DNA Testing for Genealogy
Family history, name and lineage have major psychological impacts on our lives, we wish to have a feeling of belonging, and existence, and to know our history so that we can figure out exactly how did we reach our present position and location.
The study of families and tracing their lineages and history is known as Genealogy.
Applying genetics to the same turns it into Genetic Genealogy, The concept is not new, going all the way back to 1875 when George Darwin investigated the importance of surnames in genetics.
Today utilizing DNA testing one can arrive at definitive conclusions about their genealogy.
With the technology turning cheaper and more accessible, today it is as easy as registering on a website, receiving a kit, mailing it back and then waiting for results to utilize the technological advancements of genealogical research, primarily the concept branches off into two forms of test, the first being mtDNA Test; these test the mitochondrial DNA that is passed from the mother to her child.
Since these cells don't mix with other cells they are easy to extract and examine.
Examining these cells can prove common maternal ancestry between individuals, however it shows no relation between the closeness of the same.
It can only establish a True or False condition regarding maternal relation.
The second test is the Y line test which tests the Y chromosome, since the XY combination is male exclusive, this chromosome can't be found in women, hence when transmitted down the lineage, they are passed from father to son only, hence they can be used to check paternal ancestry.
Usually in case of same surnames, the establishment of common paternal ancestry can be performed by doing the Y line test.
These tests do not create a genetic fingerprint which can be used on a forensic level, nor do they create definitive reports about any diseases, they only establish a lineage relationship between two individuals, hence establishing a relationship between two families and so forth.
This also helps in developing biogeographical ancestry, which basically is to determine the percentage of a person's ancestry from a particular continents/regions to identify the original tribe of origin.
The only drawbacks of the same are cost and privacy.
Competitive companies have brought the costs down, however they store DNA data which is not covered under any privacy agreement.
Also these tests are not 100% accurate, since mutation and abnormalities can creep in and distort the results.
Standardization and Regulation Control can help such scenarios.
The study of families and tracing their lineages and history is known as Genealogy.
Applying genetics to the same turns it into Genetic Genealogy, The concept is not new, going all the way back to 1875 when George Darwin investigated the importance of surnames in genetics.
Today utilizing DNA testing one can arrive at definitive conclusions about their genealogy.
With the technology turning cheaper and more accessible, today it is as easy as registering on a website, receiving a kit, mailing it back and then waiting for results to utilize the technological advancements of genealogical research, primarily the concept branches off into two forms of test, the first being mtDNA Test; these test the mitochondrial DNA that is passed from the mother to her child.
Since these cells don't mix with other cells they are easy to extract and examine.
Examining these cells can prove common maternal ancestry between individuals, however it shows no relation between the closeness of the same.
It can only establish a True or False condition regarding maternal relation.
The second test is the Y line test which tests the Y chromosome, since the XY combination is male exclusive, this chromosome can't be found in women, hence when transmitted down the lineage, they are passed from father to son only, hence they can be used to check paternal ancestry.
Usually in case of same surnames, the establishment of common paternal ancestry can be performed by doing the Y line test.
These tests do not create a genetic fingerprint which can be used on a forensic level, nor do they create definitive reports about any diseases, they only establish a lineage relationship between two individuals, hence establishing a relationship between two families and so forth.
This also helps in developing biogeographical ancestry, which basically is to determine the percentage of a person's ancestry from a particular continents/regions to identify the original tribe of origin.
The only drawbacks of the same are cost and privacy.
Competitive companies have brought the costs down, however they store DNA data which is not covered under any privacy agreement.
Also these tests are not 100% accurate, since mutation and abnormalities can creep in and distort the results.
Standardization and Regulation Control can help such scenarios.
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