What Company to Choose to do DNA Testing

I did my first DNA test at 23andMe, I also have done DNA testing at Ancestry, and I have uploaded my results to MyHeritage and FamilyTreeDNA.

Parallel to my DNA testing I was doing historical records searching and have found documented proof of a DNA match with a relative with whom I have common 2nd great grandfather. That was very exiting! Unfortunately that relative have not responded to my messages. That is a common situation. This did not discourage me, instead it just did an opposite it gave me a desire not to stop and continue.

My DNA testing experience showed me that at this time if you have ancestors from what is now Ukraine, it is better to test with FamilyTree. Then you can upload your results to MyHeritage. People in Ukraine do DNA testing with these two companies more than with any other. Going this way you will find more cousins if your ancestors are from Ukraine

From Curiosity To Passion

When I was born only my dad’s father was still alive. So I asked my parents to tell me about my grandparents who were gone already. I wanted to know how they looked, what they loved doing, and other interesting facts of their life. I so much missed not knowing them.

As I got older I herd a bit about people who where able to trace their genealogy. I thought of it as something I will never be able to do. Partly because in Soviet Union it was never encouraged, in fact it was discouraged by the way of archives being closed to the public, or very limited to what you can search for.

In the summer of 2017 out of curiosity I bought DNA kit from 23andme. After I got back my results I have not found any close matches. Only 3rd -5th cousins. The reason why I have gotten only distant cousins it is because people in Ukraine do not do DNA testing as much as in the USA and Canada.

By doing DNA testing I have not found close cousins but it pushed me toward documented genealogy.