Family history is usually full of blank spaces- missing family members, unknown origins or family relationships that have not been recorded. Conventional records, such as birth certificates and family trees, reveal only the tip of the iceberg to many individuals. It is in this field that ancestry DNA testing comes into play. DNA testing provides a scientific means to discover your own origin and discover new links between generations that might have been lost in the process by analyzing genetic information. Labs like Face DNA assist people to transcend the documents to give the genetic data that sheds light on family backgrounds and ancestry.

What is the role of DNA testing in determining the unknown or lost parents?

The principle of ancestry DNA testing is the analysis of certain markers in your DNA and its comparison with millions of profiles in the world databases. This DNA ancestry analysis helps identify genetic similarities and possible family connections across generations. When an individual has a similar DNA sequence to you, then this implies that you share a common ancestor somewhere in the family tree. Such matches have the potential of revealing relatives that you did not know about, like distant cousins or branches that became misplaced due to adoption, migration, or family conflicts. Labs such as Face DNA can offer in-depth reports that assist the user in comprehending genetic links as well as regional background, and it is therefore easier to assemble missing family ties not visible in conventional records.

Which kinds of DNA tests are the most useful in the study of ancestry?

Family research in the form of ancestry DNA testing has three predominant types. The most popular one is the autosomal DNA test, as the DNA of both parents is tested, and it can be used to trace family members of more than 2 generations. Y-DNA tests are used to follow the direct paternity line and can be useful in a surname study, whereas mitochondrial (mtDNA) tests track the maternal line of a succession of women. Face DNA is mainly specialized in the autosomal testing, where one can get the most insight on the subject when he/she intends to research to know about his/her ancestry and unknown relatives.

 

To what extent can DNA testing possibly prove family lines?

Depending on the form of test and matches available, DNA testing can be used to trace close family relationships within the last 5-7 generations reliably. The autosomal ancestry DNA test is most effective in examining recent ancestry, usually to 200-300 years. Y-DNA and mtDNA tests are able to trace a single family line back a long way, hundreds and even thousands of years, although with less personal information. Although not a full family tree, DNA will provide strong genetic evidence to confirm the ancestry and origins of ancestors and migration patterns.

Will a match of the DNA help show a relationship to otherwise unrecorded ancestors?

Yes, DNA matches can prove particularly useful in the absence or partiality of written records. Lack of documentation among many families is a result of adoption, immigration, changing of names, or loss of historical records. Through ancestry DNA testing, people are able to develop a relationship based on DNA and not paperwork. Labs such as Face DNA can be used to reveal the family tree relationship of an individual that a family tree would not show, due to similarities in the relatives of the person and the similarities of the geographical area of the individual. In the case when traditional records are not available anymore, the DNA evidence can serve as a connector that will allow people to associate themselves with their origins.

Conclusion

The DNA testing of ancestry has revolutionized the exploration of family history, and individuals are now able to reconnect with their lost family members and identify family connections that seemed to be forgotten. Although DNA testing cannot be used to resolve all questions, it can be a great source of genetic data, which can be used to supplement other research techniques. Since the discovery of relatives who are not known, Face DNA can provide good instruments to assist people in knowing more about their origin and migration routes. To a person in need of the missing details of his/her family history, DNA testing may serve as a significant initial step towards reuniting with the past.

Resource:

https://facednatest.com/services/ancestry-lab-testing/