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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2021 4:22:14 GMT
I'm wondering how many members here have investigated their heritage through Ancestry or one of the other companies that use DNA to investigate your heritage. I had never considered it, but a few months ago, I found myself involved in a personal situation which led to me becoming involved.
In late September, I was contacted through Facebook by a fellow from Washington state. His wife, who was adopted in 1978 in Ganges, Salt Spring island, just a few miles from here, had spent many years trying to find out who her birth family was. He told me that his wife had done the Ancestry DNA analysis and when her results came back, it turned out that she was a close DNA match to one of my grand-daughters. They corresponded, and based on the time his wife, Grace, was adopted, I was a likely candidate to have been his wife's birth-father. He offered me the option of contact, but was prepared to give me privacy if I wished. I communicated with Grace and over the next couple of months, we became close and I began to consider her as my daughter. Eventually, I decided to have my DNA analyzed by Ancestry. The results came back to me just before Christmas, and were surprising.
What the DNA shows is that I'm not biologically related to Grace, my new-found daughter, or to my grand-daughter (the younger of two kids born to my daughter from my first marriage). It makes little difference to me.....I regard Tanya, my daughter from my first marriage and her two daughters as my family, and I love them whether we're biologically related or not. And, I had told Grace, my new-found daughter from Washington state, that whether DNA linked us, I will continue to think of her as my daughter, because she's a half-sister to my daughter Tanya. More recently, I bought Tanya a DNA analysis kit from Ancestry, and she'll be tested to confirm what we know so far.
I guess, if there's something to draw from this experience, it's that doing the Ancestry DNA analysis may bring out things about your family that are totally unexpected. It's up to you whether you want to open that can of worms, and it's a very personal choice how you decide to deal what comes out of it. I have no regrets, and in my case, it won't negatively impact my relationship with the people I regard as family. If anything, it's been beneficial in the sense that I've grown to regard Grace, her husband, and her two children as a new part of my family, so it's enriched my life.
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Post by johnreardon on Jan 12, 2021 9:21:28 GMT
While I like finding out as much about my family as possible, a 'can of worms' is always just around the corner. Finding out my older sister was born only a few months after my parents were married, was a surprise. These days it's quite normal, but in the 40s when she was born, it would have been shocking. I've never had one of those DNA tests and thinking what I got up to in the 60s, I don't think I ever will Back in 2015, we played a festival in Caerleon, which is that place with the Amphitheatre. While we were setting up, i noticed this lady of about my age, walking across to me and calling my name. She had a younger man with her. I first thought who's this and then it clicked I had gone out with her for a while. Anyway, she started talking 'Let me introduce you to ...' I nearly had a heart attack when she finished 'my nephew' It is great what you can find out though. Our old bass player, who was also my best man, was adopted when he was only a few months old. His adopted parents told him when he was in his teens and he was fine about it. After his adopted parents had passed away, he tried to find his real mother & father. Surprisingly he did manage to locate his mother who was still alive. She agreed to meet him and explained that his father was a US airman who had been stationed in the UK just after the war. His mother gave him some info but died not long afterwards. To cut a long story short, he also tracked his US father to find out he has a step brother and large family living in Illinois. Both were unaware of each other. He has since visited them a few times and they were planning to come here last year until the virus.
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Post by Die Bullen on Jan 12, 2021 13:18:33 GMT
I never did a DNA test. I've thought about it many times as it would be interesting to have an idea of where my forebears were from.
My wife, on the other hand, is kind of scared of the test because once "they" have this data about you it never goes away. It is a valid concern on her part, and I haven't felt strongly enough to go and take the test.
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Post by Bill h on Jan 13, 2021 2:22:27 GMT
I never did a DNA test. I've thought about it many times as it would be interesting to have an idea of where my forebears were from. My wife, on the other hand, is kind of scared of the test because once "they" have this data about you it never goes away. It is a valid concern on her part, and I haven't felt strongly enough to go and take the test. I’ve never done a dna test, never really crossed my mind to be honest. The data being in the system really doesn’t bother me, I’m just not that interested.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2021 3:57:57 GMT
Ancestry DNA gives you the option of withdrawing your DNA from the system, so your personal exposure is limited. However, if you're a felon with fears of being identified, I can understand your reluctance to have had your DNA on file, even temporarily. From my perspective, there are basically two issues - whether you think your DNA might turn up skeletons in your closet, such as a relative who might have illegitimate children that exposes a family members indiscretions earlier in life, or whether DNA might disclose a family heritage that contradicts your impression of where your family might have originated from. I had a friend who discovered that his mother's brother had spawned several illegitimate children and that there was a whole new branch of the family that no one knew about, and another friend who discovered he had a Jewish heritage that wasn't previously known that conflicted with his traditionally Catholic religious values. I don't feel any compunctions about opening my life to inspection by anyone, whether from a criminal, moral, religious, or family values standpoint, and the DNA analysis has been more of a positive thing for me. Your experience may be differ.
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Post by zontar on Jan 13, 2021 4:37:44 GMT
I’ve never had a DNA test I don’t have any doubts who I am descended from I look too much like Dad and his Dad, etc
I do know a woman who had one done & found out the man who raised her is not her biological father He’s long since passed She knew she was conceived before her mother married him But the guy she went out with before him was the biological father
She knew him & his family growing up & has had fun with her newly found siblings
Anyone who knows what actually happened is long gone But she is not worried It happened a long time ago And she has good memories of all of it So it is a story to tell
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Post by Die Bullen on Jan 13, 2021 12:46:24 GMT
Ancestry DNA gives you the option of withdrawing your DNA from the system, so your personal exposure is limited. However, if you're a felon with fears of being identified, I can understand your reluctance to have had your DNA on file, even temporarily. From my perspective, there are basically two issues - whether you think your DNA might turn up skeletons in your closet, such as a relative who might have illegitimate children that exposes a family members indiscretions earlier in life, or whether DNA might disclose a family heritage that contradicts your impression of where your family might have originated from. I had a friend who discovered that his mother's brother had spawned several illegitimate children and that there was a whole new branch of the family that no one knew about, and another friend who discovered he had a Jewish heritage that wasn't previously known that conflicted with his traditionally Catholic religious values. I don't feel any compunctions about opening my life to inspection by anyone, whether from a criminal, moral, religious, or family values standpoint, and the DNA analysis has been more of a positive thing for me. Your experience may be differ. I'd hardly be crestfallen if I found out my ancestors came from somewhere unexpected- truth is, the further you go back in generations, the more likely that you'll turn up links to different groups. As far as a Catholic turning up some links to Judiasm goes, I see absolutely no reason why you couldn't have x% Jewish blood and not be Catholic in every way. Heck, considering Spain was owned by a Muslim Caliphate for hundreds of years, do you honestly think that nobody from Spain has some Muslim blood? Very unlikely.
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Post by johnreardon on Jan 13, 2021 13:08:40 GMT
Ancestry DNA gives you the option of withdrawing your DNA from the system, so your personal exposure is limited. However, if you're a felon with fears of being identified, I can understand your reluctance to have had your DNA on file, even temporarily. From my perspective, there are basically two issues - whether you think your DNA might turn up skeletons in your closet, such as a relative who might have illegitimate children that exposes a family members indiscretions earlier in life, or whether DNA might disclose a family heritage that contradicts your impression of where your family might have originated from. I had a friend who discovered that his mother's brother had spawned several illegitimate children and that there was a whole new branch of the family that no one knew about, and another friend who discovered he had a Jewish heritage that wasn't previously known that conflicted with his traditionally Catholic religious values. I don't feel any compunctions about opening my life to inspection by anyone, whether from a criminal, moral, religious, or family values standpoint, and the DNA analysis has been more of a positive thing for me. Your experience may be differ. I'd hardly be crestfallen if I found out my ancestors came from somewhere unexpected- truth is, the further you go back in generations, the more likely that you'll turn up links to different groups. As far as a Catholic turning up some links to Judiasm goes, I see absolutely no reason why you couldn't have x% Jewish blood and not be Catholic in every way. Heck, considering Spain was owned by a Muslim Caliphate for hundreds of years, do you honestly think that nobody from Spain has some Muslim blood? Very unlikely. Me too. Couldn't care less where mine came from and as far as religion goes, my limit there was to say 'C of E' when asked by the RAF. They wanted your religion in case you were killed. I'm a definite non-believer.
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Post by Die Bullen on Jan 13, 2021 13:28:21 GMT
I'd hardly be crestfallen if I found out my ancestors came from somewhere unexpected- truth is, the further you go back in generations, the more likely that you'll turn up links to different groups. As far as a Catholic turning up some links to Judiasm goes, I see absolutely no reason why you couldn't have x% Jewish blood and not be Catholic in every way. Heck, considering Spain was owned by a Muslim Caliphate for hundreds of years, do you honestly think that nobody from Spain has some Muslim blood? Very unlikely. Me too. Couldn't care less where mine came from and as far as religion goes, my limit there was to say 'C of E' when asked by the RAF. They wanted your religion in case you were killed. I'm a definite non-believer. You don't need a DNA test. WALES
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Post by johnreardon on Jan 13, 2021 14:17:37 GMT
Me too. Couldn't care less where mine came from and as far as religion goes, my limit there was to say 'C of E' when asked by the RAF. They wanted your religion in case you were killed. I'm a definite non-believer. You don't need a DNA test. WALES Actually Southern Irish as well as
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Post by Die Bullen on Jan 13, 2021 14:25:45 GMT
You don't need a DNA test. WALES Actually Southern Irish as well as
well depending on where, they are only 50-75 miles apart as the crow flies!
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Post by johnreardon on Jan 13, 2021 14:29:42 GMT
Actually Southern Irish as well as
well depending on where, they are only 50-75 miles apart as the crow flies! And the rest. From my hometown, Newport to Cork it's at least 305 miles. Over 8.5 hours including the ferry. Even if I went from West Wales, it would still be over 200 miles
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Post by Die Bullen on Jan 13, 2021 18:26:56 GMT
Now another question I have for you guys who have/ would take DNA tests- would you get the DNA test with HEALTH information connected?
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Post by Sinster on Jan 13, 2021 19:06:30 GMT
I want to do the DNA test, but I'm a cheap bastard. If I was to get the DNA it would be with the health. I will wait until they go on sale, but the fucked up part is that they require a subscription fee to view your results after 30 days.
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Post by Die Bullen on Jan 14, 2021 1:54:27 GMT
I want to do the DNA test, but I'm a cheap bastard. If I was to get the DNA it would be with the health. I will wait until they go on sale, but the fucked up part is that they require a subscription fee to view your results after 30 days. I had no idea about the subscription fee after 30 days. We'll see if I have it done at some point
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2021 2:33:17 GMT
One of the things I should mention is that Ancestry charges top pricing for what they sell. In both cases, when I bought my DNA kit, and when I bought my oldest daughter's DNA test kit, it was significantly cheaper to buy the kits on Amazon.
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Post by Bill h on Jan 14, 2021 2:43:42 GMT
Now another question I have for you guys who have/ would take DNA tests- would you get the DNA test with HEALTH information connected? Hmmmmmm, don’t know, I’m not sure what “health” info can come from a dna test. I’d have to do some research on that.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2021 3:11:44 GMT
I just did a bit of reading about it. First of all, the Ancestry DNA Health analysis isn't legal in every state...For example, it's not legal in New Jersey. Secondly, what the test can tell you is mostly if you have a genetic predisposition to certain health problems, but not if you're definitely going to develop a specific illness. You could probably surmise the same information by knowing your extended family's health issues, such as does breast cancer, prostate problems, or diabetes run in your family. I don't see myself every spending the extra dough to add the Health analysis to my DNA test.
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Post by johnreardon on Jan 14, 2021 10:13:30 GMT
Now another question I have for you guys who have/ would take DNA tests- would you get the DNA test with HEALTH information connected? Never had one, but not sure about the health info. If you had something curable, then great, but if it's terminal, I don't think I would want to know
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Post by Die Bullen on Jan 14, 2021 12:36:15 GMT
Now another question I have for you guys who have/ would take DNA tests- would you get the DNA test with HEALTH information connected? Never had one, but not sure about the health info. If you had something curable, then great, but if it's terminal, I don't think I would want to know As SC said above it is more of an indication as to what diseases you would be susceptible to based on heredity. It's kind of a cool feature but I always wondered if it would make people nervous about everything. I mean, how would you feel if you knew there was a straight line coming down the male side of the family, skipping no generations that basically indicating there was a near 100% chance you'd get Alzheimer's?
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Post by johnreardon on Jan 14, 2021 13:45:53 GMT
Never had one, but not sure about the health info. If you had something curable, then great, but if it's terminal, I don't think I would want to know As SC said above it is more of an indication as to what diseases you would be susceptible to based on heredity. It's kind of a cool feature but I always wondered if it would make people nervous about everything. I mean, how would you feel if you knew there was a straight line coming down the male side of the family, skipping no generations that basically indicating there was a near 100% chance you'd get Alzheimer's? I agree there are somethings that you may want to know, but still not sure.
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Post by Die Bullen on Jan 14, 2021 14:34:49 GMT
As SC said above it is more of an indication as to what diseases you would be susceptible to based on heredity. It's kind of a cool feature but I always wondered if it would make people nervous about everything. I mean, how would you feel if you knew there was a straight line coming down the male side of the family, skipping no generations that basically indicating there was a near 100% chance you'd get Alzheimer's? I agree there are somethings that you may want to know, but still not sure. I'm on the fence there too. Some things you might NOT want to know, but can you prepare for some better if you do know?
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Post by johnreardon on Jan 14, 2021 14:47:15 GMT
I agree there are somethings that you may want to know, but still not sure. I'm on the fence there too. Some things you might NOT want to know, but can you prepare for some better if you do know? As many have said, none of us are getting out of here alive, so it's probably best if people can at least try and plan ahead.
My younger brother died suddenly back in 1980, aged just 32. He had pancreatitis and Docs told me afterwards, that they wouldn't have been able to do anything even if the had known years before. It was tragic and yes I miss him a lot, but I'm glad he went suddenly rather than us all knowing about it and waiting for him to go. Not sure DNA would have shown that up anyway.
As I intimated, all we can do is live the future as if every day is your last
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Post by Die Bullen on Jan 14, 2021 15:15:07 GMT
I'm on the fence there too. Some things you might NOT want to know, but can you prepare for some better if you do know?
As I intimated, all we can do is live the future as if every day is your last
...And let's hope that last day is far off in the future
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Post by zontar on Jan 14, 2021 17:15:26 GMT
There are many diseases and health conditions that could have a genetic component to them But you might not ever get it Even if you are predisposed to it
But some people like to know
Some take it as it comes
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2021 3:10:56 GMT
I delivered a new DNA kit to my oldest daughter today for her to do her test and send it off. It'll take seven or eight weeks to come back, but before too long, I'll have a much better idea what my relationship is to my girls.
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Post by Die Bullen on Jan 15, 2021 12:56:33 GMT
I delivered a new DNA kit to my oldest daughter today for her to do her test and send it off. It'll take seven or eight weeks to come back, but before too long, I'll have a much better idea what my relationship is to my girls. You are the DNA Test Man!
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Post by Sinster on Dec 6, 2021 15:22:18 GMT
Did the test got results.. I'm from Royalty My DNA matches Niall of the Nine Hostages on my father side.. My mother side share DNA Ötzi. From what I gather he was a man whore and so a lot of people are descendants of him. Not sure how to take this one. I have more Neanderthal DNA than 86% of other customers of 23andMe.
EDIT: Just finished reading the Wiki and it's a lie about Nial ;( Ez come, Ez go :
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Post by Die Bullen on Dec 6, 2021 22:27:27 GMT
Did the test got results.. I'm from Royalty My DNA matches Niall of the Nine Hostages on my father side.. My mother side share DNA Ötzi. From what I gather he was a man whore and so a lot of people are descendants of him. Not sure how to take this one. I have more Neanderthal DNA than 86% of other customers of 23andMe.
EDIT: Just finished reading the Wiki and it's a lie about Nial ;( Ez come, Ez go :
My brother did the test and shared his results with me so I can assume the DNA ancestry would be the same. He came out roughly 51% German/ French and 41% British isles. Generally 95% was northwestern European. The only surprise was 3% Italian- as far as I know we had no ancesters from Italy. He had more Neanderthal DNA than 81% of the population. Like I said, I'd assume my results would be the same since I'm not adopted
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Post by Sinster on Dec 7, 2021 2:37:16 GMT
Did the test got results.. I'm from Royalty My DNA matches Niall of the Nine Hostages on my father side.. My mother side share DNA Ötzi. From what I gather he was a man whore and so a lot of people are descendants of him. Not sure how to take this one. I have more Neanderthal DNA than 86% of other customers of 23andMe.
EDIT: Just finished reading the Wiki and it's a lie about Nial ;( Ez come, Ez go :
My brother did the test and shared his results with me so I can assume the DNA ancestry would be the same. He came out roughly 51% German/ French and 41% British isles. Generally 95% was northwestern European. The only surprise was 3% Italian- as far as I know we had no ancesters from Italy. He had more Neanderthal DNA than 81% of the population. Like I said, I'd assume my results would be the same since I'm not adopted A DNA doesn't distribute evenly among offspring. It would be close, but not the exact same.
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