Genealogy is a rewarding but time-consuming pursuit. Many people have an interest in learning more about their family origin but are discouraged by the many hours it takes to research their genealogical history themselves. So they turn to professional researchers like me to uncover family tree information going back many generations. I use a wide variety of resources including legal records on birth, marriage and death. I also search military records, passenger manifestos, newspapers, photo archives, and more to provide a thorough family history to my clients. But for genealogy enthusiasts seeking information beyond their family tree—indeed beyond recorded history—the current crop of direct-to-consumer DNA testing services offers some interesting opportunities.
With millions of DNA samples at their disposal—one popular service has a proprietary database of some 15 million collected samples, as well as access to millions more housed in public databases—DNA testing services can offer unparalleled information on your ethnicity and geographical origins. And because they use digitally analyzed and catalogued information, they can do it with remarkable speed! You should note, however, that the lion’s share of DNA data they collect comes from the Western Hemisphere—and more specifically Europe. Some ethnic groups are under-represented in their samples, so if you are of Asian or Native American descent, you may be disappointed in the information you receive. There is also a socio-economic bias inherent in the information they collect, since samples come largely from people who have the disposable income to seek DNA testing in the first place.
Most notably, DNA analysis services provide insights into your biological and health makeup that a family tree genealogist typically doesn’t. If you are interested in learning whether you carry a marker for a specific health risk, DNA services are your best bet. On the other hand, these services are direct in their disclaimers that you should not make health decisions based on the information they provide.
Some DNA services analyze the physical traits associated with various genes, which may be of interest to you. These services can provide you with an estimate of how likely you are to conform to those traits. These traits run the gamut from things you’d readily notice (like a cleft chin or unibrow) to more idiosyncratic traits like an aversion to cilantro or sensitivity to sweetness.
Many DNA services offer updates to their clients, based on new analysis they perform as their sample databases grow. If you buy a subscription for ongoing service (as opposed to ordering a one-time report) your genetic picture can grow clearer and more detailed as time goes on.
With so much information available to you based on a simple saliva test, you may be wondering what DNA testing can’t do. DNA testing is strictly scientific, by definition. DNA testing services don’t provide the backstory so many genealogy enthusiasts hunger for. Did your great-great-grandmother endure a natural disaster like an earthquake or hurricane? Did her town suffer through a cholera epidemic? Was she unusual for being a working woman during her time? What kind of job was she likely to hold in her part of the world? Someone who has a passion for history (like me!) can provide that kind of rich color and more.
While some DNA testing services offer a lot of options—some will even analyze your mixed breed dog’s DNA to determine its purebred origins!—those options are still finite. When you hire me, your report is entirely customizable. Are you a musician interested in finding out whether your ancestors were similarly gifted? I can search orchestra rosters, public notices of concerts in your family’s hometown, and other obscure resources to satisfy your curiosity.
While the information you get from DNA testing services is highly personalized (that’s what DNA provides—a very specific, scientific description that belongs only to you), like most large companies, they rarely provide personal service. I am delighted to take your phone calls, questions and special requests—anything to enrich your experience of your family’s story.