How can I use DNA to find my adopted grandfather’s parents?
QI’m trying to trace the parents of my grandfather, who was adopted before the beginning of official adoptions. I recently took an AncestryDNA test ( ancestry.co.uk/dna) – as did a cousin on my grandmother’s side, to allow me to rule out anyone not connected to my grandfather. There is only one third-cousin match not also related to my cousin. On his tree, there’s a possible candidate (with the name given as the father on my grandfather’s birth certificate). How do I confirm that this is the right man?
Sian Plant
AWhen trying to solve family history conundrums with DNA, it always helps to have more matches to work with. You could start by uploading your AncestryDNA raw data to both FamilyTreeDNA ( familytreedna.com) and MyHeritage ( myheritage.com) to see if any additional matches show up. They have smaller databases than AncestryDNA, but there will always be people in the other databases who haven’t tested with AncestryDNA. The match lists are free with both companies, but there is a small fee for additional features such as the chromosome browser and the ethnicity estimates. Living DNA ( livingdna.com/uk) is another option, although its relative matching is still in the early stages.
If no other useful matches show up at the other companies, you might consider doing some target testing. This would involve tracing living descendants of the man you think is your great grandfather, and encouraging them to take a DNA test. Ideally you are looking for living people who, if your hypothesis is correct, would be more closely related to you than your third cousin (eg first or second cousins). If they agree to test, you would then want to see if they share the expected amount of DNA, which is consistent with the hypothesised relationship. Otherwise it’s a question of patience, and waiting for matches to show up in your match list. The Christmas period is the busiest time of the DNA-testing year, so you can expect to have lots of new matches from the New Year onwards. One of them might just provide the additional confirmation you need.
Debbie Kennett