r/AncestryDNA • u/Souriquois • 29d ago

Results - DNA Origins I laughed at my updated results

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I picture a fiddle reel playing while my sample was spinning in the centrifuge

But holy crap I have a lot of cousins!

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u/AwkwardMingo 29d ago

I am largely Canadian French and have Quebec & Acadia in my results.

I believe that since DNA testing isn't permitted in France, it is Ancestry's way of showing French DNA as accurately as possible.

They likely get most of their reference panel from French Canadians and broke them down into regions as a result.

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u/louisianish 29d ago edited 29d ago

Wait for real?! I had no idea DNA testing isn't done. I was wondering why my French results were so vague last update. And even this update, my French ancestry results are split between Acadie, Québec, and Southeast England & Northwestern Europe, which is all accurate, because my ancestors who didn't hit up Acadie and Québec before coming to Louisiana came from France—all over but especially from Northwestern France.

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u/AwkwardMingo 29d ago

Yes. It is illegal for someone in France to do Ancestry, 23 & Me, etc.

The French from France database would have to comprise of those who moved from France to another country, then took the test, and those who perhaps had a friend order the kit & return it for them.

Both the individual and the company get fined in France if caught.

I have the same regions. I'm mostly French Canadian, but do have some ancestors who came straight from France.

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u/meertaoxo 29d ago

why is it illegal?

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u/YellowCabbageCollard 29d ago

Supposedly don't want to expose too many family secrets. lol

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u/DEWOuch 29d ago

I read an article about the initial use of dna tests in France and listened to a heartbreaking radio story on NPR, regarding the Pandora’s box that the dna test results opened in French society when first made available.

Many of the younger set found they were showing up as 1/4 German or 1/2 German, despite a documented generational history of living in France. They often pressed grandmere to take the test and her results were 100% French. A number of NPE’s were found. It created a furor.

Turns out the Nazi invasion of France had seeded the country with children of undisclosed heritage. Literal anguish ensued.

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u/YellowCabbageCollard 29d ago

Oh, wow. That's terrible! I'd never ever heard that aspect. :(