DNA genealogy is the study of the lineages of families and the tracing of these lineages through history by studying DNA. DNA is the hereditary molecule which will be transferred from one generation to the other, i.e. from parents to children, while the DNA of the child will be a recombination of the parent genome, some of the sequence will remain conserved. These sequences will be used during DNA genealogy to identify your lineages.
DNA genealogy basically uses DNA. First let us find out about the DNA.
DNA Genealogy – What is DNA?
DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid is the basic of most known life forms. It consists of two components:
- Nitrogen Bases: Basically four different bases are present in DNA Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, and Guanine.
- Phosphate Sugar Backbone: To give structural support and protect the bases, all of them are attached by bonds to a backbone made of phosphate and sugar groups.
The sequence of the bases in the DNA strand controls everything. Based on the sequence a single cell will grow to form a complex human body. The DNA thanks to its many sequences, will produce different proteins, these proteins will affect all of the cellular processes and also control the phenotypic characteristics such as skin colour, eye colour and every other detail of the human body.
DNA Genealogy – Why Preform A Test?
A DNA genealogy test will basically allow you to get a picture of your ancestors. You may want to undergo this test for any of the following reasons:
- Maternal/ Paternal Lineage: If you wish to perform a test to determine if your parents are your biological parents, this test can be done. By analysing DNA samples from you and your parents, it can be stated with 99.9999% accuracy if you are related biologically or not.
- Your Ethnic Origins: If you are interested in your ethnic or geographical origins then this test will show you which population you belong to. It will also give information regarding which region of land your ancestors lived in.
- Migration: When DNA genealogy testing is applied over a longer time span, it will give information regarding the migration of human beings from different places over time. This testing has been used to determine the point of entry in the Americas and the path they followed from there.
- Disease Testing: DNA genealogy will reveal if a certain gene defect known to cause a disease is present in your genetic material. This information can be used to prepare one and ones future children to certain lifestyle restrictions or changes.
DNA Genealogy – Different Tests
Basically you can undergo two tests for DNA genealogy studies:
- Parental Line DNA genealogy: Here the Y chromosome will be tested. It is known as paternal testing since only males contain a Y chromosome in their genetic material. Hence the information gained from this test will be strictly restricted to the father’s side of the family.
- Maternal Line DNA genealogy: Here the DNA will be tested for variations etc. This will give information on the maternal family.
DNA genealogy – The Science Behind It
Basically, the DNA you will have will be from two sources. Half will be from your father and the other half from your mother. This happens in every generation, additionally if you marry someone from an entirely new family; your children’s genetic material will further change.
But some parts of the genome (a very small part) will remain same throughout many generations. In DNA genealogy studies, these regions are located and analyzed. If they are common in two people, then it means that those two people are related. While 99% of the genome remains the same for all human beings, the other 1% can be used for genealogy studies.
Thus by studying the genome of multiple people and comparing them for:
- STM’s: Also known as Short Tandem Repeats.
- VNTR’s: Variable Number Tandem Repeats.
- SNP’s: Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms &
- HVR 1 & HVR 2 regions
Your entire family line can be found out.
DNA genealogy – Procedure
DNA genealogy testing involves the following steps:
- First a cheek swab will be done in the inside of your mouth to isolate some cells
- Next these cells will be lysed to release all of its internal components
- Then all of the waste material which is not required will be separated and discarded
- Once the DNA is isolated, it will be amplified using a PCR machine
- Then it will be sequenced
- Finally tests will be done to study and analyse the STM’s, VNTR’s, HVR1 & HVR2 regions.
Thank you for reading, and we hope you found useful information in our article on DNA Genealogy.
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