My son and daughter used Ancestry.com. In fact, we are waiting for my son’s results to come back. Just wanted to see what others think about this.
If you or your family ha ever been to the Dr’s office and had blood drawn — then someone had your DNA stored - if not multiple agencies... It’s fact of life of how this nation operates...
It’s the same reason that in 2004-2005 US Troops went all over Iraq and collected blood/DNA samples - to be used to trace back insurgents if their bodies were left on the battle field or blown up in an IED attempt...
Your DNA resides all over the place right now...
I took the DNA test last summer as well. I discovered things I never knew. I knew I had Dutch and English ancestors because my father was born in Holland, and my mother was born in Canada. My DNA test showed I am 59% England, Wales and Northwestern Europe. What I didn't know was that I am 35% Germanic Empire, 2% Sweden, 2% Norway, and 2% Ireland and Scotland.
My family tree had some very interesting hits as well. I never knew that there was Dutch on my mother's side. They settled in New Amsterdam, although that was far earlier than when my father came here in 1912 with his parents and two brothers. And although you can't verify connections once the DNA line ends, I've found a direct line to a Mayflower passenger and signed of the Mayflower Compact. And I've found connections to British aristocracy and royalty, as well as German, Polish and Czech aristocracy connections. I'm still shocked by some of the connections that were made. My father's tree is very short because they were farmers and laborers. My mother's tree is extensive, and the one where all the connections are from. Neither of my parents knew anything about their ancestors. I was born in 1947, and both sets of grandparents were dead by then. My family tree research started back in 1991 after my mother died. I traveled to Canada to try to track down info, and discovered a family history on one line of her family that gave me info on a DAR Patriot, and the British connection. I also hired a genealogist in Holland to try to fine info on my father's side. When I joined Ancestry.com, all the family lines he gave me connected correctly.
Used Ancestry. We discovered my sisters are half-sisters to my older brother and I. Mom started cheating after I was born. A real eye-opener. But I am glad we found out. She has been dead for many years now. Before you do this, ask yourself if you want to know.
I’m glad we did. Answers a lot of questions from when I was a kid in the 50’s and 60’s. When my oldest younger sister found out she was 1/2, my youngest sister did her test.
“”My son and daughter used Ancestry.com. “”
That means your DNA is now out there.
My sister used Ancestry and about 4 months later she get’s a call from an investigator, one month later I get a call from an investigator. Seems my grand father on my mothers side did a little more than just fighting during WWI. Our DNA matched with an individual in Austria and he and I are about the same age.
As far as identification is concerned, there is already enough DNA out there to identify at least 1/2 the population, if not directly then indirectly, by identifying distant relatives and then employing a forensic genealogist. That cat is already out of the bag. I suppose my data could be mined for insurance reasons, but since I am 64 now I am not too worried about that anymore.
Not only did I find out what I was looking for, (he was a high school classmate of my bio mother), but I also discovered a half-sister I never knew existed, who was adopted by another family three years after me. We have since spoken on the phone and hope to meet someday.