A bunch of students in a DNA technology class gave genetic samples, then were surprised that the results didn't confirm their family legends."I want to find out if there are any skeletons in my family's closet," Ellen Hales said in April. It turned out on Saturday that there were no surprises for the Alameda resident -- she is 99 percent European.

But her husband, Jim Davis, was one of several stunned people who took the test and learned that those family stories about an American Indian ancestor appear to be myths.

"My father always made a big deal out of saying my grandmother was 100 percent Fox Indian," said Davis, who tested as 96 percent European, 3 percent African and 1 percent Native American. "Well, it turns out that isn't true. Not at all."

Karen Hill, who tested 80 percent African and 20 percent European, expressed similar sentiments.

"I'm shocked that I'm not Indian at all, not even 1 percent," said Hill of Oakland. "I was also told my great-great-grandfather was Creek Indian."What's amazing is that 3 people insisted they were negros even though there was no DNA evidence to back their assertion.

See: DNA workshop upends notion of race for many (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/11/BAG14JCDI31.DTL&q=q)

AHAHAHAHA! In genealogy, the rule is that a person "knows" about his own parents and grandparents. Beyond that, it's all very iffy, most people wouldn't be able to give a correct account.


I had a relative researching his family tree for many years finally take a DNA test and find out he had no blood relation to the family surname. He belongs to some other family completely. Some female ancestor, maybe his own mother, lied!

Is it expensive? I'd be interested in getting one done. What all kinds of information do you get from them?

He belongs to some other family completely. Some female ancestor, maybe his own mother, lied!

This happens a lot with adoptees. They are never told and the secret dies with the adopting parents . Lots of people do this for the sake of family harmony .

AHAHAHAHA! In genealogy, the rule is that a person "knows" about his own parents and grandparents. Beyond that, it's all very iffy, most people wouldn't be able to give a correct account.


Hell ..... there are plenty of women who don't know who their childs father is .

Is it expensive? I'd be interested in getting one done. What all kinds of information do you get from them?

You can google "DNA testing" and see who offers what for how much. At the present time, these DNA testings are like generic horoscopes in depth. Vaild DNA testing is done by qualified researchers in this area and is an extremely specialized field. There are probably some commercial enterprises that do more than a "cursory" analysis, but commercialism of DNA testing is still in initial development.