DNA Basics
What is DNA?[edit | edit source]
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a molecule found in nearly all human cells and contains the information for the development and function of all living organisms. A human DNA molecule is a double helix shaped like a twisted ladder. The human genome is the complete set of human genetic information found within 23 pairs of chromosomes for each person. Half of the chromosomes come from the father and half from the mother. These 23 chromosomes reside within the nucleus of the cells and some DNA is also found in the mitochondria.
Why use it in family history research?[edit | edit source]
Some of the reasons you may want to use DNA in your family history research:
- Break down a brick wall where paper records may not exist to solve the problem
- Confirm the relationship between two people or families
- Learn about deep ancestry and ethnicity
- Locate the biological parents of adoptees or people who don't know their parentage
- Verify ancestral lines found through paper records
DNA testing risks[edit | edit source]
May disclose information you weren’t expecting such as:
- Adoptions
- Illegitimacies
- Non-paternal events (NPEs where parentage may be unexpected)
- Name changes
Types of DNA tests[edit | edit source]
- atDNA (autosomal) males and females
- mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA passed from a mother to each of her children) males and females
- Y-DNA (DNA passed from father to son) males only
DNA testing companies[edit | edit source]
- 23 and Me
- Autosomal (with paternal and maternal Haplogroups)
- AncestryDNA
- Autosomal
- FamilyTree DNA
- Autosomal Family Finder
- mt-DNA (with maternal Haplogroup)
- Y-DNA (37 markers through 111 markers with paternal Haplogroup)
- MyHeritage
- Autosomal
Online Classes[edit | edit source]
- FamilyTree DNA courses https://www.familytreedna.com/learn/ftdna/webinars/
- GeneTech at FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/276
- ISOGG Courses (International Society of Genetic Genealogy) https://isogg.org/wiki/Genetics_courses
Additional information[edit | edit source]
- Hiring a DNA Testing Company Wiki page
- International Society of Genetic Genealogy Wiki