Difference between revisions of "DNA Basics"
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Deoxyribonucleic acid (definition): a self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information. | Deoxyribonucleic acid (definition): a self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information. | ||
Why use DNA testing for genealogy | Why use DNA testing for genealogy.<ref>Wheaton,''[https://sites.google.com/site/wheatonsurname/beginners-guide-to-genetic-genealogy Wheaton Surname Resources - Beginners Guide to Genetic Genealogy]''</ref> | ||
* To learn more about one’s ancestry | * To learn more about one’s ancestry | ||
Revision as of 10:37, 22 June 2021
Deoxyribonucleic acid (definition): a self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.
Why use DNA testing for genealogy.[1]
- To learn more about one’s ancestry
- To confirm one’s tree reflects ancestry
- To confirm relationship between two people
- To validate a theory of where people came from
- To break down a brick wall in research
- To find biological relatives of an adopted person
- To learn where traits came from
Types of DNA
- Y-chromosome (Y-DNA) - Male ancestors only. Not passed to daughters.
- Mitochondrial (mtDNA) – carried by Female ancestors only, but passed to sons.
- Autosomal - both male and female ancestors. Autosomal DNA is the most common kind and is the DNA test that lets you most easily find your genetic origins and cousins.
Testing Companies
- AncestryDNA
- 23andme
- Family Tree DNA
- Living DNA
- MyHeritageDNA
- GEDmatch
DNA tests can have surprise results.
- You might find you have a half-sibling that you never knew about. An affair, perhaps?
- You might find you or someone in your family was adopted.
- You might find ethnic origins that nobody ever knew. Your great-grandma might not have had a clue as to her origin!
DNA testing requires ethical considerations.
- Before you handle someone else’s DNA results, start reading about ethics at https://bcgcertification.org/skillbuilding-the-ethics-of-dna-testing/.
- At the very least, get permission to post DNA results or share on various web sites.
- Consider who will be the custodian of DNA results for someone who passes on.