Which DNA test will help with this maternal mystery?

[suzy_q2010]

Originally Posted by bdeclee56

Thanks for this information. Does the Ancestry test differ in any substantive way from any of the other tests (considering I am a female)?

No. What will vary is the panel of your matches.

Originally Posted by aries63

Currently 23andMe data is in a format that doesn't transfer to others.

You can transfer 23andMe to FTDNA. I did it.

[aries63]

Originally Posted by suzy_q2010

You can transfer 23andMe to FTDNA. I did it.

Not since they switched to the V5 chip in August of last year, no, you can't. The current V5 chip is incompatible. If you did it you must have been tested before then.

Being female makes no difference in any DNA test except Y chromosome tests which you cannot take because you don't have a Y chromosome. The Ancestry test only looks at autosomal DNA which has nothing to do with gender, just like Family Finder, MyHeritage and 23andMe. 23andMe will also give you a maternal haplogroup which you already have. All these tests will give you a list of "matches", cousins who have tested and share segments of DNA with you from common ancestors in any branch of your family tree. Identifying the specific ancestor depends on the availability of information from the match, either from their profile information or attached family tree, or sending them a message requesting information. The closer the relative the more likely you will have a match. Second cousins and closer will always match. Third cousins match about 80% of the time, 4th cousins about 50% of the time, and the chances drop off steeply after that.

[suzy_q2010]

Originally Posted by aries63

Not since they switched to the V5 chip in August of last year, no, you can't. The current V5 chip is incompatible. If you did it you must have been tested before then.

I guess it will take a while for the other companies to catch up so that the data can be transferred.

[bdeclee56]

Originally Posted by aries63

Not since they switched to the V5 chip in August of last year, no, you can't. The current V5 chip is incompatible. If you did it you must have been tested before then.

Being female makes no difference in any DNA test except Y chromosome tests which you cannot take because you don't have a Y chromosome. The Ancestry test only looks at autosomal DNA which has nothing to do with gender, just like Family Finder, MyHeritage and 23andMe. 23andMe will also give you a maternal haplogroup which you already have. All these tests will give you a list of "matches", cousins who have tested and share segments of DNA with you from common ancestors in any branch of your family tree. Identifying the specific ancestor depends on the availability of information from the match, either from their profile information or attached family tree, or sending them a message requesting information. The closer the relative the more likely you will have a match. Second cousins and closer will always match. Third cousins match about 80% of the time, 4th cousins about 50% of the time, and the chances drop off steeply after that.

Thank you - this summary is quite helpful to me. :-)