Know anything about DNA ancestry tests

So I saw an article in the paper today about the popularity of DNA tests among amateur genealogists, and I thought it might make a good gift for my mother, who’d the only person in my family interested in that stuff. I did a quick Google search, and it appears that there’s a plethora of companies offering different types of services. Does anyone have any experience with this? Know what type of test give you the most interesting information? I’m pretty sure my Mom’s white all the way down, so I’m thinking one of those racial percentages ones aren’t going to be that fascinating, but what do the other types do?

Well, either you live in CT and saw the same article I did, or we both read an article nationally circulated.

As for your Q - I found this:

So you can get pretty specific with regards to certain markers, but deciphering what they mean is a whole different salad. I know most of my ancestry were scandanavian, my wife as well. We have seen some geneology results for each other what indicate we had similar ancestry, in that we are both of scandanavian/bohemian decent. Our chances of having a blond hair blue eyed kid are good. As I have blond hair and blue eyes, and she has sandy blond hair and blue eyes… We’ll see.

[QUOTE=Phlosphr]
Well, either you live in CT and saw the same article I did, or we both read an article nationally circulated. QUOTE]

Yeah, the article in the Times. But I was afraid if I said “the Times” I’d get one of those “New Yorkers are so egocentric- we have the Des Moine Times too, you know!” types. Anyway, thanks for the info.

I’ve thought about doing the National Geographic’s test, either for my own curiousity or because my mom might be interested. I haven’t really looked into it, but I figure if National Geographic is behind it, it must have at least some validity.

Oh, that one looks fun, and it’s cheaper than a lot of the others out there.