We are currently at the frontier of Genetic Understanding, with the human genome finally mapped out we have a pretty good "idea" of how things work. However it is not scientific fact yet, more of an understanding an theory. The main issue is is building a workable database to make these comparisons to come to a reasonable conclusion, and what exactly you are looking for. The main issue of ancestry can be a touchy topic, as you have geneticist versus genealogist. What we find through genealogical records are still far more accurate than DNA testing for one simple reason, "Genetic Depreciation". It is not the official term, but here me out.... we can go back several generations realistically.
Parents 50%
Grandparents 25%
Great Grandparents 12.5%
Great Great Grandparents 6.5%
Great Great Great Grandparents 3.125%
Great Great Great Great Grandparents 1.56%
Great Great Great Great Great Grandparents 0.78%
Further what exactly are the main groupings? Because of political correctness we no longer classify certain genetic groups under Mongoloid, Caucasian, Negroid, or Aboriginal. Under the old understanding Mongoloids would include the peoples of Asia and Indigenous America "Aka Chinese, Indonesia, Japan,
Eskimo, Native American Indians"; Caucasian would include European and Semitic Ancestry "Aka Europe, Russia, Mediterranean, Scandinavia, Persia, Arabic, India"; Negroids would include the native people of Africa; and lastly Aboriginal would include the native people of Australia. The individuals who make up Oceania were considered a blend of Aboriginal and Asia bloodlines. This in my was the old groupings without the new Genetic Testing Standards, which now include other than Homo Sapien as it has been accepted that there are traces of Neanderthals and others in modern humans. So not only have our classifications change, but our understanding of our genetic purity as well and some fallacies regarding the cradle of life and I would suggest influence by eurocentric and religious views.
So going forward I did participate in Ancestry DNA testing, and it confirmed what I already knew. Nothing too surprising as the DNA testing is still rather general. For example I already know I share Caucasian and Native American DNA...and those were basically my results. I did not need to take a DNA test to know that. Same for my friend who is of Chinese descent....and it confirmed... he is very obviously Asian... duh!.
The significant problem is when you try to specify the ethnic groupings, there are no reliable databases in regards to Native American and Asian genetics that can specifically compare DNA sample. Most of the North American Indians have been wiped out, those in Central America and Southern America are mixed.
You may still have strong lineages such as the Eskimo, Incas, and Brazilian tribes but.... what about everyone else. Also what complicates matters are Ethnic Identity versus genetic Identity....and as far as the current databases with the mass blending and mingling of people who accurate is that trace of North African.... especially when that region in not necessarily Negroid? Same with the Asian analysis.... no one is just Chinese... the Chinese themselves recognize over 20 ethnic groups....so for the hundred plus dollars you spent you would hope you would better better results than... yeah your from the "North Part of the World"
TV shows like "Know your Roots" on PBS or "Who Do You think Your Are" on TLC are deceptive in some regards. They really heavily on genealogy research looking at available documentation to find links between people such as organization, birth certificates, religious documents, census data etc... to determine your ancestry. If living relatives or acceptable remains that can be tested, can only provide a biological link...but cannot accurate delve further into the past to determine what you are. As I said at this point genealogy trumps genetic testing.
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