Why Your DNA Results Are Different From Your Sibling’s

Ever wondered why your DNA results don’t match your sibling’s exactly? It all comes down to how DNA is inherited! In this episode of Teach Me Tuesday, Laura S. from DNAngels breaks it down using a simple (and sweet!) explanation involving M&M’s. 🍬

We’ll explore: ✅ Ethnicity Estimates & Why They Change
✅ Genetic Communities & Migration Patterns
✅ DNA Matches & Centimorgans
✅ How DNA Recombination Affects Sibling Comparisons

Join us as we unravel the fascinating science behind genetic genealogy. Drop a ❤️ in the comments if you’ve had a DNA surprise or have questions for a future episode!

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[annehersey]

This was a great explanation for interpreting the data! When my half-sister and I first did our DNA (same father) her French was much greater than mine and since the French part only came from Dad not either of our moms I was confused. Well mine kept changing till I was close to her. What really blew me away and showed me these companies weren’t scams was the Community Groups. Since I have my genealogy on 3/4 of my grandparents back to the late 1500’s and the fourth to early 1800, I already knew what I was but the community groups came back to the EXACT 3 places those ancestors settled in 1630’s!! It was New England, Ohio River Valley and St Lawrence River valley-the exact 3 places those ancestors settled and I knew it was true. I was really surprised they knew my French had been in Canada for hundreds of years and not France. My goal is to find out who and when those ancestors left France and where they were from there. Everyone else was from England or Scotland. You were right about the centomorgens and their range because Ancestry gave me the cM but said she was my first cousin probably because there’s overlap in the cM but we know the truth. Just a really really interesting talk today BUT darn it, Lara- NOW I really want some M&M’s!, 😊😊😊😊

[christianraularroyo]

I am happy that you made a point to use the word 'estimates' and not 'results' when talking about ethnicity percentages. I will add that those ethnicity estimates do not necessarily reflect where your family came from. Sometimes it just means where your DNA is located or can be found today.

[fiberotter]

A few years back, I tested my uncle and aunt....my late dad's siblings, my double cousin, and my sister. Double cousin shows as half sibling (our parents are siblings). I could look at my estimated ethnicity, plus my sister, and my cousin, and get a full picture of our ethnicity. And with my uncle and aunt, I could figure out what came from the paternal line. It gives a full picture.

[Monga_Makes_Things]

Does this mix and filtering explain why one child resembles a great grandparent and their sibling does not, but may resemble a different great or 2G grandparent? I am amazed at the uncanny resemblances in our family.

[godisloveireland]

One person inherits different amounts of dna, or maybe no dna from certain ancestors, that's why we are all different.

[godisloveireland]

People may show up one day in your match list and then some time down the line, they may not, that is most likely due to their test being removed

[stepht]

It’s crazy when we look at our 5 kids (all adults) Ancestory DNA. One of our kids only has 3 countries and the one with the most has dna from 8 😂😂❤

[justsayin]

I have two cousins that are full sisters on ancestry, but cM's are different, how does that happen? there are stronger cM's with my older cousin than my younger cousin.