DNA Testing Update
Welcome to DNA Testing Update, my blog that keeps you up-to-date with what's new at DNA Testing Adviser. I’ll tell you about…
- New or updated articles on the website
- Significant news from the genealogy and adoption search communities
- DNA testing tips for paternity, genealogy, and adoption search
Most of my posts are deliberately brief. You can read my latest posts below; but you can also have DNA Testing Update delivered directly to your computer.
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Apr 23, 2019
MyHeritage DNA Test Sale Extended to April 28
MyHeritage is the most popular DNA test in Europe and is growing rapidly all over the world. The test is sale-priced at just $59. They have some of the most innovative tools I've seen for figuring out how you and your matches are related. Auto Clusters and The Theory of Family Relativity are powerful. They use cheek swabs for collecting your sample. No spitting required. Order two or more kits during this sale and get free standard shipping. Sale ends 4/28/19.
Continue reading "MyHeritage DNA Test Sale Extended to April 28"
Apr 22, 2019
New Book Tells Another DNA Success Story
"Healing the Family Heart Holes" was just released on Amazon in print and Kindle formats. I have not read this one yet; but I had quite a bit of correspondence with the author and it sounds like a fascinating story.
Apr 20, 2019
Mother's Day Sale on 23andMe Health + Ancestry DNA Test
Now you can find out what your DNA says about your health, traits and ancestry and save $30. My wife and I both found useful and fascinating information from this test. Plus, it includes the best ethnicity breakdown I've found and the second largest database for finding genetic relatives. Sale ends 5/13/19.
Continue reading "Mother's Day Sale on 23andMe Health + Ancestry DNA Test"
Apr 19, 2019
Finding Birth Families with DNA Testing
Today, adoptees can get around sealed birth records and find birth parents or siblings through inexpensive DNA tests. With over 25 million people in these genetic genealogy databases, success rates are soaring.
The chance of getting an initial match to a half first cousin or closer is now about 50%. With some additional research, even more distant matches can often be traced to immediate relatives.
The critical step is to get into all four of the databases that compare your DNA to that of every other tester and give you a list of genetic relatives sorted by how closely related you are. Those tests are AncestryDNA, 23andMe, Family Finder and MyHeritage.
Experts agree that you need to “fish in all the ponds.” That’s because you need to exhaust every possibility of getting the closest possible match. There may be a parent or sibling already tested and waiting to be discovered.
Even if you’re not that lucky, working from a first cousin match is many times easier than working from a bunch of third cousin matches.
Each test has different strengths. Plus, you can download the raw data from your first test to a free site called GEDmatch for even more great tools.
A bonus with each test is an estimated breakdown of your overall ethnicity. You can also use the raw data from any of these tests to see what genetic health issues you may have inherited through inexpensive sites like Promethease.
Any adult adoptee looking for answers about his or her genetic history should definitely take advantage of the current sale prices on these DNA tests.
Use my link to see sale prices with direct links to the recommended testing companies.
DISCLOSURE: Virtually all of the DNA testing companies in this field have affiliate programs. Like most DNA bloggers, I participate in such programs only for those tests that I use and recommend anyway. Using one of my affiliate links will not cost you any extra, but the commissions help me provide news and advice for free.
Apr 19, 2019
AncestryDNA Test Sale-Priced at Just $69
This is the DNA test everyone should start with. You will discover thousands of genetic relatives among the ten million users and get a breakdown of your ethnic ancestry. New, innovative tools like Thrulines make it easier to identify how your matches are related to you.
Apr 18, 2019
DNA Tests Up to 30% Off at Family Tree DNA
Family Finder is now on sale for just $49. This is a great test for genealogists, adoptees, or anyone looking to confirm a close relationship from parent and child all the way out to second cousin. The test includes their MyOrigins ethnicity report and a great set of tools for working with your genetic matches. One of my favorite DNA tests.
The recommended 37-marker Y-DNA test for men is also sale priced at $129. The only full sequence mitochondrial DNA test available anywhere is reduced to just $149.
Continue reading "DNA Tests Up to 30% Off at Family Tree DNA"
Apr 17, 2019
Another Celebrity Adoption. Good or Bad?
Hoda Kotb of the Today show has announced another adoption and her co-costs shed tears of joy. But blogger Lorraine Dusky reminds us that it's not a happy story for everyone.
This is an emotional subject for many. Thoughtful comments are welcome but please be respectful to those with whom you disagree. #Adopton #Hoda
Apr 16, 2019
Summary of DNA Clustering Programs with Links
Programs for clustering your genetic matches from DNA tests are proving both popular and useful. Here's a concise summary by Jim Bartlett of the major options with links to each one.
Continue reading "Summary of DNA Clustering Programs with Links"
Apr 15, 2019
How to Handle a Shocking Secret Revealed by DNA?
For a small percentage of people, DNA tests will reveal a shocking secret about family relationships. This is one such story where decisions had to be made about who to tell and who not to tell. My favorite quote: “The likelihood would be that it would come out in the end anyway, the truth always does.”
Continue reading "How to Handle a Shocking Secret Revealed by DNA?"
Apr 12, 2019
Great Feedback on My RootsTech Ethnicity Session
At RootsTech 2019 I gave a new presentation: "Understanding the Ethnic Ancestry in Your DNA Test." I recently received wonderfully positive feedback from a large sample of the 600 genealogists that saw it. I've added about 25 of their quotes to my Genealogy Speaker web page. If you're involved with picking speakers for any organization, use this link to see what they had to say and learn about my other talks.
Continue reading "Great Feedback on My RootsTech Ethnicity Session"
Apr 11, 2019
Living DNA Test on Sale for Just $59
The Living DNA test is already a good deal at $99. But right now you can save $40. It provides a breakdown of your overall ethnic ancestry AND identifies the haplogroups of your maternal and (for men) paternal ancestry. The ethnicity report does a nice job of breaking U.K. ancestry into 21 sub-regions. They are currently doing sub-regional research in Ireland and Germany. Those of us with Irish or German ancestry will see even more refined ethnicity breakdowns in the future.
In the next few months, we will get the opportunity to compare our DNA with that of others in the database to see genetic relatives. Living DNA is beta testing “Family Networks”—a new DNA-driven matching system and family tree reconstruction method. Sale ends 4/27/19.
Apr 10, 2019
30 Siblings (So Far) United on 23andMe
If your father was a sperm donor, you may have a lot of half siblings. CNN shows a great example of someone raised as an only child who now has a huge new family of siblings.
Apr 09, 2019
Making Your Unknown Parentage Case a Success
If you're a adoptee, donor-conceived, or otherwise looking for an unknown biological parent through DNA testing, this post provides some useful guidelines.
Continue reading "Making Your Unknown Parentage Case a Success"
Apr 08, 2019
Free Webinar Tuesday on MyHeritage AutoClusters
One of the great new tools on MyHeritage is AutoClusters.This is an automatic tool that organizes your DNA Matches into clusters that likely descended from common ancestors. Discover how you can leverage this powerful visual display to learn more about how you and your DNA Matches are related. There is a limit on the number of live viewers. If you get a message that the webinar is full, you'll still be able to view the recording later in the webinar archives until April 15, 2019. #DNA #MyHeritage
Continue reading "Free Webinar Tuesday on MyHeritage AutoClusters"
Apr 07, 2019
Reunion of Two Sisters by DNA Shown on ABC News
I was watching national news on ABC last night and they covered a reunion of two sisters after a MyHeritage DNA test. Click the link and wait for a brief commercial to play. #DNA #MyHeritage
Continue reading "Reunion of Two Sisters by DNA Shown on ABC News"
Apr 05, 2019
MyHeritage DNA Test Sale-Priced at Just $59
MyHeritage has become one of the most important DNA databases for genealogists, adoptees, and others. Their new tools make it easier to identify exactly how you and many of your genetic matches are related. This is also the number one DNA database in Europe. The $59 sale price expires on April 10, 2019. Order two or more kits and get free standard shipping.
Continue reading "MyHeritage DNA Test Sale-Priced at Just $59"
Apr 04, 2019
Full or Half Siblings? How DNA Can Tell
Full siblings (two common parents) and half siblings (one common parent) share different amounts of DNA on an autosomal DNA test. Most of the time, the answer will be clear. But there are borderline cases that require a more careful examination. Blogger Roberta Estes tells you everything you need to know about to settle these close cases.
Apr 03, 2019
Watch Past Sessions from RootsTech
RootsTech has become the largest and most significant genealogy conference in the U.S. This link gives you a place to watch Keynotes and a sampling of educational sessions for the past FIVE YEARS.
Apr 02, 2019
A Fertility Doctor's Secret Exposed by DNA
This is not the first story of its kind, But it's the most detailed. A fertility doctor in Indiana used his own sperm to artificially inseminate many of his patients. If your DNA test uncovers an extraordinary number of half-siblings, this could be the explanation. #DNA #fertility
Continue reading "A Fertility Doctor's Secret Exposed by DNA"
Apr 01, 2019
DNA Test Leads to Sibling Reunion
A grandfather's DNA test, with results uploaded to MyHeritage, led to a reunion of siblings who did not know about each other. A local TV station covered the story. #DNA #MyHeritage
Mar 30, 2019
New Book for Advanced Genetic Genealogists
If you are ready to dig more deeply into genetic genealogy, there is a new book for you. "Advanced Genetic Genealogy" is now available. It includes several articles by experts that I know and respect. NOTE: For some reason, Amazon displays a higher price first. Click the small link below that and choose the lower price from Amazon.
Continue reading "New Book for Advanced Genetic Genealogists"
Mar 29, 2019
Detailed Case Study Using DNA Painter
Every once in a while I am blown away by what a dedicated genealogist can accomplish using autosomal DNA testing and a powerful, third-party tool. Jim Owston is a perfect example. His use of DNA Painter is incredibly detailed. #DNA #Owston #DNAPainter
Mar 28, 2019
Four Elderly Siblings Meet for the First Time
This reunion between siblings – brothers aged 84, 88 and 93 with their 102-year-old sister – took place after DNA testing linked them. Several of the siblings live within minutes of each other and share plenty in common. #DNA
Continue reading "Four Elderly Siblings Meet for the First Time"
Mar 27, 2019
DNA Clusters and DNAGedcom
This blogger reports on his use of three cluster tools that can help you partition your DNA matches into groups with potentially common ancestry. 1. The Leeds Method, 2. Genetic Affairs, and 3. DNAGedcom. He goes into great detail on #3 using matches from AncestryDNA. #DNA #DNAGedcom
Mar 26, 2019
Don't Wait to Do That DNA Test
DNA testing led to Sandra meeting her father after 44 years. He had been looking for her too. Their reunion is described in the text and captured on video. Have Kleenex handy. #DNA
Mar 25, 2019
Secret Coupon Sale at Family Tree DNA
I just left a weekend conference at Family Tree DNA in Houston. They are offering the best discounts of the year on several DNA tests through 3/31/19. But you have to know the coupon codes. I have listed all the sale prices and coupon codes on this page of my website. #DNA #FamilyTreeDNA
Mar 25, 2019
The Best Deal in Genetic Genealogy
If you have tested on AncestryDNA, 23andMe, Family Finder, or Living DNA, you can download the raw data to your computer and upload it for FREE at MyHeritage.
Receiving DNA matches and contacting them is free. For a one-time Unlock Fee of $29, you can access all the other DNA features, including AutoClusters, Chromosome Browser, Ethnicities Map, and the new Theory of Family Relativity. If you decide to get a subscription, you don't need to pay the Unlock Fee. #DNA #MyHeritage
Mar 22, 2019
"Finding Family"in Print, Kindle, and Audiobook
If you have not yet read or listened to my award-winning, personal DNA success story, order it from Amazon. If you have already done that, please take a few minutes to write a review. Fresh reviews help more adoptees discover the breakthrough possibilities of genetic genealogy. #FindingFamily
Continue reading ""Finding Family"in Print, Kindle, and Audiobook"
Mar 21, 2019
Woman Discovers Half Siblings through 23andMe DNA Test
Misleading headline: "Woman discovers shocking family truths after at-home DNA test: "I literally started crying." Truth: It wasn't the test result that led to tears. It was tears of happiness after meeting her biological brother for the first time. Deliberate distortion in an effort to get more clicks is so common.
Continue reading "Woman Discovers Half Siblings through 23andMe DNA Test"
Home › DNA Testing Blogs
LINKS TO THE BEST PRICES ON MY RECOMMENDED DNA TESTS
Family Tree DNA SALE
- Family Finder $49
- Y-DNA 37 $129
- mtDNA $149
AncestryDNA $69 SALE ENDS 4/25/19
23andMe SALE ENDS 5/13/19
- Ancestry $99
- Health + Ancestry $169
MyHeritage $59 SALE ENDS 4/28/19.
Living DNA $59 SALE ENDS 4/27/19
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