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Posts Tagged ‘mitochondrial DNA’

DNA Genealogy is basically another term for DNA testing. Usually DNA testing is done for catching criminals and solving other kidnapping cases. But, Genealogy DNA is used to find out what the possible relationship is of one person with another or for finding the ancestors.

The first Genealogy study was conducted in 1980s at the University of California, Berkeley. The scientists involved in this discovery are Rebecca L. Cann, Mark Stoneking and Allan C. Wilson. They discovered a new type of DNA named mitochondrial DNA which is present in the cell. It is passed on from mother to her child. The other DNA, Y chromosome, is

present in the nucleus of the cell is passed on from father to son.

These are the two type of DNA which mostly tells about our ancestors. It also tells about the tribes and the place of origin of our maternal and paternal lines. Scientists have studied a lot about evolution and have now concluded that we all came from one common ancestor called Adam and Eve. No doubt, there were other men and women also but it was only Adam and Eve who survived.

DNA Genealogy has helped a lot in solving different things. It is an interesting topic for scientists. They do new researches like finding out the people related to the famous personalities like George Washington, Julius Caesar or Genghis Khan. Scientists have produced human archeological record. Doctors have found DNA Genealogy useful for finding hereditary diseases and cure. DNA testing has a strong ability to reunite the families as it is 100% accurate and without any duplication. The best part is that it is helping in reduction of criminals in the society by solving maximum criminal cases.

To cut the long story short, I just want to say that DNA Genealogy which is related to DNA testing is the biggest discovery ever made in the field of medical science.

A new DNA database is under development after scientists believe they may have found a new species of human.

High in the Altai mountains in southern Siberia in the Denisova cave, Russian archealogists unearthed the finger bone of a young child in 2008. The child was believed to be 5 to 7 years old at the time of death and the bone was tested for mitochondrial DNA.

Now scientists wonder if a new branch of the human family tree existed between Homo erectus that left Africa two million years ago and Neanderthals that left 500,000 years ago.

The Denisova child is believed to come from a form of human that left Africa about one million years ago. Researchers caution that the child may not belong to a new species of human, but from a small population formed by interbreeding among lineages. The remainder of the child’s DNA from the nuclear genome will be tested to determine this.

Radiocarbon dating first established the timeframe of the child’s death, estimating the boy or girl lived during the Pleistocene Ice Age between 48,000 and 30,000 years ago. Because the earth’s climate was much colder at that time, it’s likely the child wore some form of clothing.

Scientists were surprised to unearth more modern artifacts at the site too, such as jewelry. This kind of object was more indicative of modern humans in Europe so scientists will try to determine if the objects were related or they were left behind by other cultures through the ages.

This discovery debunks the linear theory of genealogy and will eventually affect family DNA surname projects. Until recently scientists believed there was a linear development of the human species, beginning with Homo erectus then Neanderthal and finally modern humans, Homo Sapien.

This new branch or potential new species will surely add to the growing DNA database growing daily around the world.

One thing that DNA testing for genealogy shows is,  if you are a male, you have the same biological component as your father, your grandfather, your great-grandfather, your great, great grandfather and your g-g-g-g-g-grandfather.

That component is called the Y-chromosome, part of the genetic ribbon of information that makes every male, male.   When you test your Y-DNA, you can determine whether you are or are not related to another male with the same surname.  You might even want to join the growing list of surname projects going on across the country.

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, exists in almost all cells and is the building block for a human being.  DNA determines genetics and whether your eyes are blue and your hair is straight.  It also predicts the risk for health disorders or diseases, so there is much to be learned through DNA testing that goes beyond ancestry.

The way genealogists approach DNA testing is they look for mutations.  In other words, a mutation is a change in the DNA sequencing.  Cells in our body increase by dividing in a process called mitosis.  An enzyme called polymerase uses the original DNA helix as a template and then builds a whole new cell using the same DNA code.

Occasionally a mutation in this process occurs and gets passed on.  It is rare; approximately 0.2% per generation, but it does signal a break in the identical ancestral code that gets passed from father to son.

There are DNA genealogy tests for women, even if they do not have a Y chromosome.  For women, scientists rely on the mitochondrial DNA which gets passed from the mother to all her offspring.

It’s fascinating that with the help of a single cheek swab DNA testing for genealogy can track the history of your surname, or even your ancient ancestors as they migrated from East Africa 80 thousand years ago.

Another name for genealogy DNA is molecular DNA because that is where the science of family begins.  Until the late 1980s the only tool available for people seeking information about their ancestors was historical records and the remembrances of grandma and grandpa.  You might be able to recall the names of your grandparents, but do you know the names of your great-grandparents?  Precisely.  Few people do.  Advances in DNA typing are filling in the blanks.

Almost all cells in the human body contain DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid.   DNA is a string of proteins that tell our bodies how to grow; whether to have blue eyes or brown, whether to have a predisposition to heart disease or cancer. It is the complete genetic blueprint of people.  It makes each of us unique but also similar to our parents and ancestors.

There are two types of cells used to map out genealogy, Y-Chromosome DNA, and Mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA.  The Y chromosome exists in men and is passed down from fathers to sons.  Women don’t have a Y chromosome and thus cannot be tested for their paternal heritage.  Men can know who was their father’s father, and on and on through hundreds of generations.  Generally the paternal line can be tested to the origin of the surname, although some African-Americans have surnames dating back just to the 19th century.

Mitochondrial DNA is the opposite of Y-DNA and is passed down from mothers to her offspring of both genders.  The difference with this kind of DNA is that both men and women have it and can be tested for it.  Therefore, a man can learn about the ancestral lines of his mother and his father, but women can only know the lines of their mother.  In order to learn information about their father’s ancestry, they have to have their father, brother or male cousin tested.

Despite the limits of DNA testing for women, mitochondrial DNA has a slower rate of mutation than Y-DNA.  The results of clean strains cover more years.  While Y-DNA may go back for 12 generations, Mitochondrial DNA can reflect 30 generations or more.
When scientists test DNA for genealogy they assign letter values to “markers” which are specific spots on a microscopic strand of DNA.  The values reveal a pattern that shows similarities to other people in DNA data bases.  Some strands have fewer mutations or differences, and the more you have in common with others in the DNA databases, the more likely they are to have a common ancestor with you.

One of the limits of Mitochondrial DNA is that the mitochondria exist in the cytoplasm of the cell instead of the nucleus.  As stated before, mtDNA mutates very slowly.  When scientists find an exact match it is difficult to know if the common ancestor lived recently or hundreds of years ago.

One famous use of mitochondrial DNA involved the identification of the Russian Royal family.  Czar Nicolas, his wife and their five children were all executed by the Bolsheviks in 1919.  For nearly 100 years their fate was not known however with the fall of the Soviet Union a search for the bodies unearthed the probable graves.

Prince Philip of England provided a DNA sample in which mtDNA was extracted to determine if the Russian Royals were within the newly discovered graves.  Prince Philip shares the same maternal line as Queen Victoria, as did Czar Nicholas.  The DNA test proved the bodies in the graves were indeed the Romanov family, the last royals in Russia.

It is easy to give a DNA sample.  100 labs around the world provide the services.  Find an accredited one, order the kit and begin your search with genealogy DNA for ancestors the world over.

With DNA testing for ancestry, the field of Genealogy has more tools than ever to discover your family tree.  Along with the genealogist research tools for digging deep into historical records and family history, you now have Genealogy DNA comparison to give solid evidence to your research.

A simple DNA test can start you on the road to discovering your ancestors from 10,000 years ago.  Men and women can both test their DNA to learn the origin of their maternal ancestry.  A specific kind of test called mtDNA or mitochondrial DNA, searches only the women along the line, no men.  Women and men both receive their mtDNA from their mother.

Men can learn the origin of their paternal line by testing their Y chromosome.  The Y chromosome test checks only the paternal line. Women do not have Y DNA and cannot be tested for their paternal line.  If they want to know their paternal ancestry they must ask a brother or their father or a male cousin to be tested.  This is one way to firm up the surname line of your ancestry.

Once the DNA sample is taken, the results will determine your haplogroup.  This is a set of a people with a common ancestor, often from 10,000 to 150,000 years ago, the time when it has been shown that humans evolved in Africa and then migrated around the world.  Men have both a paternal and maternal haplogroup; women have only the maternal haplogroup because they bear only X chromosomes while men have an X and a Y.

A fascinating result of the DNA test is to see where your ancient family members migrated across the globe.  You’ll see how mutations in early genetic lines affect your family too.   You’ll learn all the genetic influences in your ancient family tree.  You may have Asian influence you don’t know about or you may be related to Napolean or a U.S. President.   DNA testing for ancestry will provide knowledge about your unique family history you never thought possible.