Hi Kathy, I personally haven't done a DNA on my family, but I attended a lecture by Colleen Fitzpatrick last year on the subject. She wrote a book "DNA and genealogy" that is very informative. There are two types of DNA tests for genealogical purposes. The first test is on the Y-chromosome and is done on a male subject. This test follows the male line only and would go from your brother to his father, and to his father, etc. So this test would not help in determining anything about your great-grandmother. You would have to find a male cousin that followed her brother's line. The other test is for mitochrondrial DNA. This DNA is passed from a mother to all her children, both male and female. This DNA follows the maternal line only. So if your great-grandmother was on your mother's side (and on her grandmother's) this would be the test that you would do. Now if your great-grandmother was on your mother's father's side, you would need to find someone in your family that is a direct female descendant in order to use that test. I hope this is helpful. Deb ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kathy RUTH" <ruth4374@msn.com> To: "Iowa" <iowa@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 9:45 PM Subject: [IOWA] DNA testing for genealogy purposes > > I was wondering if anyone on the list had ever done DNA testing in the > course of their family history research? I was wanting to do it to see > if i could out what Native American tribe my great-grandmother came from. > My brother has agreed to give a swab. I know nothing about this. I was > hoping someone could give me some guidelines. I did do some research on > the web and on ancestry.com but it was a bit overwhelming. Ancestry.com > says they don't do testing for racial or ethnic purpoes which is what I > think I want. > > > > I guess i would like to find out which test is best for what i want to > find out? > > > > Does anyone know a good website? > > > > Any help would be appreciated. > > > > Thanks, > > Kathy > _____________________________________________ > > For additional information concerning how the list > works, how to sub and unsub and list rules, visit > http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~richard/ialist/ > _____________________________________________ > ---------------------------------------- > Your support makes IAGenWeb possible. > ~Visit The Friends of IAGenWeb Store today~ > http://www.cafepress.com/iagenweb/ > _____________________________________________ > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > IOWA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message >