About

Hi, I’m Charles McKnight.

I built this website after buying all of the leading DNA tests to discover everything I could about my American-Scots-Irish lineage.  

I spent $400 to do that.

(Today, doing the same thing would cost about $600.)

Before ordering the tests, I studied as many genealogy blogs and DNA sites as I could find, to learn about the science and the differences among the leading services.

One of the things I learned about consumer DNA testing is that increasing the number of DNA records (samples) in public databases benefits everyone. There is a real network effect to this science. 

That’s one reason why leading DNA test services have been working hard to make their services easy to use.  

I do find the big 4 services are easy to use – especially after you master the first one.

On the other hand, because of all the technical jargon out there, selecting the right test for my family was actually more difficult than using the DNA tests themselves.

That’s why I purchased all of them – I just couldn’t figure out which one I needed.

When I was researching this topic, I found some truly excellent enthusiast blogs that cover the science and practice of DNA testing. They are well-written and extremely thorough.

But the best genetic genealogy blogs are typically very detailed and technical in nature. I mean, I’m an engineer and I find some of it way beyond my means.

The jargon can make it tough for an amateur genealogist like me to decide on the right first test & get started.

I also noticed that many of the best independent genealogy websites aren’t formatted for a smartphone.  

This really irks me, because I travel for a living. I use my iPhone for most of my off-hour research, and most of these sites are so hard to read on my phone that I am forced to email links to myself… so I can read them when I get home. 

Crazy.

My goal for this website is simple: I want to make it easier for families to dive into the exciting world of family DNA testing, starting today. By making it easy to pick the correct first test for their needs. 

Even if they’re on a plane.

And no emailing of links involved šŸ˜‰

Caution: If you want to dive deep into the science of DNA testing, then this site is not for you. See my Resources page for a list of awesome blogs and websites that can help you do that.

On the other hand, if you just want to select the right test for your family project, then you’ve come to the right place.

I hope this site simplifies your quest to begin mapping your genetic genealogy & finding new contacts. I’ve found the process rewarding and exciting.

And it’s not intimidating at all, once you get started.

If you have any comments, clarifications or questions please don’t hesitate to contact me. Just please bear in mind that this is a hobby of mine, not my day job!

All the best,

Charles McKnight

FTC DISCLOSURE

 

I do not accept payment or merchandise in exchange for reviews, guest posts, opinions or mentions. Everything on this site is written by ne, objectively and honestly.

However, you should assume that I have an affiliate relationship and/or another material connection to the providers of goods and services mentioned on this website and that I may be compensated when you purchase from a vendor.

Always perform due diligence before purchasing any good or service online!

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