DNA facts

There are different kinds of DNA tests, just like there are different kinds of blood tests.

Different kinds of DNA tests cannot be converted into other tests, or be compared to each other, just like different kinds of blood tests cannot be compared to each other.  As an example, a blood test for allergens, cannot be compared to a blood test for, say, cholesterol.

This is why a CODIS STRA DNA test cannot be compared to an autosomal DNA test.

B.  Autosomal DNA

Ancestry, Family Tree DNA's Family Finder test, MyHeritage, and 23andMe, are all called **autosomal DNA.**  Autosomal DNA tests have only been in existence for about 11 years, if even that long.  It tests over 700,000 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, known as SNP's, located throughout all 23 chromosomes.

Autosomal means not gender specific; not only female and not only male, it provides results from both sides of the family.  This is new and revolutionary.  Results from both sides had never been done before autosomal DNA testing.

B.  Paternity, Avuncular and CODIS:

There are paternity tests, and similar types of tests which are called avuncular from aunt / uncle, and forensic tests also test the same markers, included in this description.

They test anywhere from 12 - 41 markers, called Short Tandem Repeats, known as STR's, located at the juncture of the chromosome, known as the centromere.  Anomalies become blindingly obvious among the continuous repeating patterns.

C.  Court Standard Accepted Evidence

STR CODIS and avuncular paternity types of tests are accepted court standards.  Autosomal SNP tests are not.

D.  Chain Of Evidence

When a court ordered STR CODIS or avuncular test is administered, it is extremely well documented as to who administers the test, witnesses present, who the sample is handed off to, who the courier is that transports that sample to the lab, what lab it is, and who signs for it at the lab.

There cannot be any tampering of evidence.

Autosomal DNA is all mail in.  There's no proof as to who actually took the test.  Even if the sample was well documented, there's no way to prove any of the matches actually took the test, either.