| In the nucleus of nearly all human cells there are 46 | | | | Genetic genealogy gives genealogists a model to |
| small structures that are called chromosomes. These | | | | check the historical record with data from genetic |
| chromosomes are made up generally of | | | | information. A positive test match with another |
| deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). | | | | individual may discover living relatives, validate existing |
| DNA contains the genetic instructions which make | | | | research, give locations for further genealogical |
| people the way they are. These genetic instructions | | | | research, confirm or deny suspected connections |
| are written in a four letter chemical alphabet: A | | | | between families, help define ancestral homeland, |
| (adenine), T (thymine), C (cytosine) and G (guanine). | | | | prove or disprove theories regarding ancestry. |
| Researchers can just find a use for about 3% of the | | | | The important reasons of that people do not want to |
| DNA in our cells. | | | | be DNA tested is the price of these tests and |
| Paternal and maternal lineages. The two well-known | | | | problems with private issues. Nevertheless, the price |
| types of genetic genealogy tests are the Y-DNA - | | | | becomes more than just affordable. In addition, |
| paternal line - and mtDNA - maternal line - genealogical | | | | confidentiality of one's genetic markers can be |
| DNA tests. These tests compare the DNA of a | | | | restricted to families or groups. Such data results, |
| person to that of another to define how many | | | | where there are the data of people's analyses, are |
| generations ago the two individuals shared their most | | | | often anonymous and are identified by a quantity |
| recent common ancestor. These tests permit two | | | | which may be known to the person itself. |
| people to define with all the certainty that they are | | | | More than that, Y-DNA and mtDNA testing just trace |
| related within a certain time frame or the vice versa. | | | | one lineage, (in other words, one's father's father's |
| Biogeographical and ethnic origins. Additional DNA tests | | | | father's etc. lineage or one's mother's mother's |
| exist for defining biogeographical and ethnic origin. | | | | mother's etc. lineage). Several generations back, a |
| Human migration. Genealogical DNA testing methods | | | | person has 1024 ancestors and a Y-DNA or mtDNA |
| are used for a longer time to trace human migratory | | | | test. It studies 10 of those 1024 ancestors. |
| models and define, for instance, when and how the | | | | To my mind almost all human societies fit the cultural |
| first human beings came to the North America. One | | | | pattern that coincides with the genetic data. The article |
| significant attempt that is presently happening is the | | | | reflects the holistic, integrating approach of |
| genographic project. It aims at mapping historical | | | | anthropology nature and respects a long tradition in |
| human migration models by analyzing DNA patterns | | | | anthropology and population studies. |
| from more than 100,000 people all over five continents. | | | | |