Mon 7/20/2020 2:40 PM
John NY,
In June 2011, Judy Lakkis reached out to me, asking if I would take a DNA test to confirm if her father was related to my family. She was very nice about it. She had DNA results that suggested a match but needed more DNA markers, to be sure. The DNA test she wanted would not work with her DNA.
Some ancestry tests use male Y-DNA to trace paternal ancestry and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to trace maternal ancestry. While both men and women inherit mtDNA from their mother, only those born males inherit Y-DNA from their father. Men can easily trace their maternal and paternal ancestry using their DNA. Females need a male paternal relative to take a male haplogroup test on their behalf. Source: DNA Testing Choice
I wasn’t interested even when she offered to pay for the test. She understood the timing was not right for me.
Recently (9 years later), I reached out to her and asked if she was still interested? I was ready and willing to take and pay for my test. Here is her response.
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FTDNA states that they don’t have a record of my father’s Y DNA, so I tried to search my old files ( copies), and I must have disposed of them as FTDNA did. (see attachment).
My father passed in 2009, so I used his hearing aids to get the DNA. FTDNA wanted more money, so they deleted what I DID have. Too much!!!!!!!
Ten years ago, I was very interested, but now I have lost interest.
I checked my autosomal DNA, and your name did not appear, so I guess we are in a very distant relationship.
Have fun now that you have the time.
DNA is fascinating
Best Wishes
Judy
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Judy’s DNA interests led to her using her photography skills to take photos of graves for the website FIND A GRAVE. Her stories about this were fascinating. I commend her efforts. I’m also disappointed that I didn’t help when I could.
Before contacting her again, I researched the firms that do DNA research. All the big ones are good. The determining factor is probably which firm has the largest Slovak data pool and which test focuses on finding matches. That appears to be Family Tree, the same firm Judy used. Believe it, or not some tests are more geared towards ethnicity or predicting health issues.
Yes, I’m willing to do this, but NO social pressure from me. I already think of us as an extended family.
John, IV