Mark Orwig is the writer of the Genealogy Explained website, and he has created a neat graphic to explain the answer to the question posed in "Do Siblings Have the Same DNA?" I encourage all of my readers to read the entire article because the science is interesting and the "deck of cards" example is familiar to most of us. The graphic is: Pictures are always better than many words, and this graphic shows why siblings (assuming they aren't identical twins) may not have the same ethnicity estimate even though they have the same parents. In the graphic, there are four grandparents who have perceived ethnicities of: * Paternal grandfather: 50% Scottish, 50% Irish * Paternal grandmother: 100% Italian * Maternal grandfather: 100% German * Maternal grandmother: 50% Italian, 50% Irish Based on the percentages, one would expect the ethnicities of the parents to be: * Father: 50% Italian, 25% Scottish, 25% Irish * Mother: 50% German, 25% Italian, 25% Irish Based on those percentages, one would expect the ethnicity of a child to be: * 37.5% Italian, 25% German, 25% Irish, 12.5% Scottish. However, the graphic shows that the two children have significantly different ethnicity estimates (based on a DNA test) than the expected ethnicity based on the expected ethnicity of the parents. This occurs because of the random nature of admixture - how the DNA segments are passed down to the next generation. For me, I have noted that the six different ethnicity estimates I have received are completely different, and do not match my perceived ethnicity based on classical genealogy research. See Comparison of My Autosomal DNA Ethnicity Estimates. I understand better now that I need to test my two brothers and both of my daughters to get a better handle on the ethnicity estimates for my family members. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to test my parents (who died in 1983 and 2002) and grandparents (who died in 1942, 1962, 1976, 1977). Like I said - Read the entire post! Thank you to Mark for permitting me to use the graphic in this blog post. ============================================== The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2018/07/genealogy-explained-do-siblings-have.html Copyright (c) 2018, Randall J. Seaver Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at [email protected].
Have you ever heard of foot shape genealogy? It is a concept out of the 19th century that still has some adherents today. It is based on the belief that the shape of your foot can tell you one of five ancient ethnic groups to which your ancestors belonged. Here is what you need to know about it.
German genealogy expert James Beidler shares practical tips for making it easier to find the origins of your German ancestors.
Locate free genealogy courses & webinars, improve your genealogy research skills and increase your chances of finding your ancestors.
As I’ve been researching my family’s genealogy and writing here ... Read Article
Let's face it, genealogy research can be a bit lonely. We spend hours in front of a computer screen by ourselves digging up our ancestors and their stories. Now, don't get me wrong...I love it. But it doesn't have to be that way. Collaborating with others can bring new insights and a fresh perspective. In
U.S. Census records offer a unique look into the past and a chance to discover valuable details about your family's history.
To better research your Spanish-speaking ancestors, learn these common genealogy terms en Español.
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I thoroughly enjoyed delivering my keynote talk at this year’s 1 day genealogy seminar hosted by Le Comité des Archives de la Louisiane ( in Lafayette, Louisiana. The hospitality was warm and welco…
As part of my post " Is DNA the 'Magic Bullet' for OGs ," I'm providing another Evernote form for Freebie Friday. Thi...
Do you think your family originated from the top 1 percent?
Make Instant Discoveries About Your Ancestors Here By Jodi Bash Have you ever taken a really long road trip? The kind that takes days to get where you’re going? It’s not as common anymore with cheap, safe air travel. I love the road trip personally – no time constraints, no restrictions on shampoo bottle size, … Google Maps Will Help You Learn More About Your Ancestors Read More »
As many of you may already know, the region of the world sometimes referred to as Prussia was both large and diverse, incorporating lands far beyond East & West Prussia. My wife’s family …
Do you want to know what a ninth cousin is? In this post, learn all about 9th cousins, including how many you have, how they are related, and more.
If you are one of 42 million Americans with German ancestry, your surname could yield some interesting clues to your family history.
There really aren't any shortcuts in genealogy . Most of the "shortcuts" come in organizing, filing, and using technology--r...
Are you making this mistake with online family trees? Here’s some best practices to using public family trees so you can avoid problems later.
This post is being updated and has been split into two posts, use the links below to get to the information you're looking for: ...
Passenger ship manifests are a great way to discover more about your immigrant ancestors. These resources can tell you so much, like hometowns and who they arrived with.
From tracking down useful information, to organizing your research, to sharing it with your family and friends - Pinterest just might be the genealogy research tool you've been missing.
Genealogy is an endless treasure hunt and, if you’re not careful, you can spend a lot of your own treasure building your family tree. That’s why, when you discover your fourth-great-grandmother for free, it truly feels like you’ve stuck gold! And it’s why we are all about mining the vast genealogy resources on the internet for free records.
The 1911 Census of England and Wales was taken on 2 April 1911, and contains much more detail than that provided on any previous return. It is a unique census because it is the first census that allows you to see your ancestor's handwriting as the original forms were kept. It is considered to be
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I have been doing a TON of Amazon shopping thanks to the pandemic and I thought I'd share some of the things I've found for genealogy. I feel like we all have our copy of Evidence Explained and our favorite photo scanner but there are a lot of other things offered on Ama
Find your family’s church records, and you’ll be counting your genealogical blessings. These six steps will help you uncover clues in religious documents.
Best DNA Test Comparison - Which DNA Test is Best for Your Research? When it Comes to Completing Your DNA Test you Actually have Many Choices. Have a Look at the Following DNA Test Facts and Decide on Which DNA Test is Best for Your Research. Compare Pricing and Main Results Delivered by Each Company's DNA Test
20 Totally Free UK Genealogy Sites are lesser known completely free websites that can help you with your British genealogy research.
Hit the online road with this travel guide of starter tips and websites guaranteed to rev up your genealogy search.
With these ancestry research links, I have been able to score some of my favorite archival facts without spending a penny.
Do you want to further your genealogy skills so you can research better or faster? Have you run into a problem that seems too "...
A genealogy research plan is more than a to-do list. It's a framework that guides your research and helps you be more productive and less frustrated.
Where to find free genealogy books online looks at where you can find free genealogy books and gives some examples of what you can find.
There really aren't any shortcuts in genealogy . Most of the "shortcuts" come in organizing, filing, and using technology--r...
120 free genealogy websites. Here are some great free resources from around the world to help you with your family history.
Make Instant Discoveries About Your Ancestors Here It’s an often overlooked fact that a vast amount of FamilySearch’s collections can not be found via the search on their site. Millions of free family history records are waiting to be discovered but have not yet been indexed and are, therefore, somewhat hard to find. These records are invaluable tools … Millions of Free Records on FamilySearch Can Not Be Found via Search: Here’s How to Access Them Read More »
Family history research is never complete. There are always more records to be discovered, photos to be identified, and additional connections to uncover. But maybe you’ve reached the point when you want to share what you’ve learned so far. Here are some great options. Family history research is never complete. There are always more records to be discovered, photos to be identified, and additional connections to uncover. But maybe you’ve reached the point when you want to share what you’ve learned so far. Here are some great options.
Digital documents form the backbone of modern genealogy research. The hardest part remains, however, in finding free resources. Luckily, many U.S. states have put a good deal of effort into making their records freely accessible online
It won't be easy to locate old photos of your ancestors, but the hard work is worth it. Here's where to get started in your search.
Yes, free genealogy sites do exist. Here's how to avoid spending money on ancestry research without limiting your tree.
