Debunking DNA Test Myths: Why DNA Testing May Not Reflect Expected Ethnicities

YaYaTerrance, your experiences with DNA testing are not uncommon. DNA tests from major players such as 23andMe, AncestryDNA, FTDNA, and MyHeritage often provide complex, educated guesses based on population sampling. These test results are subject to frequent updates and revisions, but accuracy can vary widely. MyHeritage's results, when compared to your extensive family history, were notably less accurate, leading to a general lack of faith in their data.

Native American Ancestry

Your question about the absence of Russian and Native American ethnicity in your MyHeritage test results brings up several important points. First, the reasons behind the lack of detection can be multifaceted.

Most Native American stories are unproven folklore passed down through generations. However, the legal definition of Native American includes being officially enrolled in an acknowledged tribe. If neither your mother nor her relatives are enrolled in such a tribe, there is a significant chance that genetic detection would be minimal or nonexistent.

White Americans and Native Ancestry

Many White Americans have the misconception that their close relatives have significant Native American ancestry. This self-identification is often based on vague or erroneous lore. The reality is that most people who are shocked by the lack of Native American ancestry in their DNA test results don't actually have this ancestry at all. If there is a trace of ancestry, it is usually so low that it does not show up in the data.

Russian Ethic Background

Your Russian ancestry in the DNA test showing as Eastern European might be due to historical movements and genetic overlaps. Some lines of your family might have moved east into Russia, integrating with Eastern Slavic genetic clusters over time. This can explain why the test might show European rather than specifically Russian ethnicity.

Mother's Lineage and MyHeritage Results

In regards to the maternal maternal grandmother, the results listing her as Native American are questionable. Considering the historical context, it is likely that this line does not have significant Native American ancestry. Here’s why:

The maternal great-grandmother may be assumed to be part-Abenaki, but even if this is the case, her ethnicity would be primarily European. The remnant Abenaki population did not have intact tribal communities, and modern Abenaki descendants are not typically identified as Native American.

The other lines in your maternal line also lack any apparent Native affiliation, suggesting they are of old colonial ancestry.

Given these facts, the DNA test results might be broadly accurate, reflecting a minimal or nonexistent Native American ancestry. In some cases, the genetic inheritance might be below the threshold for detection by DNA testing algorithms. Alternatively, it might be that no identifiable genetic sequence of Native American ancestry was inherited.

Conclusion

Understanding and interpreting DNA test results requires a nuanced approach. Genetic testing provides probabilistic data based on population samples, and results can vary significantly between different testing companies.

For those with a significant family history or specific ethnic backgrounds, it's important to remember that genetic ancestry can be complex and subject to multiple factors, including migration, assimilation, and cultural practices.

Additionally, it can be helpful to explore both genetic and historical records to gain a more comprehensive understanding of one's heritage.