View Full Version : The DNA results are in...
Ultralight
1-27-16, 7:02am
Turns out my mom is 20% Irish. Though she is also 29% British. And 34% "Western European" -- whatever that means.
I bet she's very happy to hear that she's "right". ;)
Ultralight
1-27-16, 7:40am
My sister's plan to to hold the results over my mom's head for a while, then have my mom come down to visit and reveal the results with a meal from the ethnicity she is mostly comprised of. So... fish and chips? haha
I dunno...
But I do know I will probably never hear the end of this Irish stuff now.
Why make an issue of it? I don't understand. If she enjoys thinking that she is Irish with many good features, why not? Some people take pride in being Dutch or Italian or Portuguese or Armenian or Ethiopian... What is the issue that it has become such a power struggle for you against your mother? Makes no sense at all. Just love her as she is with all her eccentricities.
Ultralight
1-27-16, 8:39am
Why make an issue of it? I don't understand. If she enjoys thinking that she is Irish with many good features, why not? Some people take pride in being Dutch or Italian or Portuguese or Armenian or Ethiopian... What is the issue that it has become such a power struggle for you against your mother? Makes no sense at all. Just love her as she is with all her eccentricities.
Why make an issue of it? Because despite being 1/5 Irish -- how Irish is she really? Does she speak Gaelic? Does she eat steel cut oats and potatoes daily? She doesn't even drink! She doesn't sing Irish folks songs. She is devoid of culture of any kind, let alone Irish culture.
People take pride in ethnicity -- that is true. But I think it is a "granfalloon."
What is a granfalloon?
Granfalloon – a false karass; i.e., a group of people who imagine they have a connection that does not really exist. An example is "Hoosiers"; Hoosiers are people from Indiana, and Hoosiers have no true spiritual destiny in common, so they really share little more than a name. (Kurt Vonnegut came up with this idea)
It is an issue because my mom pushes it on my sister and I who both openly admit and know that we are culturally devoid.
It is also an issue because my mom is an adult and needs to be treated as such.
Chicken lady
1-27-16, 9:05am
Wouldn't an adult response to this be "mom, we think the emphasis on our Irish genetics is silly because you never really incorporated any of our Irish heritage into our lives."?
Ultralight
1-27-16, 9:08am
Wouldn't an adult response to this be "mom, we think the emphasis on our Irish genetics is silly because you never really incorporated any of our Irish heritage into our lives."?
Yes, done that. Didn't work.
Chicken lady
1-27-16, 9:16am
That's where the adult comes in. She isn't your child. It's not your job to change her behavior. You can communicate how you feel about it, and then ignore it, walk out of the room, calmly remind her of your feelings, or go ahead and engage in a futile battle of will if you enjoy that.
Ultralight
1-27-16, 9:21am
That's where the adult comes in. She isn't your child. It's not your job to change her behavior. You can communicate how you feel about it, and then ignore it, walk out of the room, calmly remind her of your feelings, or go ahead and engage in a futile battle of will if you enjoy that.
My mom is rather spiteful. My sis and I are definitely kind of spiteful too. It is not an especially helpful emotion, I know.
IshbelRobertson
1-27-16, 10:37am
Do what most Irish people would do.... S******.
IshbelRobertson
1-27-16, 11:22am
What? A perfectly apt English word is censored? SN IGG ER.
What? A perfectly apt English word is censored? SN IGG ER.
“The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft a-gley.”
My mom is rather spiteful. My sis and I are definitely kind of spiteful too. It is not an especially helpful emotion, I know.
Spiteful isn't an emotion, but a purposeful attitude--and a particularly unproductive one. If your mother is happy being Irish, what's it to you, anyway? Talk about misspent energy.
Ultralight
1-27-16, 11:36am
Spiteful isn't an emotion, but a purposeful attitude--and a particularly unproductive one. If your mother is happy being Irish, what's it to you, anyway? Talk about misspent energy.
Believe me. I know my spite is a personality flaw. I don't have it for everyone and everything though. Same goes for my sister -- she is not spiteful in all contexts.
But it is hard to restrain one's self from being spiteful when you encounter someone being spiteful to you.
Let's face it........soon our DNAs will all be exactly the same. Just one big blob of "human".
Ultralight
1-27-16, 12:32pm
Let's face it........soon our DNAs will all be exactly the same. Just one big blob of "human".
Likely true! Though I hope to play no part in that process.
Williamsmith
1-27-16, 12:35pm
Well, the only thing left to do is have yourself DNA tested and hope it proves you aren't even her biological son. Report back.
Ultralight
1-27-16, 12:36pm
Well, the only thing left to do is have yourself DNA tested and hope it proves you aren't even her biological son. Report back.
Actually we're going to test my father as well.
But yeah, it'd be pretty dang funny if I was not her bio-son!
Let's face it........soon our DNAs will all be exactly the same. Just one big blob of "human".
Doesn't seem a particularly likely outcome, given how the reproductive process works. Even if we go to full-on cloning of The Perfect Individual, there will be quality-control issues that spring up.
Actually we're going to test my father as well.
But yeah, it'd be pretty dang funny if I was not her bio-son!
I would LOVE to find out I wasn't related to my parents!
Ultralight
1-27-16, 1:13pm
I would LOVE to find out I wasn't related to my parents!
:D
ApatheticNoMore
1-27-16, 2:04pm
so 20% Irish is indeed part Irish. So she's part Irish if she wants to be (or really regardless of if she wants to be of course, but it's not important to everyone). I mean it's not like someone claiming an ancestry they have zero percent evidence for. If there was some genetic susceptibility to being Irish (alcoholism? rosacea maybe? I don't know) it would be enough to have it possibly.
Doesn't seem a particularly likely outcome, given how the reproductive process works. Even if we go to full-on cloning of The Perfect Individual, there will be quality-control issues that spring up.
Not to mention silly fashion trends. Look at the names some people give their kids. Would you want to let them specify genetic traits?
Some of us are just fascinated by our origins, genealogy, DNA, historical factors as they relate to our ancestors. Genealogy adds a flavor and depth to history that I never noticed while memorizing dates and kings and wars in school. I hoped to find something exotic when I had my DNA tested. I didn't, but my SO's is exotic enough for both of us.
Ultralight
1-27-16, 3:30pm
I mean it's not like someone claiming an ancestry they have zero percent evidence for.
Up until now this is exactly what she was doing. And since she does not know about the 20% yet she is still doing this.
Ultralight
1-27-16, 3:30pm
Not to mention silly fashion trends. Look at the names some people give their kids. Would you want to let them specify genetic traits?
Explain further...
Ultralight
1-27-16, 3:31pm
Some of us are just fascinated by our origins, genealogy, DNA, historical factors as they relate to our ancestors. Genealogy adds a flavor and depth to history that I never noticed while memorizing dates and kings and wars in school. I hoped to find something exotic when I had my DNA tested. I didn't, but my SO's is exotic enough for both of us.
What is your SO's?
I wanted to add that I am 100 percent Polish born there yet raised here. My mom insists that we are Hungarian ...but royalty after great grandpa. Sadly missing details who and where he lived. I will have to get her that Dna test end this narcissism.Where acn I get it and how much is it?
Native American (probably Yaqui), European, Jewish, Iberian, other Middle Eastern, and a few other things I would have to look up. My guess is that he had ancestors who fled Spain during the Inquisition. Historical records seem to bear this out, as two prominent Sephardic Jews share surnames with his family. (They were prominent Conversos--converted Jews--who were hounded and imprisoned by minions of the Church.)
Genealogists are discovering families of "hidden Jews" in Mexico, now that there is DNA testing to confirm what family history long suggested. Fascinating.
ETA: Ancestry.com and 23 and Me are the two preeminent DNA testing entities. Cost is about $100, though Ancestry has periodic 20% off deals. 23 and Me provides a lot of medical-related data (Google controversy).
Explain further...
Would you want someone who thought it was a good idea to name their child Selebraty, Beppo or Zylar to have any voice in their genetic design?
I prefer to think of myself as a mongrel. Identity is something you build for yourself, not inherit.
Ultralight
1-27-16, 3:56pm
I wanted to add that I am 100 percent Polish born there yet raised here. My mom insists that we are Hungarian ...but royalty after great grandpa. Sadly missing details who and where he lived. I will have to get her that Dna test end this narcissism.Where acn I get it and how much is it?
Google ancestry.com. It is about $95.
Ultralight
1-27-16, 3:56pm
I prefer to think of myself as a mongrel. Identity is something you build for yourself, not inherit.
Total agreement!
If you're ever looking for a pure time-waster, visit Baby's Named a Bad, Bad Thing. It will crack you up--or drive you to despair.
I prefer to think of myself as a mongrel. Identity is something you build for yourself, not inherit.
According to my genetic test results, I'm not even exactly human.
I don't consider myself a tabula rasa, by a long shot. I'm the product of generations of genetic tinkering--not always for the better. The idea of the "self-made man" is as foreign to me as the concept of an Ubermensch.
OK, bae--I'll bite. Will you explain?
OK, bae--I'll bite. Will you explain?
You humans are slackers, with your mere 46 chromosomes :-) I have 47 in many of my cells. Could explain the striking resemblance I bear to a cave troll.
You humans are slackers, with your mere 46 chromosomes :-) I have 47 in many of my cells. Could explain the striking resemblance I bear to a cave troll.
Aren't extra chromosomes often found in serial killers?
Aren't extra chromosomes often found in serial killers?
That used to be the pop-culture belief. There was even a period of time where abortion of people with this sort of configuration was encouraged, to protect society...
Actual Science(tm) seems to show otherwise.
You humans are slackers, with your mere 46 chromosomes :-) I have 47 in many of my cells. Could explain the striking resemblance I bear to a cave troll.
Many of your cells? Are you a chimera, or you just referring to your germ cells?
At any rate, that probably explains your derring-do.
Mosaicism fascinates me; I bet when we're all thoroughly vetted for DNA, it will be found that it's not as rare as has been thought.
Many of your cells? Are you a chimera,
47,XYY mosaic. Only real observable effect to casual onlookers is in my bone/muscle structure. I grew insanely fast as a child, and most of my bones are 99%+ in width/thickness, which I suppose will be handy as I age. I also sometimes have a strange desire to wrestle sabertooth tigers.
This particular shufffling of the cards is about a 1/1000 chance for live male births, happens in utero, is the result of poor error correction in the making-new-human process :-) Human life is quite a bit more complicated than the binary view we used to teach in the schools.
47,XYY mosaic. My oldest grandson is XXY, commonly known as Klinefelter Syndrome, along with Trisomy 9 Mosiac where a third copy of the #9 chromosome is found in a majority of his cells. The XXY is a piece of cake comparatively.
When DNA results are in, how specific are they about European origins? Do they give specific countries, or just "Eastern European"?
My sister and I have always believed we were 100% Hungarian but it turns out that my maternal grandmother was a bit German. Just curious as to what else is in my mix.
iris lilies
1-27-16, 8:00pm
When DNA results are in, how specific are they about European origins? Do they give specific countries, or just "Eastern European"?
My sister and I have always believed we were 100% Hungarian but it turns out that my maternal grandmother was a bit German. Just curious as to what else is in my mix.
We registered with a Scottish organization that attempts to match up cousins meaning "cousins" several times removed.
it is imprtant to us because our mmigrant ancestor from Scotland is a mystery. We want to connect with relatives feom about 120 years ago.
So yeah, it gets closer than just country or area. We are working within a "stuart" database.
But weve not been as successful as we wish, yet although have some matches far out including an African american qStuart. That is interesting.
Ultralight
1-27-16, 9:02pm
When DNA results are in, how specific are they about European origins? Do they give specific countries, or just "Eastern European"?
My sister and I have always believed we were 100% Hungarian but it turns out that my maternal grandmother was a bit German. Just curious as to what else is in my mix.
Great Britain, Ireland, Finland, Iberian, and a few others -- but they just do Eastern or Western European.
freshstart
1-27-16, 9:03pm
Well, the only thing left to do is have yourself DNA tested and hope it proves you aren't even her biological son. Report back.
I'm sorry but I didn't see that coming, I'm cracking up!
freshstart
1-27-16, 9:18pm
I'm a quarter Irish with the sad story of overcoming overwhelming adversity to get here that many immigrants of that time experienced. All 6 of my other great-grandparents came here with really hard luck situations. Only being Irish mattered. But I don't think my grandmother grasped the basics beyond Irish soda bread. Her father and mother came here as Protestant Irish. My grandmother converted to Catholicism for marriage and there was no Protestant freak out that she was marrying the enemy. I tried to get the real story out of her, surely the patriarch of the family, who came here with $19 in his pocket to live with religious freedom, was a wee bit upset. She looked at me like I had two heads. I think we are just culinary Irish, because it sure as sh** ain't cultural or religious piety. I loved her but had I known about DNA testing being affordable, I would've tested her Bichon, told she isn't Irish and can we please talk about the lives of my other 6 great-grandparents? I know nothing about them.
Ultralight
1-28-16, 6:41am
My BIL got his DNA results last night. He was really banking on being part Native American.
But nope... He was 96% European, 1% African, and 2% Middle Eastern. The other 1% was not certain...
lessisbest
1-28-16, 8:10am
I did the Ancestry DNA test because I suspected there might be Asian (Mongolia) in the family history, but the test confirmed there wasn't.
These were my results:
57% Scandinavian
Modern days: Denmark, Norway, Sweden
27% Eastern European
Modern Day: Poland, Greece, Macedonia, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Romania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Belarus, Moldova, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Kosovo
18% Central European
Modern Day: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein
2% Unknown (although I've traced that part of the family to Scotch/Irish)
I found it really interesting, if nothing else.
Ultralight
1-28-16, 8:35am
Since my mom is 4% Iberian (Spain and Portugal) my sis was wondering if she can claim "Latina." My sis is therefore at least 2% Iberian. haha
IshbelRobertson
1-28-16, 9:22am
I find it strange that so many people are having DNA tests done :)
Born and bred in Scotland, not even any Irish blood, right back to when my family has been recorded (although I a willing to concede there may be a wee bit of Viking or Norman, as both sides are from the highlands!)
Ultralight
1-28-16, 9:27am
I find it strange that so many people are having DNA tests done :)
Born and bred in Scotland, not even any Irish blood, right back to when my family has been recorded (although I a willing to concede there may be a wee bit of Viking or Norman, as both sides are from the highlands!)
Most Americans live in a culturally vacuous void. They grasp at straws for something -- anything -- to give them a culture, a people.
I've got about 4% Neanderthal. Many of us do actually.
Ultralight
1-28-16, 9:54am
I've got about 4% Neanderthal. Many of us do actually.
Do they have a check box for that? Ya know, for equal opportunity and such?
iris lilies
1-28-16, 10:02am
I find it strange that so many people are having DNA tests done :)
Born and bred in Scotland, not even any Irish blood, right back to when my family has been recorded (although I a willing to concede there may be a wee bit of Viking or Norman, as both sides are from the highlands!)
Americans are mongrels,thats what makes us tough.
Most Americans live in a culturally vacuous void. They grasp at straws for something -- anything -- to give them a culture, a people.
Or maybe they're just understandably curious about their beginnings.
Why do you seem to invariably choose the most negative, cynical view of everything?
IshbelRobertson
1-28-16, 10:51am
Perhaps that is your perception?
I am not a negative person in the slightest, but perhaps curious about attitudes in foreign lands.
Whoops! My apologies, JaneV2, ! I thought your last post was aimed at me.
Ultralight
1-28-16, 10:52am
Or maybe they're just understandably curious about their beginnings.
You could very well be right!
Why do you seem to invariably choose the most negative, cynical view of everything?
This is hyperbolic.
You could very well be right!
This is hyperbolic.
You're right. I'm always relieved on those occasions when you don't.
Ultralight
1-28-16, 10:56am
You're right. I'm always relieved on those occasions when you don't.
You zinged me right there for sure. hahaha
Not sure why the DNA is important in any way. I am a mutt with a European base but not interested in exploring further. Just because the technology exists does not mean that I have to use it. Whatever one's genetic makeup, I feel that it is what you do with your life that should be of significance not some cells. Obviously others feel differently.
Ultralight
1-28-16, 11:04am
We're going to make this fun for my mom though, ultimately.
My sis is going to make this: http://www.food.com/recipe/traditional-irish-shepherds-pie-302120 and I might make this: http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017275-irish-stew
We're going to give her those foods at dinner when she visits next.
iris lilies
1-28-16, 11:09am
Not sure why the DNA is important in any way. I am a mutt with a European base but not interested in exploring further. Just because the technology exists does not mean that I have to use it. Whatever one's genetic makeup, I feel that it is what you do with your life that should be of significance not some cells. Obviously others feel differently.
With me, its that I really really like the bits of Scottish history that
I know ( which granted, is limited) but more importantly I like the architecture of Scotland.
If I can identify with these things that I like, it reinforces my liking of them. When I @like" something, I lrean about it, stretching mynmind.
Two months ago there was a program at our downtown library about Scottish Architecture. The room was packed. i am not the only one who likes it.
How does an interest in genealogy prevent you from making the most of your life? I've pretty much made the least of mine, but I'm grateful to have maintained my curiosity throughout.
ApatheticNoMore
1-28-16, 12:22pm
Not sure why the DNA is important in any way. I am a mutt with a European base but not interested in exploring further. Just because the technology exists does not mean that I have to use it. Whatever one's genetic makeup, I feel that it is what you do with your life that should be of significance not some cells.
Well there is reason to have some curiosity about one's cells. Certainly many diseases have genetic susceptibility (though this for some will be "do I want to know if I have the gene that makes me likely to get x?"). Diet choices may have genetic influence (celiac etc.). Plus some people's family's are mysterious, they hide a lot, and you wonder what genes from obviously "illegitimate" pregnancies and affairs may have snuck in there etc.. which tends to inherently be kind of fascinating. What is the real family history? Because people are usually raised with some official variant of family history.
I find it strange that so many people are having DNA tests done :)
Born and bred in Scotland, not even any Irish blood, right back to when my family has been recorded (although I a willing to concede there may be a wee bit of Viking or Norman, as both sides are from the highlands!)
I don't think I live in the most diverse areas, however my kids's friends, the kids at my school and their families are mixed heritages. After awhile it gets to be a bit of everything, not all white appearing European by far. Lots of kids mixed black, hispanic, white, asian, and all in the same kid! We are becoming more white appearing but lots of Hispanic/Spanish last names even with the blond kids.
On a side note that is what throws me off about the Trump thing, maybe I am just not aware of how other areas of the US are more homogenous so I don't understand that other people don't see head scarves at the grocery store, and obvious Orthodox Jewish people and mixed races and Hispanics who are the bosses and teachers and lawyers.
On a side note that is what throws me off about the Trump thing, maybe I am just not aware of how other areas of the US are more homogenous so I don't understand that other people don't see head scarves at the grocery store, and obvious Orthodox Jewish people and mixed races and Hispanics who are the bosses and teachers and lawyers.Who says they don't?
Who says they don't?
I guess I thought if your neighbors and friends were not all the same as you, and then kids become friends, that it may make a positive impact when you hear things about "those people"
Teacher Terry
1-28-16, 3:06pm
It really depends on where you live and how big the town is etc whether or not you see all different kinds of races. When I got to the West Coast in the medium size town I live in I said "where are all the black people?" There are hardly any. Many Hispanics live here also. I rarely see an Orthodox Jew or someone in a head scarf. We also have a small Native American population. Now when we go to San Fran it is totally different and you see many different races.
lessisbest
1-28-16, 4:49pm
I've been active in our local Genealogical Society, County Historical Society, and the local Historical Museum, and these agencies are essentially the historians of our region - all the way from the pre-historic natives and Plains Indians, to Coronado's Expedition in the area between 1540-1542, to the first settlers to the people coming here today. The history of the area has been recorded as the county developed from the late 1850's. In the north part of the county were the Danish, in the south - Swedish. Irish on the east and German in the west. I think knowing our past gives us a sense of belonging to something, with attachments to places we didn't even know about.
When you visit cemeteries, you'll find many early settlers who didn't forget where they came from because you'll often see it inscribed on their memorial markers. So you have a great-great grandfather who was from Co. Cork, Ireland, you'll take more interest when Rick Steve (PBS) travels through the area, and think my ancestors walked those same streets. How cool is that?
TVRodriguez
1-28-16, 10:45pm
If you're ever looking for a pure time-waster, visit Baby's Named a Bad, Bad Thing. It will crack you up--or drive you to despair.
I used to visit this site for a sure chuckle! Oh my.
IshbelRobertson
1-29-16, 5:15am
The UK has always been an immigration destination. We have a number of muslim immigrants from Africa and SE ASia and the women wear hijabs, burkhas and niqabs. Indian women in saris, Pakistani men in tunics and trousers, etc. Irish names abound, particularly in Glasgow and the West coast, the area nearest to Ireland. We have large groups of Polish and Italians, too.
It is just that the vast majority of us are still in the group who know each generation and in many cases their ancestry is from the very area they still live in. My dad was born in the highlands, my Mum's family moved from Sutherland, in the far north, to Edinburgh for work in the early 1900s.
Believe me. I know my spite is a personality flaw. I don't have it for everyone and everything though. Same goes for my sister -- she is not spiteful in all contexts.
But it is hard to restrain one's self from being spiteful when you encounter someone being spiteful to you.
If I only behave as well, or as badly, as the person in front of me, who is determining my moral compass? I feel better when I guide my own actions instead of mirroring people around me.
If I only behave as well, or as badly, as the person in front of me, who is determining my moral compass? I feel better when I guide my own actions instead of mirroring people around me.
And if you misread their motives, they'll probably just write you off.
Kind of like with the chronically critical or sarcastic types--it gets tiresome fast.
My mom came over yesterday, along with my dad, so my sis and I could reveal her DNA results.
I think it might well have been her best day in over 20 years!
I made traditional Irish stew for her, and my sis and I put together one heck of a shepherds' pie as well. It was a surprisingly delicious meal! Though I only cooked the stew for about 9 hours -- so not long at all by Irish culinary standards. haha
Anyway, when she found out she was 20% Irish she was so, so happy.
My sis and I just let her have her moment.
Chicken lady
2-1-16, 7:22am
Way to adult! THAT was an excellent gift to give a hoarder.
freshstart
2-1-16, 10:39am
that's a day she will cherish for years to come, you done good putting the crap aside
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