Hardly, Miguel. It's not what you see on TV or the commercials (in America).
DNA is just another tool in the genealogist's tool box. Many genealogy societies have DNA Interest Groups. You should see if your local society has one and attend. Genealogy conferences have lots and lots of DNA speakers. You should see if there's one locally to you and attend. If you follow any of Roberta's postings or those of the other genetic genealogists, no one is saying the paper trail doesn't matter. They all say it is a tool to be used in conjunction with everything else. Not to use DNA is kinda like not using the Internet to look up records. You can still drive to your local FHC and look up your genealogy on microfilm if you prefer. Well, until August 31st, when Family Search sunsets microfilm. My dad's DNA has been able to help others figure out their paper trail. My cousin, Richard, DNA tested for me last fall and died 3 months later. I can't tell you how thankful I am that I got it. His DNA seems to really attract people from my freguesia - more so than my dad's DNA. Eventually, we will have the DNA of the entire freguesia. Science backing the paper of history. And opening doors. Although some of those doors may be closets, with a skeleton in them. And many people go beyond with DNA, into anthropology and older and ancient civilizations. All through DNA. Now there's those lovely (voice dripping in sarcasm) TV commercials, at least on American TV. Most of those commercials are geared towards the ethnicity estimates. Many people take a DNA test to see if they need to trade in their lederhosen for haggis. They aren't interested in genealogy whatsoever. And there are the TV shows (at least in America - Who Do You Think You Are? and Long Lost Family) that makes it look like a DNA test unravels a paper trail or it just takes a couple of keystrokes at the computer. As any genealogist knows, that's not true. But if they televised all the boring parts, well, there would be no sponsors and no ratings. And rating$ equal $pon$or$ and profit$ for the networks. Also, DNA can open doors for those of unknown parents. Or pai(s) incognitos. I was contacted by a 77 year old man, whose last name is Mello. He was placed in foster care in Massachusetts and never adopted. He knew his mother's name was Mary Mello and couple of other facts. His only choice was to DNA test. While his DNA was processing, I was checking out the Mary Mello's who lived in the vicinity where he was born. There were 2 of the right age that fit his facts. When his DNA came in, he got a strong Italian match and his ethnicity estimate indicated Italian as well. He was half Italian and half Portuguese. I got him to upload to GedMatch where I found stronger Italian matches. I got them to transfer to FTDNA. Not only are we converging on an Italian family, one of the guys who transferred is half Italian and half Portuguese as well. And matches my dad! So in helping someone else, I expanded my own tree. And the Mary Mellos? The first one did have 3 descendants that DNA tested. None matched Mr. Mello. The 2nd Mary Mello doesn't appear to have anyone who has DNA tested yet. But given the address where Mr. Mello was born, I was able to run down his 88 year old uncle, who lives only 15 miles from me! He lived at the address 77 years ago where Mr. Mello was born. It's just another tool and a great way to find more cousins (I can't name all my 3rd, 4th, 5th cousins) and to help others. And helping others just feels good! Cheri Mello, Family Tree DNA Admin (volunteer) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Azores Genealogy" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/azores.
