You might have noticed that with
the advent of the “technological
age,”genealogy research is simply not what is
used to be; I’m not just talking about the
Internet either. Sure, the Internet has
introduced genealogical interconnectivity and
increased transferability that is as the
French would say is “impressionnant,” but I’m
not talking about the Internet or any type of
hardware, at least any type of hardware that
isn’t, well……..biological. Yep. Surprisingly
enough, it’s your own gorgeous, carbon- based
biological form that can provide vital clues
to your ancestry. The technology? It’s called
ancestry DNA testing and it is as true-blue
as the reality of your long lost great
grandfather himself.
How could ancestry DNA testing be
possible?
“But,” you stammer and blink, “this cannot
be.” “How can those crazy scientists compare
my DNA with my ancestor’s DNA? “Are ancestry
DNA testing professionals going to dig up my
great grandmother’s bones?
Are ancestry DNA Testing professionals going
to dig up my great grandmother’s bones?
The answer is a resounding “NOPE.” Ancestry
DNA Testing professionals have been smart
enough to listen to their Biology instructors
and figure out a few things about DNA, your
genes, your chromosomes (especially your
23rd) that will knock your genealogy socks
off.
A Review of DNA, Chromosomes: Some of the
Knowledge behind Ancestry DNA Testing1
DNA, although composed of dull-sounding
sugar/phosphate molecules and supposedly
boring nitrogenous bases, is actually a party
waiting to happen. In other words, DNA is
anything but boring. For instance, when DNA
is all bundled up it is referred to as
chromosomes which as you may remember are
located in almost every human cell. There are
46 of them (once again in just about every
human cell) and they are paired two by two
like a little Noah’s ark chromosome movement.
Your 23rd chromosome pair determines your
sex. A male has a XY chromosome combination
and a female has an XX. It is the Y
chromosome that is continually passed from
father to son that genealogists are beginning
to appreciate via the ancestry DNA testing
process.
How does it work?2
Let’s say for example that you are a male and
that you suspect you are related to a male
friend of yours who knows that some of his
second cousins (twice removed) have your
surname. With DNA Testing the Y chromosomes
of both you and your friend can be compared
and if certain attributes match, it is very
likely that you and your friend are distantly
related!
Ancestry DNA testing is not an uncommon as
you might expect. In fact, companies have
commercialized the service in a fashion that
might not be too inherently different from
selling bananas out of the back of a Chiquita
Banana Girl truck. So, if you think you might
have a common ancestor with someone you know,
give ancestry DNA testing a try.
Can you trace maternal ancestors too?
Of course! With mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA),
lab professionals can determine whether two
people (not necessarily females) have a
common ancestor.
Genealogy research has indeed come a long way
and genealogy research will definitely
continue to grow with surprising technologies
like Y-chromosome DNA Testing and mtDNA
Testing.
An Unnecessary Disclaimer
Keep in mind my dear reader friend that the
DNA Testing process will not result in any
exact ancestor names. No. Unfortunately the
lab professional in charge or your ancestry
DNA testing process won’t likely come out of
the laboratory and inform you that you are
directly related to former Pres. Richard
Nixon. However, that is one of the beauty of
combining ancestry DNA testing and
traditional and modern genealogical work. It
is sort of a metaphor for the spirit that
meets the body, the language that meets the
science, and the relationships that meet the
facts. The combination of discoveries and
advancements from both genealogists and
scientists is offering both studies more
options than ever before!
1
http://www.relativegenetics.com/relativegenetics/tutorial/biology101.htm
Marci
Crane is a web content specialist for
Innuity. For more information about ancestry
DNA testing and how it can relate to your own
genealogy research projects, please feel free
to learn more about Relative Genetics.
Article Source:
http://www.searchwhateveraustralia.com.au
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