family trees. We have videos about how to add your family tree to FamilySearch. They are a collaborative platform and the process can be slow depending on how many persons you're trying to amend or add to the tree. My wife has a beginner's guide to FamilySearch available here kzbin.info/aero/PLcVx-GSCjcdmTQWonBrjNsalbOCH6ZcWx

[@roncapps9876]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics Thanks for the prompt and detailed reply, Andy. I decided to add an autosomal DNA test from LivingDNA, because, I have roots in the UK, and they breakout Y-DNA in their testing of male DNA submissions

[@barbarabedrosian505]

My mother and her siblings are deceased. There are three children; my older and younger brothers and myself. How much percentage would we get for her if we all tested? Thank you, Barb

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Have you seen this video? I think I cover your question there. If not, ask a follow-up question on that video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmTcqYRpa8aqi68

[@cathybonner9437]

I have this predicament. Both my parents are deceased and there's only one paternal uncle left who is 90. I was to find my paternal gt grandfather, did a DNA test years ago but not sure of this man's name. I know who he had a relationship with to make my Grandad but she never married. I don't have contact with my Uncle and neither of his children, my first cousins, are interested in family history. This is my brick wall and I'm sure the answers are in MY DNA results it's just knowing what to look for. I'm in the UK and would appreciate your ideas thank you

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

The best you can do is with what you have available. First, sort out your DNA matches to determine which ones are linkly the paternal grandfather's relationship. Then attempt to figure out how those DNA matches connect to you using descendancy research. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pV7IqIiAjtqUZqc When you run into unknown matches, attempt to contact them to see if they will help you see what their family tree is so you can see how you're related. That's a start. I'm not sure what else to offer because I'm not sure what your DNA reveals.

[@cathybonner9437]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics thank you, something for me to do quietly this weekend. Ancestry already has separated my matches into maternal/paternal/unassigned so I know where to start. I had done a lot of colour coding anyway and can now add some of my unknown matches to my paternal link. Thanks for this, I may come back to you if I get stuck

[@ASimoneau]

So my father and all his siblings are deceased. Other than myself, he has one other child (my sister). Would anyone consider it worth the trouble and expense to get them tested,?

[@spartanchuckles8743]

Might be useful for you. Even if it doesn't end up being that useful for you, it could be useful for others working on family trees

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Test who ever you can. Remember, you're creating records. You can use your sister's DNA in your research. Also, see if you have any living cousins (from father or mother's side). They can be used to triangulate the DNA test results.

[@craigkeller]

I’m so confused

[@LynneFarr]

I wish. I'm an only child and my father was an only child. Both my parents are dead as well as my mother's 4 brothers. Just to ice the cake, only two of the brothers had children and they are also dead. I have some letters from both of my parents and am hoping DNA extraction improves someday.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Yep. You're DNA challneges are real. Devon's father is deceased. He had no siblings. However, he has two cousins who took DNA tests and a distant 2nd cousin. That's the best she could do.

[@fazugenealogy]

Siblings share 35-40% of DNA with each other. Don't forget the chromosomal crossover. It introduces a slight error into the scheme but forms a false worldview in beginners who did not study well at school.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Siblings share around 50% of DNA with each other. Sharing only 35% of DNA with a sibling would be an extreme outlier.

[@fazugenealogy]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics 50% derived from each parent, yes. but this is a completely different 50%. among themselves siblings share exactly 35%-40% of common DNA