Need suggestions for DNA confirmation of paternal grandparents

Question

My father is deceased, as are his parents and all of his siblings.  He does have living nieces and nephews. There are also two of my dad's living double first cousins, one male and one female (siblings).

I do have tests for my brother, mother, and myself.  I would like to have DNA confirmation for my paternal grandparents. To get the biggest bang for my buck, which of these relatives and how many of them should I try to get DNA tested? Do I need both Audna and Ydna?  How far back on my father's line would I be able to go with these candidates?

Any suggestions appreciated.  Thanks

Comments

Thanks you all for your comments.  I am now somewhat confused.  I know that all of the potential test takers share the same ancestors with my brother and me. I do have the documentation to prove that. Mahaney brothers married Brown sisters. So my dad and his double first cousins had the same four grandparents.

I would like to confirm by DNA as far back as the tests allow with the least number of people and/or tests involved.

If I have the male first cousin take autosomal and mtDNA would that confirm both sets of grandparents and great grandparents?

Answer 1

For autosomal DNA, I'd suggest Ancestry DNA for your female first cousin, and the Y-111 test at FTDNA for your male first cousin if he shares the Y with your father. Be sure to upload the Ancestry test along with your other family members to GEDmatch.com and add those to each of the profiles on Wikitree and link your trees to Gedmatch along with a skeleton tree (pedigree) for each member on GEDMATCH.com. You can have a child of one of your father's sister do the full mitochondrial test at FTDNA as well, but it would be my last of the three tests to take as it adds the least value to genealogical research. Good luck in your research and reach out if you need further help.

Comments

Thanks for the reply Christopher.  Is there a reason why you suggested the Ancestry autosomal DNA test rather than FTDNA? I have been using FTDNA for all my testing since they offer all three types of tests.

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They are both great test. I'd say Ancestry DNA is slightly more user friendly and has the largest database. Ethnicity reports are fairly similar but Ancestry offers genetic communities which can show the migration patterns of your ancestors and circles to group family members and their descendants together. The main difference that FTDNA has is the ability to compare segments but this can easily be done at GEDmatch using data from FTDNA, Ancestry DNA, My Heritage, and 23andme. If you prefer just using one site (FTDNA), you can have your male cousin do a bundle with a Y test and family finder. Would save just a few bucks this way but would be about the same as having his Y done at FTDNA and the female cousin tested at Ancestry DNA if you can get a test on a sale day.

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Thanks again.  See my comment above.

Answer 2

I take a different approach.  Since you and your brother have already proven a full sibling relationship with auDNA, and he has taken a yDNA test, then there is no doubt that any 2nd cousin male or closer on your father's line should not need to take a yDNA test because the auDNA will confirm the same relationships and more.

Whoever you test, I would test at AncestryDNA and transfer the Raw Data to FTDNA for Free.  Two for One. If you decide you want the additional tools FTDNA holds back, the cost is only $19 per kit.

I am also a big believer in the more you test and the more places you test, the better.  Prioritize by age so that the older the person, the higher the priority.

I would also look for promotions at 23andme (they don't happen often) and at least subscribe your mother and then yourself.

Comments

Thanks for the information,  See my new comment above.

What is the reasoning for subscribing my mother and me to 23andme?

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23andme has a substantial size database of DNA subscribers.  They are less than AncestryDNA, but they also have historically marketed to a different audience. You will probably have the same number of new DNA Relatives as FTDNA, and most of them will probably be new.  You and your mother would test for the same reasons you would both test on FTDNA.  Your test would primarily be used to work on your father's side, and your mother would obviously focus on her side.

I would test on AncestryDNA and transfer to FTDNA because the AncestryDNA SNP set is very close to FTDNA.  The primary reason is to get onto 2 of the 3 major DNA services for the price of one.

Answer 3

You could start out just getting the autosomal test done at FTDNA on your dad's male first cousin.  Since FTDNA saves the sample, you could at a later date have a Y-DNA test done on the sample should you so choose.  But the autosomal would tell you if your dad and his first cousin are indeed first cousins . . .  ;)  You also would be able to test (later should you want) his mtDNA to give you more information on your paternal grandmother's female lineage . . .

Autosomal can help you going back up to ten generations.  Y-DNA is 'forever' . . . 

Comments

Thanks for the answer.  See my comment above.

One of the reasons I prefer FTDNA is as you said they store the sample for further testing if needed.