Ordered y-25 test; will it help prove relationship?

[cwimberley]

My grandfather was "raised" in a boys orphanage in Georgia, and he always told my dad he didn't know who his father was, so will a Y-25 DNA test possibly help me find an answer to who I am? I'm not sure if my grandfather had his surname since birth or he took it from someone he lived with in his youth.

Thanks!

[BBA64]

Perhaps go for 67 markers

As an adopted person, I have found the autosomal testing to be of the greatest help, followed by the Y67 test. I have tons of matches at 25 with a genetic distance of 0, but at 67 my closest matches are a GD of 3. Most of the matches for the Y are at a particular surname, but not all (one of my three closest is distinctly different). I'm finding my autosomal matches are helping to bolster the Y findings rather than the other way around.

Good luck with your quest!

[cwimberley]

Thanks!

I ordered the autosomal test as well, but I already placed the order for a Y-25 test; I didn't think to post here before I ordered!

In regards to the autosomal test, what does it show exactly? I read the information on the Family Tree DNA website, but it's still confusing!

Thanks again!

[dna]

I ordered the autosomal test as well, but I already placed the order for a Y-25 test; I didn't think to post here before I ordered!

In regards to the autosomal test, what does it show exactly? I read the information on the Family Tree DNA website, but it's still confusing!

Thanks again!

You can upgrade to Y-DNA67 test directly from your kit page, as soon as you have the kit number and the password. If you encounter problems, phone the FTDNA Customer Service and purchase the upgrade through them.

Also if your father can test, he should have the Family Finder test, and not you. And if he has siblings you may want to ask them to have the Family Finder test too, as that increases the chances of finding a match.

Let me present to you a very brief summary of all the possible testing avenues at Family Tree DNA. FTDNA offers the following choice of tests:

• Family Finder (autosomal),
• FMS (mtDNA, tracing matrilineal relationships only),
• Y DNA STRs & SNPs (tracing patrilineal relationships only),
• additional specialized tests of autosomal STR markers, factoids, and X STR markers.

Autosomal tracing is limited to finding recent relationships. Up to second cousins (or first cousins twice removed) you are probably guaranteed that the relationship would be accurately inferred from the Family Finder results.

mtDNA and Y DNA results allow one to go much, much deeper (centuries), but usually one cannot estimate the level of relationship between two individuals who are matching each other.

What does it mean that one cannot estimate the level of relationship? An example, one of my aunts has sixteen exact mtDNA matches. None of them appears to be related in recent times (300 years+) not only to her, but also to each other. Similarly with Y DNA testing, if your markers are a perfect match with someone, you would not be able to say whether he is your uncle, your first cousin, or your 5th cousin.

W. (Mr.)

P.S.
At this moment it does not appear that you would need mtDNA testing. However, I have included information about mtDNA tests so your have a complete picture.

[lgmayka]

I ordered the autosomal test as well, but I already placed the order for a Y-25 test; I didn't think to post here before I ordered!

IMHO, it is just as well that you first get the results from the test you already ordered. You can then decide whether it is more useful to upgrade to more markers, or to save up for the Big Y whenever another discount sale comes.

[jova99]

worthless

most of these test will be worthless

in 6 months when you get your first results, they will advise you to upgrade and pay more additional SNP tests and then the 111 marker test to get meaningful results.

Stop now before you waste 12 months of waiting on phantom results

[ec1970]

most of these test will be worthless

in 6 months when you get your first results, they will advise you to upgrade and pay more additional SNP tests and then the 111 marker test to get meaningful results.

Stop now before you waste 12 months of waiting on phantom results

Depending on how many males on his paternal line have done a Y-DNA test, it may not be worthless. There are thousands of success stories related to genealogical DNA testing. I myself have confirmed a suspected paternity through Y-DNA testing. I spent $250 or so for a couple of tests. I now know my paternal line, and can see where most of my DNA cousins originated from. I've spent $250 countless times on much more worthless stuff.