How to Interpret Family History and Ancestry DNA Test Results for Beginners: The Geography and History of Your Relatives

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 656 pages
• Published by: ASJA Press April 22, 2004
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0595316840
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0595316847
• Book Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Weighs: 2.1 pounds

Product Description
How many DNA testing companies will show you how to interpret DNA test results for family history or direct you to instructional materials after you have had your DNA tested? Choose a company based on previous customer satisfaction, and whether the company gives you choices of how many markers you want, various ethnic and geographic databases, and surname projects based on DNA-driven genealogy.

Before you select a company to test your DNA, find out how many genetic markers will be tested. For the maternal line, 400 base pairs of sequences are the minimum. For the paternal line (men only) 37 markers are great, but 25 markers also should be useful. Some companies offer a 12-marker test for surname genealogy groups at a special price.

Find out how long the turnaround time is for waiting to receive your results. What is the reputation of the company? Do they have a contract with a university lab or a private lab? Who does the testing and who is the chief geneticist at their laboratory? What research articles, if any, has that scientist written or what research studies on DNA have been performed by the human being in charge of the DNA testing at the laboratory? Who owns the DNA business that contracts with the lab? How involved in genealogy-related DNA projects and databases or services is the owner?

About The Author
Anne Hart, M.A., is a journalist who writes how-to books on DNA-driven genealogy, family history research techniques, ethnology, folkloric traditions, anthropology for history buffs, creative writing techniques, and historical adventure novels.

Reader Reviews
This is without a doubt the worst book I have ever attempted to read. I purchased the book because I recently started a DNA surname study and was looking for tips on how to present and interpret the results. The title of this book gave me the impression that it would cover information I could apply to my study.I was slightly concerned because I couldn't find any reviews and the book wasn't cheap, but it looked like it would supplement the other DNA in Genealogy book I purchased. The book does not actually address the subject of the title. It does contain disorganized, repetitive references to the author's own genealogical studies. It contains numerous copies of e-mails sent by or to the author from authorities in various fields of genealogy or DNA studies. It contains dozens of website addresses relating to the topics she covers (not the topic in the title, though.) Several chapters of the book deal with pharmacogenetics - apparently the study of drug reactions. How does this relate to the title? One chapter is titled "Menopause and beyond alternative resources and information online" Again, how does this relate to the title? Another chapter is titled " How to safely tailor your foods, medicines and cosmetics to your genes" What does this have to do with Interpreting Family History & Ancestry DNA Test Results? (whether for beginners or not.) The impression I get from this book is that the author took every piece of family history, DNA information, or anything related to genes that she knew and tossed it into one 646 page book. (I guess it would be hard to charge this much for a ten page book, which might be all that really addresses the subject of the title of this book.)