Hi Greg, Very thorough précis from Annie, however it’s important to know that if you have an autosomal DNA test with FamilyTreeDNA ( or any other company) you can’t upload that data to Ancestry. Ancestry will let you share your DNA data taken by them with other companies ( as Annie said), but refuse to allow the opposition access to their vast data base with DNA matches, family trees etc. So in the future if you feel like building a research tree to test your hypothesis, by far best bet is to use Ancestry. Then you still have the option of uploading to other companies to spread your net far and wide in order to snare other DNA matches and trees. And just to add, this is not an ad for any particular company, it’s just my experience after some years of research, floundering and learning! It sounds like you’re just starting the DNA journey and there’s a lot to get familiar with, so it may be best to keep it simple right now. There are free webinars available too which can be very helpful.
To be able to combine the wonderful resources of cotyroneireland.com and DNA research means some of the brick walls finally may get knocked down! Cheers, Verity Sent from my iPhone > On 28 Apr 2026, at 10:35 pm, James McKane via CoTyroneList > <[email protected]> wrote: > > Amen Annie! I have been using them for years as well. Extremely reliable and > accurate testing as well as a large number of Groups and other services > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Apr 28, 2026, at 8:25 AM, Annie Crenshaw via CoTyroneList >> <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> RE: FamilyTreeDNA test & questions by Greg Limpet >> >> Greg, >> >> FamilyTreeDNA is the BEST company doing DNA testing in the world today. It >> was the first consumer DNA company to offer genealogical DNA testing, >> specifically focusing on Y-DNA and mtDNA tests to help individuals trace >> their ancestry. I've been using their tests in my genealogy research for 20 >> years. >> >> There's more than one type of DNA test -- which one did you take? >> >> Autosomal DNA ("Family Finder" on FTDNA) tests both your father's and >> mother's sides of your family. All the ancestors' surnames and DNA lines are >> in the match results, like a huge melting pot. That's the most popular test. >> >> FTDNA allows you to transfer your autosomal test results from other >> companies. As their web site says: "Already tested with AncestryDNA, >> 23andMe, or MyHeritage? Upload your raw DNA data to FamilyTreeDNA and >> discover even more relatives." >> >> Y-DNA tests ONLY the paternal side of your family: father > son > grandson > >> great-grandson, and so on. ONE surname in a straight ancestral line, a test >> for males only. For instance, I can't take a Y-DNA test to check my Crenshaw >> ancestry; I had my brother, Richard Crenshaw, take the Y-DNA test. The DNA >> line goes from him to our father, Crenshaw grandfather, Crenshaw >> great-grandfather, etc. >> >> FTDNA is the only company doing Y-DNA testing. The DNA tests with all the >> other companies: Ancestry.com, MyHeritage, 23&Me, etc., are ONLY and ALL >> autosomal. >> >> mtDNA tests ONLY the maternal side of your family: mother > daughter > >> granddaughter, and so on. My mtDNA test results trace from me to my mother, >> to her mother, to her mother's mother, and so on. >> >> Ancestry has the largest DNA client database, and taking their test probably >> WOULD be helpful. You'd be reaching the largest number of possible matches, >> on all sides of your family. And I'd certainly recommend joining the North >> of Ireland DNA project managed by NIFHS, as described by Elwyn Soutter. It's >> a great project. >> >> Good luck with DNA and with your ongoing ancestor search, >> >> Annie >> >> ================================= >> Send a Message to the List - [email protected] >> List Archive - >> https://list.cotyroneireland.com/empathy/list/cotyronelist.list.cotyroneireland.com >> Join the list by sending an email to - >> [email protected] >> To receive the Digest version, send an email to - [email protected] >> Unsubscribe by sending an email to - >> [email protected] >> ================================= > ================================= > Send a Message to the List - [email protected] > List Archive - > https://list.cotyroneireland.com/empathy/list/cotyronelist.list.cotyroneireland.com > Join the list by sending an email to - > [email protected] > To receive the Digest version, send an email to - [email protected] > Unsubscribe by sending an email to - > [email protected] > ================================= ================================= Send a Message to the List - [email protected] List Archive - https://list.cotyroneireland.com/empathy/list/cotyronelist.list.cotyroneireland.com Join the list by sending an email to - [email protected] To receive the Digest version, send an email to - [email protected] Unsubscribe by sending an email to - [email protected] =================================
