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DNA Testing

So, why should you do DNA testing for your genealogy?. You can use old records to learn all you need, right?

No Paper Trail

You should consider DNA testing because everyone's paper trail runs out at some point. You may also find there are many people who share your surname but no one knows exactly how they are related. Especially in more populated areas, doing DNA testing can help identify unique groups of people who share the same surname.

The Lab

To start your testing, you'll have to choose a testing laboratory. What lab should you choose? Choose a lab that deals exclusively in genetic testing of relationships, or what some of us term "genetic genealogy." Family Tree DNA is the largest of these. Consider the price, but know that you will probably pay between $200 and $300.

Educate Yourself

Brush up on your knowledge of genetics and read research papers on the use of y-chromosome testing of males, including the procedure. Contact DNA testing labs and ask them for resources. Go to DNA testing and interpretation lectures. Interact with other people doing DNA testing, exchanging ideas about what genealogists would like to see in reports that they generate through DNA testing.

Privacy

Be aware that only "junk" DNA is being tested. Junk DNA is found in noncoding regions of the cell. They are not running tests on your DNA to find medical problems! Genetic tests that are run to find evidence of inherited medical conditions are performed on coding regions of the cell and are a completely different type of test than the one used for genealogy.