How to proceed when the DNA results aren't what you expected?
My parents and I took DNA tests. Through the "matches" it doesn't seem like my paternal grandfather is really my dad's father. My dad swears ancestry "messed up", so my mom and I took a 23 and me test - and the results were the same. So the trees I have built aren't really accurate, and I don't know how to proceed! I have contacted some of the matches (two were closer relatives to my father than his grandchildren), but have only gotten minimal response. It does seem that my real grandfather died several years ago. I am not looking to stir up any trouble, but this has opened a world of questions. Any guidance would be appreciated!
Answers
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Does your father have any siblings that could take the test?
What are the cM's of your dad's closest matches?
maybe try DNA Painter to see what the possibilities could be
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I am afraid he is an only child. The "surprise" relative matches: 1,916 cM, and the other is 1,885 cM I am not familar with DNA painter. Something new to discover! Thank you so much!
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Depending their age they could be half siblings
Did your grandfather take the DNA test ?
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As Lynda answered above Blain Bettinger's Shared cM Project is a great place to go to (free) you just plug in the number or percentage and up comes a list of probabilities. Filter
Enter the total number of cM for your match here:
Then any relationships that fit will stand out below
Click here for a shareable link to the cM amount above
Most distant common ancestors
Assuming no pedigree collapse or endogamy, and that you're related in just one way, the furthest back you might need to go to find common ancestors for a match of 1885cM is Grandparent level.
The connection may be closer. Also, depending on your family, this match could be a close younger generation relative, such as the descendant of your sibling.
Relationship probabilities (based on stats from The DNA Geek)
- 100%
- Grandparent Aunt / Uncle Half Sibling Niece / Nephew Grandchild
- ~ 0%
- ** Sibling
- ** this set of relationships is just within the threshold for 1885cM, but has a zero probability in thednageek's table of probabilities
Putting in the 1916 here are the results.reset
Then any relationships that fit will stand out below
Click here for a shareable link to the cM amount above
Most distant common ancestors
Assuming no pedigree collapse or endogamy, and that you're related in just one way, the furthest back you might need to go to find common ancestors for a match of 1916cM is Grandparent level.
The connection may be closer. Also, depending on your family, this match could be a close younger generation relative, such as the descendant of your sibling.
Relationship probabilities (based on stats from The DNA Geek)
- 100%
- Grandparent Aunt / Uncle Half Sibling Niece / Nephew Grandchild
- ~ 0%
- ** Sibling
- ** this set of relationships is just within the threshold for 1916cM, but has a zero probability in thednageek's table of probabilities
If your father is willing and you had the funds, you could consider Y-DNA testing.
Blaine T. Bettinger's book The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy Aug 13, 2019
by Blaine T. Bettinger is a good starting point in understanding DNA testing. Much less expensive than the Y-DNA test and you will gain so much knowledge. Saw a price of $12.18 this morning on E Bay.
Don't be discouraged by the lack of response from Matches. This is new information for them and they may be just as surprised as you and your family. Give them time to adjust to the information. I have been in the same situation, waiting for three years to have some of my DNA Matches acknowledge that indeed we are related. Good Luck.
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Thanks Lynda - both my paternal grandparents died in the early 1960s. I am leaning toward the "half-brother" theory.
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Thank you Rosemarie! From the little bit I have been able to surmise, it seems like the higher match would be my father's aunt, and the other his half brother. I do not think my father will take any more tests - these results have become something only my sisters and I discuss!
I will look into that book - thank you!
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You now build trees for your matches. You will probably find other names that you haven't looked at. But, you need to connect these people to your tree so that Ancestry will recognize that they are somehow connected to you. I had to make my tree Private but Searchable. Just change the relationship to Adopted or Step Father for the man you previously thought was your Grandfather on Ancestry and put in the new names for your presumed new relatives. Just make sure you have connected your DNA results to your tree. Christa Cowan gave me this information at a conference a few years ago-it worked. Good Luck.
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This will be tricky, because my parents do look at the tree I have in ancestry. I distant relative on my mother's side did build me a DNA tree on ancestry with my father as the starting point...I guess I need to talk to her again. Thanks for the tip about Christa Cowan. She has a session this afternoon on RootsTech Connect!
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Take a look at the Leeds Method to sort out your DNA matches, usually into four groups roughly equivalent to your 4 grandparents.
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Thank you! I will look into that as well!
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Right now for RootsTech we have an adoption search angel chat going. There are currently about a dozen people waiting to help someone!
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his father may still be his father
the matches could be aunt/niece/nephew etc
look at the DNA PAINTER site
https://dnapainter.com/tools/sharedcmv4
check your library for the book mentioned above ...I found it a bit daunting
follow the paper trail
good luck
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I'm glad to see that you are using the Search Angels at RootsTech! Good luck.
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