Quote:
What is a Y-Chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) STR test? What will I learn?
From Family Tree DNA: "A Y-DNA test looks at male inherited Y-Chromosome DNA. As the Y-Chromosome is passed on from a father to his sons, it is only found in males. Y-DNA testing can then be used to trace clearly a direct paternal line. When testing the Y-Chromosome, there are two types of tests, short tandem repeat (STR) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). STR tests are best for recent ancestry while SNP tests tell about more ancient ancestry. Our standard Y-DNA panels use STRs and are useful in verifying common ancestry between two males and finding genetic cousins on the paternal line. However, each of our Y-DNA STR tests comes with a haplogroup prediction that is backed by our SNP Assurance policy. Y-DNA STR tests can also then be used for determining geographic origins of the direct paternal line as well as the deep ancestral origins"