People come to the world of DNA for a variety of reasons. It’s often through curiosity, that instinctive need to know where our ancestors came from, and DNA can be the perfect tool to break down that brick wall in paper trail family Genealogy, particularly where adoption is involved. However, sometimes our Genes let us down and it can be devastating to learn of an inherent disease in the family. This is where Health/medical DNA testing can be useful by prompting us to make positive lifestyle changes.
DNA testing has grown exponentially since Genetree first provided direct-to-consumer Genetic DNA testing in the late 1990s; their first year sales were 95% paternity driven DNA tests. In 2000, Family Tree DNA, founded by Bennett Greenspan and Max Blankfeld, became the first company dedicated to direct-to-consumer testing for Genealogy research. They initially offered eleven Marker Y-Chromosome STR tests and HVR1 Mitochondrial DNA tests. They originally tested in partnership with the University of Arizona.
In 2007, 23andMe was the first company to offer saliva-based direct-to-consumer Genetic testing. It was also the first to implement using Autosomal DNA for ancestry testing, which other major companies (Ancestry, Family Tree DNA and MyHeritage) later implemented.
People come to the world of DNA for a variety of reasons. It’s often through curiosity, that instinctive need to know where our ancestors came from, and DNA can be the perfect tool to break down that brick wall in paper trail family Genealogy, particularly where adoption is involved.
Genetic Genealogy relies on a number of different methods to identify potential relatives. One of the most popular gateway products is the Autosomal test, for example Family Tree DNA’s Family Finder test. Firstly, it’s incredibly affordable, and secondly, it’s a good all-rounder test.
The blurb is:
Family Finder provides powerful interactive tools to help find your DNA Matches, trace your lineage through time and determine family connections.
So, the question is, what can it tell me?
Family Finder is an Autosomal DNA (abbreviated as atDNA) test and uses 700,000 Autosomal SNPs to help confirm relationships in your family tree but also break through brick walls and find unknown relatives. This is also key where there has been adoption or other non paternity events.
The test is effective up to five Generations, then it becomes more difficult to confirm relationships.
With the advent of Ancient DNA testing (aDNA), we are getting closer to understanding the narrative of our ancestors and their journey through time.
Another attractive feature of Autosomal testing in General is origin study. Family Finder houses this in what they call myOrigins, where you can discover your ethnic percentages breakdown.
Understanding our deeper ancestry is one of the most rewarding areas of Genetic Genealogy, but not without its issues. However, with the advent of Ancient DNA testing (aDNA), we are getting closer to understanding the narrative of our ancestors and their journey through time. Archaeogenetics, the study of Ancient DNA, has been one of most exciting developments in the world of DNA.
Ancient DNA (abbreviated as aDNA) is DNA isolated from ancient specimens, so everything from early man to the bones of Richard III of England. This is a notoriously difficult process due to degradation which makes Ancient DNA of a lower quality in comparison with modern Genetic material. However, it is still the best tool to use regarding confirmation of theories in the study of modern population Genetics.
Sometimes our Genes let us down and it can be devastating to learn of an inherent disease in the family.
This brings me to the Health/medical test conundrum. Should we venture into this area of DNA testing and allow fear to dominate our lives? And yet, on the other side of the coin, medical DNA can prompt us to make positive lifestyle changes to lessen the chances of becoming ill with diseases such as diabetes or heart disease.
Companies such as 23andMe have been offering a basic Health Traits DNA tests for as little as $99usd, including an ancestry test. Their dedicated Health + ancestry test costs $199, but this offers the following:
- Ancestry 50+ reports
- Plus Health Predispositions* 10+ reports
- Wellness 5+ reports
- Carrier Status* 40+ reports
- Traits 30+ reports