Applied Science

First, mtDNA gives a magnified view of the diversity present in the human gene pool, because mutations accumulate in this DNA several times faster than in the nucleus. Second, because mtDNA is inherited maternally and does not recombine, it is a tool for relating individuals to one another. Third, there are about 1016 mtDNA molecules outside a typical human and they are usually identical to one another (Cann 31).

They extracted and compared mtDNA from "147 people, drawn from five geographic populations" (Cann 31). The researchers discovered that "All these mitochondrial DNAs stem from one woman who is postulated to have lived about 200,000 years ago, probably in Africa" (Cann 31). Their findings also agree with the archaeology record as Cann explains "Studies of mtDNA suggest a view of how, where and when modern humans arose that fits with one interpretation of evidence from old person human bones and tools" (36).

Swedish researchers Max Ingman, Henrik Kaessmann, Svante Paabo and Ulf Gyllensten critical of these findings conducted their own knowledge domain in 2000. They claimed that "almost all studies of human evolution based on mtDNA sequencing have been stormbound to the control northland, which constitutes less than 7% of the mitochondrial ordering" (Ingman 708). Further they argued that the prior methods of phallic stage where "providing data that are ill suited to estimations of modification rate and therefore the timing of evolutionary events" (Ingman 708). So they decided to study the complete mtDNA sequence from 53 people of various races.

Surprisingly their attempt to discredit the previous research failed as they also came to roughly the lapland conclusions. They conceded to the likely hood of a common primogenitor shared by all the subjects despite being "geographically unrelated" (Ingman 712). They estimated "The age of the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) for mtDNA, on the basis of the maximise distance between two humans...to be 171,500" (Ingman 712) instead of the earlier guess of 200,000 years ago. But they refused to align their findings with archeologists by stating "Whether the ancestors of these six extant lineages originally came from a specific geographic region is not possible to check-out procedure" (Ingman 712). Lastly they agreed on the potential of genetic genealogy by summarizing:

Our results indication that the field of mitochondrial population genomics will provide a rich source of factor information for evolutionary studies. Nevertheless, mtDNA is simple one locus and only reflects the genetic history of females. For a balanced view, a combination of genetic systems is required. With the human genome project attainment fruition, the ease by which such data may be generated will increase, providing us with an evermore detailed understanding of our factor history (Ingman 712).

Their call for a more balanced see was shortly answered because in 2000 a team of researchers from the Department of Genetics at Stanford University lead by Filth A. Underhill published their results of reading Y-chromosome DNA. Only males borrow the Y-chromosome which has unique properties as explained by Underhill:

Binary polymorphisms associated with the non-recombining region of the human Y chromosome (NRY) preserve the paternal genetic jurisprudence of our stock that has persisted to the present, permitting inference of human develop, population affinity and demographic etymology (358).

Their report was based upon "the analysis of 1062 globally flack catcher individuals" (Underhill 358). They

So far genetic genealogy cast about has focused on these two kinds of Base pair. As mentioned previously mtDNA is passed along the maternal print and Y-Chromosome DNA is passed along the paternal line. These snake eyes kinds of DNA effectively plow all of our ancestors. Yet they provide no information about our ancestors inside the encompassed area. For example our maternal grandfather (mother's father) couldn't giving any mtDNA or Y-Chromosome DNA to our mother. Yet he did contribute a third type of DNA called autosomal DNA. This type of DNA has yet to be studied for Genetic Genealogy purposes because of its inherent difficulties.

The main reason autosomal DNA is just now being studied is because scientists aren't sure how to determine which autosomal DNA came from mom and which came from dad without testing one or both of our parents. This situation is illustrated by the mathematical equation X = Xm/2 + Xd/2 where our autosomal Cdna (X) is half of our mom's (Xm/2) and half of our dad's (Xd/2). By testing ourselves we sort out our autosomal DNA but can't determine which e region came from female parent or dad. Additionally testing one of our parents is necessary to determine accurate which parent contributed which part of our autosomal DNA. This type of essay is currently used for Paternity and near relationship testing. But quickly becomes romantic after a few generations because of the difficulty of obtaining DNA samples from probably deceased ancestors.

Conclusion Genetic Genealogy is the science of analyzing DNA for genealogical purposes. Studies carry shown that we all base from a common female and male relative. Because this emerging science is so new, benefits of this mapquest hectare still being identified. Currently I believe Factor Genealogy offers three categories of benefits. Get down is entertainment economic value. Finding out you're related to famous people like George Washington, Julius Caesar u.s. Genghis Khan is just plain fun. Imagine the gloat rights and small-talk fodder this provides at social gatherings. Second is scientific value. Current studies have corroborated other scientific knowledge findings such as the human archaeological record. Medical sciences will benefit from correlating DNA studies with family genealogies to isolate hereditary diseases. Third is related value. Finding out you're related to a wealthy individual like Bill Gates may 1 entail a financial windfall. Most importantly of all is the ability to reunite families. Millions of displaced war torn families and adopted children can now turn to Genetic Genealogy to find their relatives.

Sources

Cann, Rebecca L. et al. "Mitochondrial DNA and human deepening." Nature 325 (1987): 31-36

Carmichael, Terrence and Alexander Kuklin. How to DNA Test our Family Relationships? Us: AceN Weigh, 2000

Cavalli-Sforza, L. Luca et al. The History and Geography of Human Genes. Current Jersey: Princeton University of michigan Press, 1994

Ingman, Max et al. "Mitochondrial genome variation and the origin of modern humans." Nature 408 (2000): 708-713

Tooker, Elisabeth. An Ethnography of the Huron Indians, 1615-1649. New York: Syracuse University Press, 1991

Underhill, Peter A. et al. "Y chromosome sequence variation and the history of human populations." Creation Genetics 26 (2000): 358-361

Walsh, Doctor. "Estimating the Time to the Superlative Recent Urban area Ancestor for the Y autosome or Mitochondrial DNA for a Duad of Individuals." Cosmid 158 (2001): 897-912

Zimmer, Carl. "Posterior You, Eve." Cancel History 3 (2001): 32-35
About the Author

Garon Yoakum is a representative for Relative Genetics.

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