Since I was 14 I have been working on my family
tree. I even became so knowledgeable I have done genealogy work professionally and
given over 100 classes.
About 3 or 4 years ago I decided to do one of
those DNA tests. This was with ’23 and Me’, primarily
for health results as one of the things they looked at were genetic markers for
breast cancer (my late sister died of breast cancer). It turned out that they
only looked at three of the most common markers for breast cancer and I had
none – but they were quick to point out in all the health and wellbeing reports
that you could, of course, get illnesses through environmental factors as well.
They had a whole range of ‘traits’ and I was intrigued to know I had a low
resistance to alcohol which explains why I am a cheap date!
I was less interested in the ancestral composition
of my genes then, particularly as none of the people listed as potential
cousins were people I recognised nor any of their surnames they listed, so I
didn’t get in touch with anybody.
Recently, I decided to do the Ancestry.co.uk DNA
test (it was on offer, but I also thought there would be more chance of getting
in touch with cousins – already I have noticed two relatives I know).
Comparing the two reports has been fascinating –
although a little difficult as they list their information differently.
Ancestry is terrific at providing historical background to the regions they
cover – afterall, historical records is their forte. ’23 and Me’ has the great
health records (although I did notice they have archived many of the original
ones which were so intriguing – I get the feeling they are moving more into the
genealogy side).
What I did notice when I recently went on to the
‘23’ site, was a new feature not previously there giving a timeline of when the
ancestor with those genes came into my family tree. Very helpful. For instance,
I presumed the 4% Scandinavian genes would have come from the Vikings but no,
that ancestor(s) came into my tree between 1750-1870.
So, the rest of the genes in summary:
·
About two thirds of my ancestors
are British (Ancestry’s genetic communities section of their report indicates I have no Scottish or Welsh ancestors
only English which fits with my own research). The figures for Ancestry versus
23 and Me vary enormously because 23 lists 30% of my ancestors as ‘broadly
northwest European' – which doesn’t help narrow them down! So taking both sets of DNA reports I have roughly put it at 2/3!
·
6% are Irish (I have an
Irish 2 x great grandmother, Elizabeth O’Brien, who left during the potato
famine and ended up in the Channel Islands). So that totally fits with her as I
would have 6% of genes from her, (if you get 50% genes from each parent, which is diluted to 25% from each grandparent, 12.5% from each great-grandparent, 6.25% from each 2 x great grandparent). So by that reckoning if Elizabeth was 100% Irish I don't have any other Irish ancestors.
However, I had an inkling the unknown man who fathered her children was also Irish – now, quite possibly not!! (Image below from Lonely Planet of the Channel Islands)
However, I had an inkling the unknown man who fathered her children was also Irish – now, quite possibly not!! (Image below from Lonely Planet of the Channel Islands)
·
Ancestry says I have 8% Europe West ancestors
(which seems to cover Britain but also northern Europe – France, Holland,
Germany, Switzerland etc). 23 says I have 6.4% French and German. I imagine
these ancestors could well be from the ancestors from the Channel Islands or
their ancestors. As I said above, no idea who Elizabeth got to father her
children BUT there is another Channel Islands link, also on my Dad’s side,
something like my 4 x great grandfather (Richard Ruse) went to the Channel
Islands and married a girl there. The 23 report says for the French/German
ancestor they came into my tree in the period 1750-1870 which fits with Richard going to the Channel Islands and marrying there but would also fit in with the unknown 2
x grandfather who fathered Elizabeth's children.
·
Both websites say I have between 0.6-2% Italian and
Sardinian ancestry, which is astonishing and I have no idea how they come into
the tree at all! Particularly as the timeline in 23’s report says the Italian
came into the tree between 1690-1840 and the Sardinian 1690-1810 which makes it
sound like two people. These could well be distant ancestors of the
French/German one above, maybe.
·
Additionally, I have 6% from Europe East from the
Ancestry report (not specified in the 23 report). The range for Europe East is
Poland, Russia down through Germany to Bulgaria. Again, no idea when or how
they came into the tree and 6% is quite a lot of genes.
·
The one that is VERY intriguing is the 0-1%
European Jewish/Ashkenazi Jewish listed in both reports. When I first read this in the 23 and me report I ignored it, thinking they had got that wrong as I expected all my ancestors to be Christian. But now it is confirmed by Ancestry this is all quite exciting!
·
Finally, the Ancestry report lists 0-0.1% an
ancestor from the Caucasus – which is Italy through Turkey to Iraq and the near
east. That is not highlighted on the 23 report and could just be the Italian
ancestor previously reported, although an near Eastern ancestor would be exotic.
·
Oh, one more finally – the 23 report also lists
Neanderthal ancestry of which I have 4% (which is slightly above average for
Europeans I believe! Don't say a word!!)
In conclusion, I can say I an truly European! (I did vote to REMAIN in the EU!)
