DNA Ethnicity Results Aren't What You Think

Saying that you shouldn't have any Scandinavian or French ancestry if a test says you're <95% British is a bit of a misnomer. Most people of English ancestry technically have Scandinavian and other Saxon blood in them because those people invaded the British Isles in large numbers throughout history.

I don't think I have ever met anyone from North Carolina who was NOT descended from a "Cherokee Princess."

What amuses me is the "updates" they provide. Originally, about 3 years ago they showed me as 18% Italian. I figured I was a quarter Italian so no surprise. Gradually that migrated after a few 6-month updates, and I am now 22% French and Portuguese. Sorry nonna, the Italian went away. There was also 3% from Benin in Sub-Saharan Africa originally. That too went across the ocean and is now 3% Native American from Mexico. (?). Can't wait for the next update which will probably show me as being 72% Chinese.😀

Each company is also using the data from those who have tested with them. They don’t cross-reference the DNA tests through other testing companies. This is why your ethnicity results can vary somewhat from company to company.

linking genom to ethnicity and to geographies is tricky. People have been moving for thousands of years!

I researched and found all this information prior to taking a DNA test. I know it is not be 100% accurate, but it at least gives you a general idea of where your ancestors are from.

"We dont have dna from 500 years ago." laughs in archeology

In medical school, we had to learn genetics and genetic counseling. We had a small group session with several hypothetical cases. One of the cases was designed to teach us how to identify spontaneous genetic mutations. The patient in the case had a genetic disease that no one else in the family tree had. So we all nodded sagely and said it was a spontaneous mutation. Our prof smiled and said, in his posh British accent “Yes, well, in your career, you’ll deal with cases like this, and you’ll come to realize that there’s no way the man this woman is married to is the father of this child, so you’ll lie through your teeth and call it a “spontaneous mutation”, because it’s a lucky man who knows his own father.”

You make an important point that you can have ancestry that these DNA tests do not reveal. People should not take these ethnicity estimates as gospel, but with a grain of salt. Thanks for posting.

You look like a skinny Peter Griffin.

Took the ancestry test years back and it said I had 10% Spanish...not possible since my nearest Spanish ancestor was 1200. A short time later the results updated and surprise...no Spanish. But I didnt really take the test for the ethnicity results...I took it to connect with others researching same lines and in that respect it has been very useful. Have probably contacted at least 50-60 and found a few surprise kin. Historically speaking...folks moved around so trying to pinpoint ethnicity is very difficult. For example if you ancestors are from the British isles they likely came from English (Germanic), British (Irish and Scottish), French, Scandinavian, etc.

My 23andme was too accurate in line with my knowledge of my background / heritage, all from having no evidence on me except my saliva... it told me I was half one ethnicity / half another ethnicity, the exact ethnicities I always knew, then it did a further break down... It was too scarily accurate

Great informative video. I noticed everything you said. Thanks for sharing.

On my mother's side, the family tree showed pure French-Canadians all the way up to France and French came up in my DNA test. On my father's side it was supposed to be Irish, and yup Irish came up with some Scandinavian. Totally accurate and confirming the family tree for my case.

Finnish is not scandinavian ! And some British are from scandinavian origin, etc.

There was alot of Scandinavian immigration into the uk which could explain the Scandinavian in your ancestry dna test as that uses more databases so it its probably more in depth and detailed than the other tests.

but for some of us it,s a whole lot more information than history left for us.

Thank you! This is the best video on the subject that I've seen. There are so many things to consider in the comparative analysis of DNA. The key is to remember that the results received are estimates and ideas of where to look further in your own personal search. They are not the absolute, totally comprehensive answer they sometimes appear to be. :)

My DNA pretty much matched my family tree that I researched

Your short video clarified a lot. Thanks for making it.