DNA matches to people with no trees
I tested through ancestryDNA almost 4 months ago and have thoroughly enjoyed researching the results, as well as using GEDmatch and Genome Mate. One thing I've never understood is why there are so many of my DNA matches to people who either have no trees at all or who have a tree that has a handful of people in it. I had been researching my tree on Ancestry for more than 10 years before I even took the DNA test. I currently have 180 DNA shared ancestry "hints", so all my work over the past 10 years in developing my tree paid off when I had the DNA test done. But I don't understand why people bother to have a DNA test done if the results tell them nothing about who they are related to. What is the point? Can anyone explain this? I'm definitely befuddled.
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Re: DNA matches to people with no trees
I think a lot of people have taken the test more out of curiosity for the ethnic information than a genuine interest in actually doing genealogy research. I'm with you on not understanding why someone would bother taking the test and not take advantage of the ability to attach the results to a tree, but to each their own I guess.
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Re: DNA matches to people with no trees
Watch Ancestry's commercials. They are now going for the bottom-feeders. Too many genealogists have figured out their tests are sorely lacking in value. "Want to know your Ethnicity? Get a DNA test from Ancestry." It's only going to get worse.
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Re: DNA matches to people with no trees
Hi Melinda. I understand your frustration. I have had several encounters with others, but I soon realize that their concept of "ancestor" is limited to the parents of their grandparents...they have no interest in learning what the previous generations will show.
I still enjoy this hobby. Trying to trace the locations my ancestors lived 300 years ago, and finding it a remarkable coincidence that they lived is same town in 1661----70 years before the lines merged in a marriage.
I have discovered that nearly ALL of my DNA matches designated beyond 4th cousin contain names that are not familiar to me. And attempting to investigate any connection to one of the names in my pedigree is cumbersome .
But I have made a few interesting discoveries by studying the pedigrees posted.
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