testing my mother

[veramiller]

I was wondering whether I should test my mother to get better matches. Will my mother get the same matches as me to confirm my matches come from my maternal line? How much of her matches will be ones that I don't already have?

I wish I could save money by having my mom take the new AncestryDNA test but the results have been worthless for me.

[prairielad]

You have the potential to get better matches with your mother, as well as the fact any shared matches will confirm match should be out of the maternal line.

You only received half your mothers DNA, so she has the potential to get more matches that you dont have.

[MFWare]

If you can afford it and your mother agrees to be tested, then this is a no-brainer. Have her tested. This is what you should expect from her results:

1. The matches that you have in common will be stronger with her. Obviously, her matches are on your maternal side.
2. Your matches that are exclusive to you are on your paternal side.
3. If your father is not available for testing, then you can use your mother's and your genetic profiles to PHASE the profiles on the free GEDmatch.com website. This will provide genetic information about your father.

[mixedkid]

My Mom and Dad's Experience

I tested first, then my dad (84), then my mother (85). My mother only consented to be tested after my father had done so.

Findings from comparisons? I share a good number of cousins with either my mother or my father (getting close to half with each, perhaps). Oftentimes (but not always) the actual amount of DNA shared with cousins is greater for my parents than for me. Sometimes shared segments with cousins are about the same length for my parents and myself.

The most striking difference in the results between my parents and me: The different ethnicities of my parents usually become very distinct, very apparent. My father: French-Canadian/Acadian and Jewish-connected cousins was the first thing I picked up from his results. My mother: southern U.S. colonial population cousins (through her father) and New England colonial cousins (through her mother) -- and these two sets of colonial cousins of my mom appear to be very distinct from one another, overall.

I share a growing number of Norwegian cousins with my dad. I share a growing number of Swedish-Finnish cousins with my mom. Here too, the two sets of cousins of my dad and mom are usually very distinct from one another. When I use the chromosome browser though, I do find a few segment matches between my Swedish-Finnsh cousins (usually Finnish citizens) and my Norwegian cousins -- and I attribute that to the Forest Finn genetic influence on modern Norway.

Overall then, having at least one parent take the test helps one sort out which side of the family your FamilyFinder cousins are originating. There's always the possibility though that both of your parents might be related to a few of your cousins, but through different lines.

[veramiller]

Thanks, everyone. I hope to have her take the test later this year.

[sjadelson]

If you're from an endogamous population, you may find crossover between cousins. I've had my father tested, and about 60% of my suggested 3rd/4th cousins have a LOWER total match with my father. Clearly the extra matching DNA is coming from my mother, incorrectly pushing up the totals for me (incorrect in the sense that the matching algorithm is fooled).

It struck me too late in the process that if both parents are available and willing to be tested, there's no point in getting tested yourself at all. Oh well....

[MFWare]

...

It struck me too late in the process that if both parents are available and willing to be tested, there's no point in getting tested yourself at all. Oh well....

I completely disagree with this conclusion. You are more than the genetic average of your parents. Genetic testing can tell you more than your past genetic influences. It reveals much about what and who you are. If you have children, then your genetic profile will give them a much more accurate picture of their background than will the profiles of their grandparents.