Genealogy and DNA - my first attempts at using a DNA testing kit

For years I’ve been following the practice of sampling DNA as it relates to one’s own genealogy and family history.  I’ve read many stories of how some who were absolutely certain their family came from a certain ethnic group found out that such was not the case.  And I’ve also watched the African American Lives series hosted by Henry Louis Gates on PBS which has used DNA to trace the ancestry of the show’s celebrity participants.

So I decided to take the plunge. One part of the process is to ask: why do I want to do this? And do I really want to receive DNA results that might turn years of genealogy research upside down instead of reveal further insights?

My main  motivation is to have the DNA data available which could resolve a surname issue along my paternal line: it appears that instead of MacEntee my ancestral name might be McEntee.  As with many families, stories bordering on “urban legend” have cropped up stating that my great-great grandfather changed the name in order to find work or that one brother had a fight with the other over religion, became a Protestant and added the “a” to McEntee.  Instead of relying upon family tales, I’d rather rely upon family DNA results.

The Kit

I received a 17 Marker DNA Kit, intended to test only paternal lines, from familybuilder which appears to be very reasonably priced at $59.95 and tests 17 DNA markers which are unique to me.  As the website states, after making the online purchase you receive the kit, take a DNA sample with the provided swab, sign a consent form and mail back the swab in a postage-paid shipper and then wait four weeks for your results.

With the results, you will also receive an Ancestor Migration Map, the DNA marker results and information about your haplogroup.

One you place your order, you will receive an email with your username and password for the Familybuilder website.  You will also receive another email once the kit is shipped.  It is important to hold on to these login credentials since you will receive the DNA test results by logging back on to the familybuilder website.

The Components

The kit arrived in my mailbox and the instructions for opening and accessing the components were pretty straightforward.

 The kit is small enough to be placed in a residential mailbox and it is clearly marked as being a DNA kit.

 Once the flap with your address and the postage is removed, the box is intended to be reused to ship back the swab and consent forms.  The box is also marked with pre-paid postage.

 There are clear instructions on the box including a Return Checklist which helps verify that you’ve not only taken the DNA sample but that you’ve also completed the necessary consent forms.

The swab is enclosed in its own sealed plastic bag which is easy to open and access.  One item that I felt was missing: instructions on exactly how to take the DNA sample.  I even went to the familybuilder website to look for instructions to no avail.  My concerns were: whether or not I could eat or drink immediately before taking the sample; whether I should brush my teeth or use a mouth wash before taking the sample; and do I use the swab to scrape the inside cheek or the tongue and how long do I need to do this?

Since I’ve seen and read enough about DNA testing, I knew to simply take the swab, scrape the inside cheek, close the cap on the swab and place it in the envelope provided.

The consent forms were fairly straightforward and in easy-to-read English.  There is an optional consent portion which allows you to be contacted by others who’ve also been tested by familybuilder  if you share some of the same DNA markers.  You can provide some information such as e-mail address or more information such as telephone number and address.

You are required to note on the form the origins of your father’s ancestry and your mother’s ancestry.  My paternal line is easy since it is Ireland (in fact it is known to be County Monaghan in Ireland).  For my material line I wrote down Germany since that is the ancestry of the females on my mother’s side.

Next, I followed the instructions for placing the swab and the consent forms in the return mailer and sealing it.  Now it’s off to the post office!

My Take So Far

Here is what I’ve learned as well as my opinion about the familybuilder kit and process up to this point in the process:

- the pricing is great compared to some of the other big name genealogy websites and the kits currently being offered.  Understand that this kit only tests for 17 markers and many genealogists prefer to use the tests with up to 45 markers which can give more accuracy.  I think for a first-time user, the 17 marker kit should suffice and $59 is a great price.

- there should be some instructions on how to use the swab.  I guess for someone like me who has written technical documentation and looks at everything from a “step-by-step” perspective, I wanted to make sure I was taking the sample correctly.  A brief description of the process either in the kit or on the website should be provided

- the kit itself was not complicated to open or to repackage for return.  The consent forms were clear and easy to understand.

The Waiting Part

I will have to wait up to four weeks to receive the results of the DNA test and I should be notified via e-mail.  Once notified I will need to use my credentials to log back on to the familybuilder website.

I will have Part Two of this series of posts in about a month’s time to disclose the results and to let you know what I’ve learned from the data and the process.

Disclosure: familybuilder sent me their YDNA kit at no charge for purposes of reviewing the process of taking a DNA sample, using a DNA kit for genealogy purposes, and to receive and interpret results.  I am disclosing this as a matter of transparency and honesty of my opinion.  My intent is to give a good review (meaning a well-researched and written review) not necessarily a favorable review of all products I receive gratis.