Several days ago I came across a Facebook add for a new company My True Ancestry Link. The advertisement went on to say that they can take your DNA sample from various companies ( such as Living DNA, Ancestry.com etc.) and match it to sample’s from ancient archeological sites. I found this to be fascinating, so I click the ad, having never heard of a site that does this process.
This is what they offer:
Explore your Ancient past using your DNA…
- Ancient DNA – Real History
- 5000 years of history at your fingertips – compare yourself to thousands of ancient DNA samples
from real archaeological sites!
- 5000 years of history at your fingertips – compare yourself to thousands of ancient DNA samples
- Compare yourself with ancient people
- Direct analysis – find your ancient relatives.
- Perform DNA breakdowns of 250+ ancient peoples, modern nationalities and ethnicities
From various historical records, I have been able to trace my paternal grandmother’s mother, back to medieval times, so a site like this was right up my alley. They offer a free service, so that you can upload a file and get a glimpse. Free is always good, and they do not require a credit card. One of the best things is that it took less than 10 minutes to see the results, and you have 48 hours to decide if you want to purchase an upgrade. They presented a basic map and timeline for my results. This basic information did indeed support some things that I already knew, such as ties back to ancient Greece, Catalonia and Crusader Knights. Ok, so now I am hooked.
My True Ancestry offers five levels of membership:
Commoner
Partial analysis for 1 kit. Basic Maps. Timelapse Maps.
Free account – your results expire in 24 hours.
10 Ancient samples (without classification)
Footman
Full analysis for 1 kit. Basic Maps. Timelapse Maps.
20 Ancient samples + classification shown
Knight
Full analysis for up to 2 kits. Premium Maps. Timelapse Maps.
40 Ancient samples + classification shown
Partial Deep Dive Analysis/Timelines (No Deep Dive Map).
King
Full analysis for up to 5 kits and Complete Timelines. Archaeological, Premium, Deep Dive, and Timelapse Maps.
Full Deep Dive Analysis!
60 Ancient samples + classification shown.
Caesar
Maximum analysis for up to 10 kits (with full sample/dig site links) and Complete Timelines.
Full Deep Dive Analysis! (with full sample/dig site links)
Detailed Archaelogical, Premium, Deep Dive and Timelapse Maps.
60 Ancient samples + classification shown.
Classify Ancient samples based on Modern groups and display similiar samples
I wasn’t sure which was best for me so I went to their Facebook Page and asked a question. They got back to me in less than two hours and helped me to make my decision. I decided to go for Knight for $55, to unlock some more information with more samples. Another good feature is that you can upgrade at any time and just pay the difference. I hope to do that soon ( maybe they can help me out after the review ).
These are some answers from My True Ancestry FAQ’s.
Samples are retrieved from archaelogical digs (e.g. a tooth from human remains) and the DNA is scanned in a complex process aligning the data with the human genome. Samples which are of high quality can then be processed as Ancient DNA samples.
By combining the latest archaeogenetic techniques with powerful admixture algorithms and cloud computing, MyTrueAncestry can accurately compare anyone with a wide variety of Ancient DNA samples. Via data triangulation and clustering, one can be categorized and compared with ancestors separated by thousands of years.
Unlike other companies which try to cater to target audiences pre-conceptions about their identity, MyTrueAncestry focuses in accurately determing one’s closest match based on tens of thousands of data samples.
So in conclusion, I would give them 4 out of 5 stars. I’ll reserve the 5th star for when I do the upgrade and as they add more features. I also think that they are wee bit pricey for the data, but I understand that they are starting out and hope to see more data as time goes on. They do say it’s a one time fee.
Italian DNA — Where do we come from?
But I know my grandparents came from Italy, how come I’m not 100% on my Italian DNA test? I know where I came from, why should I take a DNA test. Ahh, there just made up anyway, somebody I know took the test and it said they where only 10% Italian, how can that be? All valid questions. One thing we have to remember is that Italy was not united until the mid 19th Century.
Italian DNA – Understanding Genetics
Because of it’s location, Italy was invaded and conquered many times, as a result, very few people have pure Italian DNA. Italian Genealogy hopes to explain this, as well as, haplogroups in more detail in several posts. We try to keep things in simple terms so that it is easy to understand, but will provide links to more scientific detail for anyone that wants to explore further. For those who have already completed a DNA
Should I do a DNA Test
Click here to Join Italian Genealogy Group on Facebook One of my first posts, updated with some new information and links. I did my first DNA test with Ancestry.com about six years ago. They, as I think most people know, have one of the largest networks. I have to say that I was very surprised when I got my results that I was not as Italian as I thought I was. Ancestry has a
DNA Comparison
I thought it would make sense to do a DNA comparison across the companies where I sent my data. I did two tests, Living DNA and Ancestry.com. I have also sent my data to My Heritage and GED Match. I may one day try the test at 23 and Me. You can Hyperlink to any of these sites, to see their deals. So far I have found that Living DNA gives the best data, and
Best Ancestry Research Links
New Links added We searched the internet for the best articles, blogs and books to help you with your ancestry research. Click the hyperlink to go to the site. Interactive Map of Italy — Rough Guides Campania — Municipal Guide From the Genealogy Blogspot — How to read Italian Birth Records Sicily — Sicilian Family Tree Professional Translations– Proz. From The Ancestor Hunt — US College Newspapers New Links added Six
Italian DNA – Haplogroups
Having received great feedback on my post Italian DNA — Where Do We Come From? I thought I would go a little deeper into Haplogroups. Very simple put, a Haplogroup is a marker of sorts that denotes a certain mutation at a certain time in history. This marker allows genealogists to more or less pinpoint a migration path. Males inherit this marker from both parents, while females only their mother. Knowing your haplogroup allows
