Best DNA test for Native American ancestry

Question

So, I think I'm finally ready to take the plunge and do a DNA test to help prove or disprove our family story of Native American ancestry.  The story is that my mother's father's mother was half Indian through her father.  From what I understand, that means only the autosomal DNA test will help me.  What I'd like help with is to get input on what test works best and which service's results conform the best to posting here on WikiTree.

Answer 1

Warning this question may instigate an FTDNA,  AncestryDNA vs 23andMe turf war :)

In my opinion for autosomal testing only it doesn't matter that much. If you already have an account at AncestryDNA test there. If not it is probably a coin toss between FTDNA and AncestryDNA for genealogy but I prefer testing at AncestryDNA first because for $39 you can transfer your results to FTDNA which is the cheapest way to get on both databases.

After you test with any of these companies please transfer to GEDMATCH.com (free) and use the ethnicity tools there.

If money is tight buy the kits on sale - usually $69 around mother's day for example.

Comments

I agree with Roland's suggestion of testing at AncestryDNA first and transferring to FTDNA and GEDmatch.

Also make sure to test the oldest living person that is descended from your Native American ancestor.

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What Jamie said :) Yes. The closer the better - if you have a living aunt or uncle...

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Also you've been warned - DNA testing is addictive :)

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Thank you all for the input.  I will take it all into consideration

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Your DNA sample is not preserved for future testing if you use AncestryDNA and then transfer to FamilyTree DNA.  To preserve your DNA (for up to 25 years) so that you or your descendants might take advantage of advancements in DNA testing, you should at least order a mtDNA test (or if you are male) and/or a Y-DNA test at Family Tree DNA.

Answer 2

Or if you test at 23andMe, like I did, your $199 fee will also give you yDNA and mtDNA haplogroups (not the refined Y and mito data that DNA purists want, but information you won't get from auDNA testing at ancestry), plus some health-related and "traits" information, and access to a technically defensible and useful DNA-matching utility.

Comments

Thank you

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You can also extract your Y haplogroup from an AncestryDNA test if you have technical skills. There is a lot more data in these files than a lot of people realize.

The Y testing at 23andMe is very basic. FTDNA also offers cheaper Y tests for under $100 but you have to call them to order these. They are not on their website. One benefit of doing a cheap FTDNA Y test is that if you find the information useful and want to learn more you just have to pay an "upgrade" price to test more markers. But with 23andMe there is no upgrade option.

All three companies use the same sequencing machine from Illumina which is why the files are so similar. 23andMe uses a customer chip to focus on SNPs associated with disease. FTDNA removes many disease SNPs from their final files. But as far as ethnicity results there isn't much difference between the companies.

All three companies are great. I've tested at all of them. They just offer slightly different packages.

Answer 3

While mtDNA won't help you, the X-chromosome being coded for ancestry will help you. The male native passed an X chromosome to his daughter who then passed one to her son who passed one to your mom, who passed one to you!  23andme interprets the X-chomosome for ancestry including Native American.  That is how I found out mine for both sides of my family.  So, I recommend you test at 23andme because many other places do not interpret the X-chromosome for ancestry data.

I think they don't include the X because it doesn't recombine as much as the others so is harder to interpret the time aspect.  Larger chunks can last much longer but then they can disappear faster too.

You can also upload your 23andme data (or your Ancestry data if you do that) to gedmatch  which has some more interpretive tests for native american on the other chromosomes.

Comments

I think you mistyped Aimee, you meant the female native passed on the X Chromosone.

Males don't pass on the X Chromosone. Only Females do that.

Males pass on the Y Chromosone, Females don't have the Y chromosone.

Males have both X and Y Chromosone but don't pass on the X to children

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No I did not mis-type.  Males pass on X chromosomes to their daughters and they pass on Y-chromosomes to their sons.  That is how females get 2 X chromosomes.....one from their mom and one from their dad.

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Apologies, I misread.