Harnessing the Power of DNA

Have you tested your DNA for genealogical purposes? Are you curious about how DNA could help your family history research? Tomorrow (April 25) is National DNA Day, a day that celebrates the achievements in DNA research since the earliest days. Did you know that DNA research began in the nineteenth century (1869, to be precise!)? Since then, amazing strides have been made, and many of these advancements make genetic genealogy possible.

Did you know that your genetic tree is different than your family tree? That’s right! Your genetic tree is only comprised of the ancestors from whom you inherited DNA, and the amount you inherited is somewhat random and diminishes with each generation. That means, you can have folks on your family tree (much larger) with whom you do not share DNA. That does not mean you are less related to them; however, you do not have DNA from them. Interestingly, your sibling(s) or first cousin(s) might, so it is always fun to test together and compare. Speaking of cousins, you may also have cousins that you know for certain are your cousins because you share common ancestor(s); however, you may not share DNA or match on a DNA website!

If you have tested your DNA at one of the genealogy sites (e.g., Ancestry, FamilyTreeDNA, Living DNA, MyHeritage, etc.), you know how valuable our genetic code can be. You can find distant cousins and other relatives which can help you build out your family tree and break through various brick walls. For those who are considering testing, there are often a lot of sales around this annual celebration, so you have various options but several factors to consider. Thankfully, there are many resources available to learn more! At the library, we have numerous books that can help you better understand DNA and its promise for genealogical research. Many of these books are currently on display on the Lower Level (across from the genealogy section) at Cook Park Library! More recently, there have been quite a few genetic genealogy fiction books written as well, so you can learn about the power of DNA through these stories and mysteries.

With genetic genealogy, you have the possibility to test in at least three different ways. First, there is autosomal DNA testing which is the most common and tests your 22 chromosome pairs (sans the sex chromosomes). These are housed in the nucleus of a cell and were inherited from both of your parents. Many tools, like chromosome browsers, allow you to separate and figure out which parent gave you certain segments of DNA. This can then help you identify which ancestor likely contributed it, especially when it is paired with your DNA matches. Second, there is mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) testing which allows you to test the DNA that is housed within the mitochondria of a cell. Often called “the powerhouse of the cell,” mitochondria have unique DNA structures that were passed down directly to you through your maternal line. Mothers pass along this genetic information to their children directly, and it does not mix with DNA from your father. Finally, there is Y-DNA testing which allows biological males to test their Y sex chromosome. This chromosome is passed directly from father to son, so only someone born with a Y chromosome can test; however, many women in genealogy have found ways to test their brothers, uncles, and male cousins to gain valuable insights into their family trees. Both mitochondrial and Y-DNA testing can take you back thousands of years, before print records existed. Currently, only one company (FamilyTreeDNA) offers these two tests.

DNA has also led to surprise discoveries and hidden secrets, and this reality must be acknowledged as well. These discoveries and secrets have both positive and negative consequences. If you are interested in reading about these, you may want to consider reading What They Never Told Us: True Stories of Family Secrets and Hidden Identities Revealed by Gail Lukasik. In the book, she shares stories from many different people and details how DNA discoveries have unearthed challenging information for many. She also shares the ways that many people have processed these hidden secrets.

Enjoy and celebrate the wonders of DNA! It is something we all have in common.