DNA Genealogy

By Curt Whitesides

The next time you are watching your favorite CSI TV show or a particular movie and stumble into the fascinating world of DNA, you might be surprised to know that our DNA can do more than identify a suspect or victim at a crime scene. In fact, DNA is now being used to identify ancestors in the new and exciting field of DNA Genealogy.

DNA Genealogy takes traditional genealogy and applies genetics to it. DNA Genealogy involves the use of genealogical DNA testing to determine the level of genetic relationship between two individuals (Genealogical 2005). DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid, is used in the process because of its unique nature and the fact that it is passed down from one generation to the next. In the passing, some parts of the DNA remain almost completely unchanged, while other parts change dramatically. This property allows for the identification of certain consistencies between generations and provides the ability to identify genetic relationships.

There are two types of DNA tests available for testing DNA Genealogy: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and Y-chromosome DNA tests.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is found in the cytoplasm of the cell instead of in the nucleus as is Y-chromosome (Tracing 2003). mtDNA is passed by a mother to both her male and female children without any additions or mixing from the father. Therefore, your mtDNA is the same as your mother's mtDNA. mtDNA is different in nature compared to Y-DNA. It changes slowly making it more difficult to determine close relationships and easier to determine relatedness. If two people have the same mtDNA, there is a very good chance that they also share a common maternal ancestor. Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine if that common maternal ancestor was recent or instead lived hundreds of years ago.

Y-chromosome tests have been used more and more recently to determine DNA Genealogy. The Y-DNA tests are only available for males, because the Y-chromosome is only passed down along the paternal line from father to son. There are tiny chemical markers on the Y-chromosome that create a unique pattern. This pattern of markers is what is called a haplotype. A haplotype is used to determine one male lineage from another. This type of testing is often used to determine if two individuals who have the same surname share a common ancestor.

One of the early beginnings of DNA Genealogy was a study published by Bryan Sykes in 2000 (Sykes and Irven 2000) that used DNA Genealogy (Y-chromosome markers) along with surname studies to determine relatedness. The study compared 48 men with the same surname of Sykes from the regions of England and analyzed four Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) on their Y-chromosome: DYS19, DYS390, DYS391, and DYS393. The study found that of the 48 men tested, 21 had the same core haplotype and many others were only one mutational step away from the core haplotype. Skypes interpreted these results to reveal a common origin from an ancestor who lived some 700 years ago (Butler 2005).

Since its early beginnings, DNA Genealogy has come a long way and has grown rapidly. DNA Genealogy continues to increase in popularity as the price of tests becomes much more affordable and the number of markers and clarity of the tests become greater. Additionally, DNA collection techniques make it a very simple and pain-free process.

Sources

Butler J. (2005) Forensic DNA Typing; Biology, Technology, and Genetics of STR Markers, 74, 231-232.

Genealogical DNA test. (2005, December 7). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 21:52, December 8, 2005 from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Genealogical_DNA_test&oldid=30489865.

Sykes, B. and Irven, C. (2000) American Journal of Human Genetics, 66, 1417-1419.

Tracing Your Ancestry Through DNA (2003) Genealogy.com.

http://genealogy.about.com/cs/geneticgenealogy/a/dna_tests.htm


Curt Whitesides Relative Genetics, a leading provider of DNA Genealogy, specializes in testing services on both the paternal and maternal lines, extended and nuclear family relationships, and Ancestral Origins TM analysis. For more information, visit http://www.relativegenetics.com/relativegenetics/landing_pages/dna-genealogy.jsp

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Curt_Whitesides/44260
http://EzineArticles.com/?DNA-Genealogy&id=231624

More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More Genealogy Information:

Related Articles

Tracing Family Histories
One of the most fascinating, and most rewarding pastimes you can engage in is tracing family histories. By delving into the past of your family and the families that have joined together to form that family, you can learn about yourself, your parents, your ancestors, and the many people who have been born, wedded, had children, and eventually ended up creating that unique entity known as you.
Genealogy Research - What's In A Name?
Have you hit a stumbling block in your search for ancestors? Is the given name you're looking for one that could be easily spelled differently in another language? Try varying the spelling of the given name you are researching - sometimes it can make a world of difference.
The Family Tree
So you want to record your family's genealogy. The first thing to do is always make an audit trail. What is an audit trail? This article addresses "what is an audit trail" and the importance of making one.
Family Tree Makers
Family tree maker software lets you find your relatives and ancestors, contact them and share information with no trouble at all. Read on to find out more about this impressive program and learn how to advantage of it.
8 Common Family Tree Research Challenges and Their Solutions
Every amateur genealogist is bound to hit a dead end every once in a while. Don't lose hope. The information you're looking for IS out there -- it just might take a little more digging to find it. Here are some common problems -- and their solutions -- that trip up many family tree researchers.
How To Use The Census In Your Genealogy Research
The census is an excellent tool for genealogical research. Records are not released for 72 years, but there's a wealth of information to be found there: age, place of birth, occupation, spouse, children, immigration information and much more. This article describes what you can find, where to look and provides additional research tools to assist you in your search.
Color Your Genealogy
Using artifacts to help bring your ancestors to life. What things to look for and how to use them.
Building Your Family Tree 101: Quick Tips for Finding Your Irish or Scottish Ancestors
Did your ancestors come from Europe ? in particular Ireland or Scotland? It's quite possible to find their records. You may even be lucky enough to find records online, because as more and more people become intrigued with their origins, more are being made available.
Make Your Family Tree Come Alive
"I gotta be more than just two lines in the Oklahoma City Times." While the tune is catchy and the words poke fun of the obituary section of a great newspaper, it carries a serious message to those us interested in genealogy.
Genealogy - Why You Should Get Involved in Your Family History
There are a lot of good reasons for researching your family tree. Here are some compelling reasons to get involved.
Top 10 Useful Family Tree Research Tips
Whether you?re just starting out on your journey to uncover your ancestry, or you?ve been at it for years, everyone can benefit from these 10 tried and true tips to make the research process more rewarding, more fruitful and, of course, more fun.
Building Your Family Tree 101: Quick Tips for Finding Your English Ancestors
Did your ancestors come from Europe ? in particular England or Wales? It's quite possible to find their records. You may even be lucky enough to find records online, because as more and more people become intrigued with their origins, more are being made available.
DNA Genealogy
The next time you are watching your favorite CSI TV show or a particular movie and stumble into the fascinating world of DNA, you might be surprised to know that our DNA can do more than identify a s...
Make Your Family Tree Come Alive
"I gotta be more than just two lines in the Oklahoma City Times." While the tune is catchy and the words poke fun of the obituary section of a great newspaper, it carries a serious message to those us interested in genealogy.
How to Tap the Power of the World's Most Important Genealogy Libraries Without Leaving Home
Thanks to the Internet and tried and true "snail mail," the information in the world's best libraries is right at your fingertips.
Preserve Your Family History by Writing Your Family Stories
Preserve Your Family History by Writing Family Stories "Everyone has a story to tell." It seems like a cliché, but it's true. After working as a newspaper reporter for more than eight years, I know th...
Is There a Family Tree Goldmine Hiding in Your Attic?
Most armchair genealogists today are so conditioned to look for just about everything online that they often forget some of the very basic "old school" methods that worked so well years before anyone had even heard of the Internet. So, turn off the computer, get up from your desk, and get ready to do some down and dirty family tree research the way it used to be done.
Tracing Family Histories
One of the most fascinating, and most rewarding pastimes you can engage in is tracing family histories. By delving into the past of your family and the families that have joined together to form that family, you can learn about yourself, your parents, your ancestors, and the many people who have been born, wedded, had children, and eventually ended up creating that unique entity known as you.
Genealogy -- How to Track Down Your Family History
Knowing who we are and where we came from can greatly enrich our lives today. Our ancestry is more than just names on a pedigree chart; it is the blood line that flows through us today and future generations. This knowledge must be what is leading millions of people to search each day for their own roots.
Genealogy - Why You Should Get Involved in Your Family History
There are a lot of good reasons for researching your family tree. Here are some compelling reasons to get involved.