Even More Fun with DNA

[J Ross]

As I plan for future tartans ... Segue:

I'm looking for advice from those with experience using FTDNA, AncestryDNA or Geno2.0.

I have a paper trail to my immigrant ancestor from Angus Co., Scotland 1695. I'm not interested in finding 4,000 cousins necessarily and the paper trail has run cold. As I wait for old parish records to added to ScotlandsPeople I thought of purchasing a DNA kit.

Would any of the existing tests be able to help me gain information on whether my line might be a Ross of the Highlands or a Hawkhead Ross? My thinking would be that if I trigger Irish ancestry I might be closer to the Rosses of the O'Beolin line. If I trigger Norman/NE I'm likely closer to the Pitcalie line, 'de Ros'. Most likely I'm somewhere in between like a blacksmith who thought the Surname Ross might bring better business, but it nice to focus on something bigger. Are any of the tests that specific?

Anyone have anything good to say about ScotlandDNA? That might be the most specific about my needs, but people trash it's reputation.

Thanks for reading and any guidance.

Push comes to shove, my oldest female ancestor is a Fraser. Imma snatch up that tartan.

[unixken]

I took the AncestryDNA test about six months ago. Through a claimed 700,000 markers, it tries to match you with other Ancestry.com users who have taken the AncestryDNA test (your "4000 cousins", assuming they are all both ancestry.com users, and AncestryDNA participants), and also highlights what countries/regions typify some of the markers found in your DNA (more of an "ethnic origins" type of report.) But it's not intended to be a substitute for the more bloodline-specific tests such as a mitochondrial or Y-chromosome DNA test would show.

[McElmurry]

Based on discussions on the R-M222 list ScotlandDNA Chromo2 is one of three tests they find useful. The other two are Full Genomes (if you want to be at the forefront) or FTDNA Big Y.

What really helps is an active group based on either surname or SNP. If you release your data to an active project they will slice it and dice it for you.

You might want to wander around this site for a bit.

http://www.anthrogenica.com/forum.php

I have been following the R-M222 discussion for some time now. This is the line named for Niall of the Nine hostages although it now it appears the mutation happened long before Niall came along. A McElmurry cousin tested positive for R-M222 which confirms my McElmurrys are not closely related to the Morrisons of Lewis and Harris.

[J Ross]

Based on discussions on the R-M222 list ScotlandDNA Chromo2 is one of three tests they find useful. The other two are Full Genomes (if you want to be at the forefront) or FTDNA Big Y.

Thanks for the response and the links.

I would assume that Full Genomes test would be very useful considering the cost.

I'm also excited to hear something positive about Scotland DNA.

By 'Big Y' on FTDNA did you mean the Y test that tracks 111 markers?

[McElmurry]

Thanks for the response and the links.

I would assume that Full Genomes test would be very useful considering the cost.

I'm also excited to hear something positive about Scotland DNA.

By 'Big Y' on FTDNA did you mean the Y test that tracks 111 markers?

No. The 111 marker test if for STRs. The Big Y tests SNPs.

https://www.familytreedna.com/learn/...testing/big-y/

For years the industry focused on short tandem repeats or STRs and comparing how closely your STRs match someone else's. It very much follows the scientific method. Use STRs to predict a connection (thesis) and then perform a test (SNP) design specifically for that one connection. The industry has progressed steadily for many years using this method.

Recently folks have started testing for very large numbers of SNPs. This is more like space exploration...go where no man has gone before. Many personal SNPs are being discovered and it will be many years before the connections are all worked out.

I got tested by 23andme for $99. The ancestry testing is not very deep but it would place you in a Haplogroup. For instance I am R1b-L21 so I follow what is happening in that group and what tests they are using to subdivide the group.

The M-222 group tends to recommend Chromo2 raw for starters. The raw is just raw data and you would need to upload it to a group to have it analyzed. It might work well for you since it is focused on differentiating folks from the isles. They also love folks to get the 111 marker test because there are a lot of people with STRs and no SNPs. People who test for both provide a link to the heaps of folks with only STR data.

You could start by looking through the Ross project to see if there is anyone you recognize. It might give you a hint to you Haplogroup.

Here is a link https://www.familytreedna.com/public...ion=ycolorized

[J Ross]

You could start by looking through the Ross project to see if there is anyone you recognize. It might give you a hint to you Haplogroup.

I just wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you for the information you've provided. It has really helped me analyze what I want to do and at what scale. Truly generous of you to post.