dna
Deoxyribononucleic acid (DNA) is a material found in most living organisms and is the main component of chromosomes. A DNA molecule contains two chains of polynucleotide that coil around each other to form a double helix that carries the genetic instructions for the development, growth and functioning of the organism of which they are a part. Early forms of genetic testing began in the 1950s with scientists trying to diagnose certain genetic conditions such as Downs Syndrome. Since that time, DNA testing has gotten much more sophisticated. Today, it is commonly used by:
1. Doctors to perform paternity tests
2. Doctors to do prenatal testing for health problems
3. Law enforcement in conducting criminal investigations
4. People tracking lost relatives
5. Scientists who wish to learn more about newly-discovered species
6. Archaeologists to record genetic codes and the progression of life on earth
7. People wishing to learn more about their heritage
Genetic ancestry testing (as #7 above is more formally known) has been available for about 20 years.
Genetic ancestry testing is available through a number of companies around the world. Two of the largest are Ancestry.com and 23andMe.
taking the test
About sixteen months ago, my younger daughter gave me a test kit for my birthday that she had ordered on the 23andMe website. She knew of my interest in family history, and she also knew that her mother had taken the test some years ago. She ordered the kit at www.23andMe.com, and it came in the mail in a box like the one pictured at right. In my mind, I had always known that I would take the test sometime, but now I had the test kit in my hands from my daughter. I procrastinated for over a year, but finally bit the bullet and decided to do it.
The kit is really very simple. I provided a saliva sample in a test tube and then mixed it with a solution 23andMe provided by pushing a plunger. I sealed the mixture in a return box and sent it off in a pre-addressed box with postage paid by 23andMe. Two to three weeks later, I received the results via email.
results
My results arrived in just a few weeks via email. According to 23andMe, I am:
99.9% European
0.1% Unassigned
_________
100.0%
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The European figure of 99.9% is further broken down as follows:
97.4% Northwestern European
1.5% Southern European
1.0% Broadly European
_________
99.9% European
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The Northwestern European of 97.4% is further broken down as follows:
62.1% British and Irish
17.0% French and German
2.3% Scandinavian
16.0% Broadly Northwestern European
__________
97.4% Northwestern European
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For comparison to your own potential results, my male Whitfield ancesters are shown below:
1. William Whitfield I
2. William Whitfield II
3. William Whitfield III
4. Joseph Whitfield
5. Timothy Whitfield
6. John Timothy Whitfield
7. John Robert Whitfield
8. Joe Whitfield
9. Ralph Whitfield
10. Me (Bryan Whitfield)
