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== Mitochondrial DNA == | == Mitochondrial DNA == | ||
[[File:Mitochondrial DNA lg.jpg|thumb|right| | [[File:Mitochondrial DNA lg.jpg|thumb|right|300px|<center>Mitochondrial DNA</center>]] | ||
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA): Mitochondrial DNA is unique. The rest of human DNA is located in the nucleus of the cell and is divided into chromosomes. Mitochondrial DNA on the other hand resides in the cell's mitochondria (the part that provides most of the cell's energy) and it is connected in a circle just like bacterial DNA. It is also the smallest portion of human DNA being about only 16,000 base pairs long. In other words, it is about one third the size of the smallest chromosome. These unique properties cause mitochondrial DNA to be have a special place among genetic genealogists. One advantage of mtDNA are that because it resides outside the nucleus, it can only be inherited from the mother. Sperm only contains a cell's nucleus and anything outside of that only comes from the mother's egg. This means that it does not go through recombination and testing your mtDNA can reveal information about your ancestor's on your direct maternal line. A match on an mtDNA test must be related through your mother's direct maternal line and their mother's direct maternal line until eventually you will find a female common ancestor who had at least two daughters, one of which is your ancestress and the other is theirs. The other major advantage to mtDNA is that it decomposes slower than the rest of your DNA so it is more likely to be used for solving cold cases when the person of interest is no longer alive to test. It was by using mtDNA that the remains of Richard III were conclusively identified, for example. | Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA): Mitochondrial DNA is unique. The rest of human DNA is located in the nucleus of the cell and is divided into chromosomes. Mitochondrial DNA on the other hand resides in the cell's mitochondria (the part that provides most of the cell's energy) and it is connected in a circle just like bacterial DNA. It is also the smallest portion of human DNA being about only 16,000 base pairs long. In other words, it is about one third the size of the smallest chromosome. These unique properties cause mitochondrial DNA to be have a special place among genetic genealogists. One advantage of mtDNA are that because it resides outside the nucleus, it can only be inherited from the mother. Sperm only contains a cell's nucleus and anything outside of that only comes from the mother's egg. This means that it does not go through recombination and testing your mtDNA can reveal information about your ancestor's on your direct maternal line. A match on an mtDNA test must be related through your mother's direct maternal line and their mother's direct maternal line until eventually you will find a female common ancestor who had at least two daughters, one of which is your ancestress and the other is theirs. The other major advantage to mtDNA is that it decomposes slower than the rest of your DNA so it is more likely to be used for solving cold cases when the person of interest is no longer alive to test. It was by using mtDNA that the remains of Richard III were conclusively identified, for example. | ||
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== Why use it in family history research? == | == Why use it in family history research? == | ||
DNA is a powerful tool for genealogists and can be used to prove or verify conclusions that cannot be solved any other way. Autosomal DNA is likely to solve problems up to five generations back, but the fewer generations the test takers are removed from the research problem, the greater the odds of success will be. Y-DNA can be used to solve problems up to 25 generations back. Adoptees and people who don't know their parentage can also use DNA to identify their biological family too. All adoptees have the right to know who their biological family is, but the adoptee only has the right to a relationship with those family members if they consent to it. | |||
== DNA Testing Risks == | |||
DNA testing can reveal information that you did not expect and can be painful. You may learn for example, that the man who raised you was not your biological father, you may learn that your grandfather fathered a child outside of his marriage, or that you are really adopted. The view of this author (Tanner Tolman) is that DNA can only add to your family. All blood is family, but not all family is blood. | |||
== DNA companies == | == DNA companies == | ||
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== Online Classes == | == Online Classes == | ||
*{{LearningCenter2|1624|DNA:An Introduction to Genetic Genealogy}} | *{{LearningCenter2|1624|DNA:An Introduction to Genetic Genealogy}} | ||
*[https://www. | *[https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/speakers/tanner-blair-tolman/en Tanner Tolman's RootsTech 2022 DNA Classes] | ||
*[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/ | *[https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/learning-center-search/?q=dna DNA Classes in the FamilySearch Learning Center] | ||
== Additional information == | == Additional information == | ||
*[https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Hiring_a_DNA_Testing_Company Hiring a DNA Testing Company] | *[https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Hiring_a_DNA_Testing_Company Hiring a DNA Testing Company] FamilySearch Wiki page | ||
*[http://isogg.org/wiki/Wiki_Welcome_Page Wiki of the International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG)] | *[http://isogg.org/wiki/Wiki_Welcome_Page Wiki of the International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG)] | ||
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*[https://www.facebook.com/groups/DNATools/ DNA Tools] - This group is for those interested in genetic genealogy DNA tools. Main sites discussed are DNAGedcom, Gedmatch AncestryDNA Chrome Extension and 23++ as well as new ideas for tools. | *[https://www.facebook.com/groups/DNATools/ DNA Tools] - This group is for those interested in genetic genealogy DNA tools. Main sites discussed are DNAGedcom, Gedmatch AncestryDNA Chrome Extension and 23++ as well as new ideas for tools. | ||
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/isogg/ International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG)] - From their Facebook group The mission of the International Society of Genetic Genealogy is to advocate for and educate about the use of genetics as a tool for genealogical research, and promote a supportive network for genetic genealogists." | * [https://www.facebook.com/groups/isogg/ International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG)] - From their Facebook group The mission of the International Society of Genetic Genealogy is to advocate for and educate about the use of genetics as a tool for genealogical research, and promote a supportive network for genetic genealogists." | ||
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/358296988044804 Borland Genetics Users Group] - [https://www.borlandgenetics.com/ Borland Genetics] is a website you can use to help reconstruct your ancestor's DNA. This website is a place where users can collaborate with each other and ask questions to the creator. | |||
[[Category:Genetic_Research]] | [[Category:Genetic_Research]] | ||
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