DNA Testing in the Search for your Ancestors

As the DNA test becomes more accessible, so its uses are broadening. Many people today, interested in their ancestral lineage, are using DNA tests to link them to possible relations and determine their ethnic origins.

The Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA

The first thing that genealogists look for is a father-to-son linkage, which is found in the Y chromosome which only males possess and which is passed on from one generation to the next. Once this is identified they are able to observe the Y chromosome that appears in other people and make comparisons to determine where a paternal link may be present.

The next step is to link maternal DNA. This is a very powerful testing method that allows for accurate tracking back over many generations because of the mitochondria.

Unlike DNA found in the nucleus, which can be altered and changes as its environment changes, mitochondrial DNA is a direct connection from child to mother and does not change along the way. Once a sample is taken, a genealogist can determine maternal lineage and use this information to trace back ancestors.

For more information about our Y-Chromosome test or our comprehensive list of DNA Relationship Tests contact us.

Matching to a DNA database

Once you have identified the DNA it is then important to match it to other samples to establish links, otherwise how can you tell whom you are related to? Some online ancestry websites create a database of DNA against which your DNA can be matched. By taking a simple mouth swab they run the DNA tests and save and store the DNA profile collected. The key then is for them to continuously run matches against all their stored profiles as the database grows.

Geographical ancestry

Furthermore, by comparing the DNA profile of a person to that of researched ethnic groups, it is possible to provide information about where people are from. Through this method one can now find long lost relatives, and determine one’s ethnic origins. Similar to a snowball effect, as the database grows, so the usefulness will increase, so the number of people using this method will rise.

This type of DNA Ancestry Testing is on the increase as more and more people are interested in learning about their own heritage. Currently this field of testing is still in its beginnings, however as the database information grows the usefulness of this type of DNA test should increase.