DNA Lady
All the commercials are pointing to a new show about the glitterati (SJP and the rest) researching their Ancestry and surprise, surprise - everyone that participated in the show is genuinely shocked to know their true ancestry. Hollywood is Hollywood and I appreciate the creativity but it seems unlikely for someone to have reached the age of 21, and notwithstanding an adoption or abduction, and not have some idea of your ancestral origins. This blog is not meant to make light of anyone in a situation where they do not know their parents' country of origin.
Most of us have celebrated a special day during the year with other close and distant family members that gave you a clue as to your family's country of origin. Or you have that chestnut Red Hair and Blue Eyes and you know the words to "Danny Boy" - that gave you a clue, too. Take the upcoming St. Patrick's Day - celebrated in our house every year with Corn Beef and Cabbage (thank God we only had to eat it once a year), Boiled Potatoes, Green Pistachio Bundt Cake (made by a distant cousin) and Irish Coffee for all followed by a round of "I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen, across the ocean...." Or perhaps, you have eaten the most delicious Sfinge - then you probably celebrated St. Joseph's Day. If you can say, Baklava three times real fast - then maybe your ancestral origins are of Haplogroup G.
While TV touts that Ancestry testing or DNA Research is for the stars there are countless Main Street offices that can offer the everyday consumer the same genetic insight into your ancestral origins. Most DNA testing companies offer you access to a database that has genetic matches to you. You are given a login and password and you are off on a journey of who's who that may possibly be related to you, once or twice removed both here in the United States and in countries abroad. My own DNA research revealed that my mother's maiden name and my father's surname - actually are part of a family name project that descend from one gentleman known as Nialls in Ireland. That may explain some family members.... But as with all DNA Tests, it is buyer beware. Know what you are buying and understand the limitations. Some Ancestry testing companies only provide you with a bird's eye view of your origins, that is, you are classified into one of the following four categories:
European
Sub-Saharan Africa
East Asian
Indigenous American
Others, can delve more deeply and provide you with information as to what type of Haplogroup you have in your genetic make up. Understand that it is the information is a comparison of your DNA to others in a database that have the same genetic patterns at different locations and are therefore classified into a specific category or Haplogroup (see the DNA Lady's previous blogs about Haplogroups).
If you want to get involved in one of the fastest growing hobbies in North America then recreational DNA tests are for you. Have a DNA party at your home or prepare for a family reunion. You can contact one of the local DNA collection centers and find out what type of tests they offer, how the samples collections are performed, the turn around time for results (maybe get everyone tested in May for a family reunion or picnic in July), costs involved and if the collector will offer an interpretation of results or is it just something you receive in the mail.
The DNA Lady will come to your family reunion (give her a little Irish Coffee minus the whiskey) and discuss your results for one hour. Have fun watching the new TV show and remember - you, too, can research your Ancestral Origins - it's fun, inexpensive and keeps family members talking for months afterward with speculation about that eccentric Aunt that never really seemed like one of the family, anyway.
Whatever your interest in DNA Testing, whether it be to research your ancestry, determine your own origins, claim a biological relationship, ie, paternity, maternity, grand paternity, avuncular - today's DNA tests are fast, affordable and non invasive.
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