DNA Research Home
What puts the GENE in Swiss GENErations?
GENES ARE SEGMENTS OF DNA THAT CAN HELP FIND FAMILY LINKS
DNA testing is a tool to discover the unknown identities of individuals not covered in source church or civil records. For example, in the chart below, there are three unknown fathers as a result of out-of-wedlock births:
- Father of Christian Spring, b. 1850
- Father of Anna MC Spycher, b 1856 is known through court records to be Johann Ulrich Flückiger, but there are 15 individuals of the same name born within a 10 year period of his likely age.
- Father of Elisabeth Spycher, b. 1830
Christian and Anna were both born in Switzerland and are now more distant grandparents. These factors make it extremely difficult to find the identity of those fathers. With DNA testing, we might be able to overcome these roadblocks and continue to build the family tree.
HOW CAN MY DNA HELP SOLVE A FAMILY TREE MYSTERY?
Both you and your biological family inherited DNA from ancestors, but like most inheritances, which individuals end up with what can get a little messy. You share DNA with other members of your family, but each of you gets a unique mix and different amounts from various ancestors.
Once a DNA test has been taken and is uploaded into the Ancestry.com database, one’s “shared matches” can be viewed. The closer the relationship, the more useful the match will be for genealogical research. For example, second cousins share great-grandparents. Other family members may also have matches that you don’t, which could mean new discoveries in your family tree as well. The more descendants of an ancestor that take a DNA test, the more likely family tree mysteries will be solved.
WHAT DOES TAKING A DNA TEST INCLUDE?
The DNA test to take is called an autosomal test, and is available on Ancestry.com. The test requires a spit sample that will be sent to the testing facility, your email for test results, and your year of birth.
An autosomal DNA test measures your autosomal chromosomes, which are the chromosomes that make up the larger share of your DNA.
Autosomal DNA tests are the most information-rich tests available, with the ability to identify the DNA from more of your relatives than other DNA tests. For instance, an autosomal DNA test can find genetic information about your grandfather, which other tests typically can’t do. These tests can find relatives, from long-lost siblings to 10th cousins, and tell you where your ancestors may have lived.
Scientists can use this information to look for large areas of shared DNA between you and other people in a database to find close relatives. The more DNA shared between you and another person, the more closely you are related.
As part of creating an account, individuals will be asked to include their name or to create a username (some use just their initials). It is almost impossible for researchers to use the results in a pedigree without knowing the identity of the individual. If you choose to keep your identity private, we ask that you let the Swiss GENErations genetic genealogist know which username is yours so that they can effectively connect your family trees.
HOW CAN I FEEL COMFORTABLE TAKING A DNA TEST?
Ancestry.com and other testing databases do their best to protect your privacy and information. Refer to the Ancestry privacy statement and terms and conditions for more information on what to expect after taking a DNA test.
Swiss GENErations’ genetic genealogist will only use your DNA for the purpose of viewing shared matches, and will need some sort of access to your results in order to view your shared matches. The method can be decided and controlled by you as the test-taker. All private information will remain private and controlled by you.
The genetic genealogist uses software tools to assist your family in organizing pedigrees with insight from DNA testing, with access limited to the researcher and those you designate.
