How are FamilyTreeDNA tests different from paternity tests?

FamilyTreeDNA's official answer to this common question is found below (taken from their main FAQ page).

"Family Tree DNA's primary test attempts to determine if 2 people thought to be unrelated actually had a common ancestor. Our specific purpose is to help recreate lost family links. Our test is for genealogy NOT for paternity, alimony or other legal purposes."

In my personal family genetic genealogy research, I've found some individuals can sometimes get fairly good and probable evidence that a man and father or grandfather are indeed related, but the evidence is not solid enough for legal pursuits. For example, in the surname project I'm involved, there have been many men with solid traditional genealogy paper trails who end up testing and find out they are not closely related to the primary family in the project. Some of them have ancestors who were adopted but carried their adopted surname and passed it to their children. Of course, those are just "interesting" details that help families in genealogy research, not legal matters.

Hanok ben-Isaak

Related:

• What is a Haplogroup?
• How to get tested?
• There is only ONE human race
• Pure Breed or Pure Non-sense?

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