Should you take a DNA test or not? It seems that everyone around you is taking a test and having wonderful results. However, before just jumping in and taking a DNA test, be sure that you have a clear purpose in mind. If you are interested in finding out where your maternal roots lie or whether you’re related to someone else with your surname or perhaps you want to know your ethnic origins. Any of these three or many other reasons for taking a test is essential to choosing the right genetic genealogy test.
Another factor to consider is that you may not find any close results, or perhaps no results at all. It all hinges on one simple fact. Yes, you took a DNA test, but that does not guarantee results – to have a match requires someone else with close or similar DNA results must also take a test.
Blaine Bettinger, in an article in Family Tree Magazine on October 25, 2016 asks if you are ready to take the plunge into genetic genealogy.
In his article he states that, “More genealogists than ever before are turning to DNA testing to explore their family trees. In addition to traditional Y-DNA and mtDNA tests, which examine your paternal and maternal lines, testing companies offer autosomal DNA testing, which lets you explore the rest of your family tree. And third-party sites let you do even more once you have your DNA results in hand.”
His article, “Top Genetic Genealogy Tools” provides links and insight into the companies and resources currently available for genetic genealogy.