DNA Testing and Family History
What is DNA? What does DNA stand for?
DNA is short for Deoxyribonucleic acid. Without getting too technical, DNA contains the blueprints or instructions for our various genetic traits (Eye color, hair color, skin color, etc). If you want to learn more, search for “What is DNA?”.
DNA Testing
Since DNA is something we all have, DNA Testing has been used for years to uniquely identify individuals. When DNA test results are compared to others, it can be used to identify genetic relationships. It can identify paternity, siblings, cousin or even long lost relative relationships.
Family History
It may not be something others are interested in, but it’s something you live with everyday. Whether you like it or not, the person you are today is largely based on the environment you grew up in. Are you rich are you poor? Were you born rich were you born poor? Where do you live? Why do you live there? Where do you come from? Who is your father? Who is your mother? Who was your grandfather? Your grandmother? Did you ever meet your great grandparents? Your great great grandparents? If they were alive today, what would you want to learn from them? What could they learn from you? Maybe you’ve had some of these questions, maybe you haven’t. For those that have or have had these questions Family History, sometimes called genealogy, can be an enjoyable hobby.
DNA Testing and Family History
Maybe your just getting started or maybe you’ve been doing family history for years. DNA Testing can aid your research, solidify paper trails and overcome barriers in the study of your family. Now you maybe thinking, “How do I get my ancestors DNA they are long since dead?”. Don’t worry, we’re not advocating digging up any bodies. You as a person contain the DNA given to you from your parents, and the parents before them. You may have relatives throughout the world that you don’t even know about. So how do you find them?
Each male from generation to generation passes the Y Chromosome. If you are a male, a test called a yDNA test can be used to figure out how you compare to other males with your same surname. If your a female, you can have your brother or father be tested. Or regardless of your sex you can take an mtDNA test wich tests your X chromosome and provides information about your maternal past. Remember males are XY, females are XX. (I’m confused, Learn more about DNA.)
The DNA testing used for family history research is “junk DNA”. Which means evil people with sinister motives cannot use it to your disadvantage or downfall. Which is a plus, the world being as it is today. Instead yDNA or mtDNA tests are helpful, they can be used to help you in your family history journey. So sign up for a DNA test. Get your results, and if you choose, share them with others who have also taken DNA tests. By comparing your DNA to others who have also been tested you can with some degree of certainty, get to know your “genetic cousins”. Maybe they have documents, or stories of family history that you’ve been searching for, or maybe you can both work together and seek out those lost family members your looking for.
Where to go from here
