Absolutely not! DNA testing can be a very helpful genealogical research tool. Does it tell you who your ancestors were and where they lived? No, but neither does anything else that is in the public forum today, at least not with certainty.
Do you have a "brick-wall"? We have all come across one now and then. Y-DNA testing may be the answer. For a quick lesson in DNA testing for genealogical purposes, let's go here.
Genetic Genealogy
For Genetic Genealogy, which is the application of DNA testing to genealogy research, two areas of DNA have shown to provide information that can be used in conjunction with genealogy research. These two areas are the Y chromosome and mtDNA. These areas of the Y chromosome and mtDNA do not contain information about a persons traits or medical information. For example, the Y DNA area is known as Junk DNA by the scientists, since it does not code for personal information.
Caveats
An individual's test results have little meaning on their own. You cannot take these numbers, plug them into some formula and find out who your ancestors are. The value of the test results depends on how your results compare to other test results. And even when you match someone else, it will only indicate that you and the person you match share a common ancestor. Depending on the number of markers tested and the number of matches it will indicate with a certain degree of probability how long ago this common ancestor existed. It will not show exactly who this ancestor is. That must be investigated through traditional genealogical research.
The Y-Chromosome is passed from father to son. The vast majority of the time the father passes an exact copy of his Y-Chromosome to his son. This means that the markers of the son are identical to those of his father. However on rare occasion there is a mutation or change in one of the markers. The change is either an insertion or a deletion. An insertion is when an additional repeat is added to a marker. A deletion is when one of the repeats is deleted.
Mutations occur at random. This means it is possible for two distant cousins to match exactly on all markers while two brothers might not match exactly. Because of the random nature of mutations we must use statistics and probability to estimate the Time to the Most Recent Common Ancestor (TMRCA). The actual calculations of TMRCA are mathematically complex and depend on knowing the rate of mutation and the true number of mutations.
Molyneaux Surname Project
As a service to International Molyneux Family Association (IMFA) a DNA surname project has been set up at FamilyTreeDNA (FTDNA). The project will allow participants to receive a reduction in the cost of the testing. Based on my experience with another DNA project I administer I am recommending that participants order the 25-marker test. The 12-marker test will only tell you to whom you are not related. It is only when the testing is done to the 25-marker level or the 37-marker level can definite branches of a family/families be seen. If you can bear the price I would also recommend that you order the 37-marker testing upfront. The price to upgrade to 37-markers when added to the original order will total more than the $229 US shown in the chart below. The pricing is as follows:
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Only by ordering through the surname project can participants receive the group pricing. If you have already tested with FTDNA you may request, via e-mail, that your results be transferred to the Molyneaux Surname Project. If you are not sure how to go about that you may email me, include your name and kit number and I will request the transfer.
If you have any questions I invite you to send me an email at the address above.