Genetic Genealogy

I recently attended a lecture at my public library on “Genetic Genealogy,” presented by Blaine T. Bettinger, Ph.D. Genetic genealogy analyzes your ancestral DNA, based on cells you collect from a mouth swab. You send the swab in to a lab and the lab tells you your genetic genealogy going back hundreds, possibly even 1,000 years ago. I thought genetic DNA analysis costs thousands of dollars. No. Only a few hundred. It also doesn’t reveal anything about your medical genetics for people who are concerned about that.

Although there is more than one DNA lab, Dr. Bettinger (www.thegeneticgenealogist.com) recommends www.familytreeDNA.com because it has the largest database–one-half million people have been tested using it. (The larger the database, the easier to find a match to your DNA ancestry.) Women test only the “female DNA,” or mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA), which is passed down from their mothers. Men can test both the mtDNA from their mothers, and the “surname DNA,” or male DYA (YDNA) from their fathers.

Who knew that 90% of Europeans are descended from seven women, known as the seven daughters of Eve? Check out The Seven Daughters of Eve by Bryan Sykes (W. W. Norton, 2001 hardcover, 2002 trade paperback). According to Nielsen Bookscan, the book has sold 100,000 copies in hardcover and paperback combined.

Have you had your DNA analyzed? Do you know where your ancient ancestors came from?  Who said we can’t time travel?