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I have been considering going through the ancestry.com DNA profile for family tree testing. I’ve been researching my family tree there for years. Do you consider it worth it? As a female, my expense would be double since I would have to not only have my mitrochrondrial DNA tested, but also have my father’s DNA tested. With gas as it is, it is cutting into our ‘extra’ fund and my husband thinks it is a silly waste of time and money. After all, what knowledge could be gained other than just ‘knowing’. I tried to explain if enough people are on this list, it might could help in marrow donations or something like that. He doesn’t know and I don’t either.

Thanks for you information. I figure with a ping list, you might know a little something about it.

> I tried to explain if enough people are on this list, it might could help in marrow donations or something like that. He doesn’t know and I don’t either.

I don’t know about DNA being useful for unrelated bone marrow donations, but I would encourage you and your husband to volunteer for the unrelated bone marrow donation list anyway.

It is usually tested in two steps: the first set of tests are relatively easy and inexpensive for the health services to do. And they provide enough info for them to screen “close matches”.

The second set of tests they do is quite a bit more expensive for them, so they only tend to do it when they have found a close match. They will be looking for some very precise attributes in the sample.

Only if you are a close enough match from both lot of tests will you be called upon to donate, which usually requires an overnight stay in hospital, plus a fairly safe procedure under general anesthetic. All costs are usually picked up for the donor.

You can pull out of donating anytime; however, they prefer you not to beyond a go-nogo point, as your recipient will undergo chemotherapy to kill off all his/her existing diseased marrow. Beyond that point it is too late for them if you do pull out: they will die without your donation.

Once donated, your marrow is given to the recipient by way of ordinary IV drip, where it magically finds its way to the long bones and regenerates.

Anyrate, that’s just a short plug for a thoroughly worthwhile cause. If enough people registered, leukemia and other marrow diseases would be much easier and cheaper to treat, with a much higher survival rate than presently possible.

(Yes, I’m registered.)

I used Family Tree DNA about six months ago and have no complaints. I opted for a 25 marker test (options were 12, 25 and 37 at the time) and because I was able to join an existing surname project, the price was reduced to $150 IIRC.

Is it worth the money? Depends if you have it to spend and also what your goals are. Personally, after paying for my kids' college, spending $150 was nothing.

Why DNA? I was in the middle of a genealogy project and while I did discover who my GG-grandparents were who emigrated from Ireland, I don't think I'm going to be able to trace them back to their original town or village. So, ultimately, my goal is to find a living relative in Ireland.

Interesting side note: the DNA test produced an exact 25 marker match with another guy who lives in Texas. We do not have the same surname and my family has no known connection to Texas. Very interesting...

I would recommend FamilyTreeDna.com They have a huge database and make it easy to compare your results. I've had 3 different lines tested with our Ydna. Two out of the three have really made break throughs for our genealogy. We had an illegitimacy on one and it brought us into a completely new family from the 1800's. Really amazing!

And...if you do it, I would recommend joining a surname group first and doing at least a 25 or 37 marker test. The 12 marker won't show you much of anything unless you have a very unusual surname. With one of our surnames we have over 600 matches on the 12 marker. Doesn't tell us much at all, but the 37 really narrowed it down. We're even upgrading to a 67 now.

I love genealogy DNA!