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Unexpected results...parent or grandparent

Unexpected results...parent or grandparent

Posted: 5 Jul 2015 3:47PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi,

I've just had the results of my father's autosomal DNA which shows he has 44% italian DNA. An area we have no connections with. I am 27%. The family tree is well documented apart from my grandmother's father who we never knew. Just a question...is it possible to inherit this much Autosomal DNA from a grandparent or will the answer be with a parent...just not the one we thought it was.

Re: Unexpected results...parent or grandparent

Posted: 8 Jul 2015 11:41PM GMT
Classification: Query
First, keep in mind that there is no "Italian" category - it's labelled Italy/Greece and it includes several other surrounding areas. What is your dad's known ancestry and what other categories does he have results in (and how much)? It's possible he has ancestry from a nearby region and it's just showing up under Italy/Greece instead because the groups are so similar. It doesn't mean he has actual Italian ancestry.

Secondly, be aware that the ethnicity percentages are just estimates. Note that if you expand the details, it will give you a percentage range, not just a hard number - what is the range for both of you for Italy/Greece?

That said, with your dad having 44% and you having 27%, it sounds most consistent with it coming from your father's parent, or your grandparent. As a comparison, I have one Italian grandparent and my Italy/Greece results on AncestryDNA are 31% (20-42% range). But it's impossible to say for sure since the ethnicity results aren't exact. If your concerned that one of your dad's known parents is not his biological parent, it would be best to look at his closest DNA matches - or better yet, have some of his known close family members test too (like a sibling or 1st cousins). The ethnicity results just aren't really a good indication of whether his known parents are his biological parents or not, or whether there was a non-paternity event somewhere else in his ancestry. This can only really be determined with his DNA matches. Or, if he suspects his known father is not his biological father, he might have some success with taking the yDNA test at FTDNA.

Re: Unexpected results...parent or grandparent

Posted: 9 Jul 2015 2:37AM GMT
Classification: Query
Keep in mind too that there was a lot more migration around Europe than we realize. For example many of us have significant Scandinavian ethnicity with no known Scandinavians in the tree. However, once you get to reading up on all the locations the Vikings not only traveled to but also settled and sometimes even controlled politically, it makes sense. For example, Normandy in France was conquered and settled by Rollo the Viking and his followers so there is a lot of Scandinavian in some French villages. The Normans then conquered England. Prior to that the Vikings had large settlements through not only England but also Scotland and Ireland.

Re: Unexpected results...parent or grandparent

Posted: 10 Jul 2015 12:25AM GMT
Classification: Query
Many thanks, both of you, for your replies. As our paper trail is in one place for over 5 generations the obvious conclusion was paternity. Although not knowing who my grandmothers father was did make us question whether it was possible for such a high percentage to be passed from a grandparent. Further tests it is then
many thanks again

Re: Unexpected results...parent or grandparent

Posted: 10 Jul 2015 2:43AM GMT
Classification: Query
I'm 24% Scandinavian and NO Scandinavian ancestors that I can find in any part of my tree.
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