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