Genetic Testing for the Genealogist DNAPrint Genomics is marketing innovative genetic testing services in forensic science, genealogical research, and pharmaceutical development. The company is revolutionizing the use of DNA by compiling a physical profile of crime suspects. Skin pigmentation and eye color and other hereditary traits are predicted with analysis of DNA sequence. Used by law enforcement agencies around the world, this "molecular eyewitness" has successfully led to the prosecution of a serial killer. Dr. Matthew Thomas, Senior Scientist at DNAPrint Genomics, shares news with GenealogyMagazine’s James Pylant in a recent interview: James Pylant: DNAPrint Genomics offers testing of individuals to predict their genetic predisposition to certain drugs (known as pharamacogenomics). This allows the medical profession to tailor drug dosage based on an individual’s genetic composition. But of special interest to genealogists is your company’s product, AncestryByDNA. What does this testing reveal to the genealogist? Matthew Thomas: AncestryByDNA 2.5 determines the relative affiliation of a sample submitted by a client to validated reference populations. Those populations are European, Native American, Sub-Saharan African and East Asian. It does this by comparing the DNA sequence of a sample at 176 genetic locations to how frequently those sequences are observed in the reference populations. This test gives you information about the populations with which you share genetic information. When we’ve tested families, you can observe how the contribution to a given population is passed on to specific members of the family. For the first time you can really get an idea of the genetic information passed from generation to generation. JP: One might have what I call a "legal lineage" or a pedigree based on a paper trail, which may not always match what’s revealed in DNA. These are instances where illegitimacies or adoptions are unknown to the genealogist. Are your participants finding this very often? MT: We have had examples where people’s paper trail suggested certain histories and the DNA does not support this. Possible explanations include unknown adoptions or illegitimacies. Sometimes, they have reasons to suspect certain parts of their paper trail and the observations from DNA results will help confirm or refute their suspicions. What will be interesting down the road is now that a number of people are recording DNA information along with their paper records, the next few generations will have access to the information to help clear up these questions very quickly. One thing to keep in mind about unknown adoptions and illegitimacies is the answer to those questions can have profound effects on a person. So investigating these areas should be done with the knowledge that you really do want to know the answers and that you are prepared for something unexpected. JP: One of your scientific advisors is Dr. Mark Shriver, of Pennsylvania State University, who was featured in the PBS television series, African-American Lives. Many of the participants in that series were surprised by the results of DNA testing. Mae Jemison, for instance, had no idea Asian blood flows through her veins. Are such unexpected discoveries common? MT: We’ve had the entire range of responses. When presented with unexpected results, people’s response will range from intrigued, happy, excited, curious, perplexed, fascinated, angry, disbelief but more often than not it does seem to stir a desire to learn more. Oftentimes you can be surprised at their willingness to learn more about DNA, biology and populations genetics than they ever thought they wanted to know when they started out. I think the surprise in DNA testing often comes when people approach it with preconceived notions and a certainty that they know where they came from. When the information points in a new direction or something they didn’t expect, then the response all depends on their personalities and how much they have invested emotionally in their previous ideas. The other issue is paper trails and DNA are really different types of information, they may overlap in some issues but they are different approaches to the problem of understanding where you come from. JP: Matt, your company is about to launch a more sophisticated set of DNA tests of special interest to family historians. How does the new test differ from what’s offered via AncestryByDNA? MT: Until the official release I can’t give you many specific details. But one issue we’ve heard from many genealogists is the desire to develop information about European ancestors. So we’ve been working on a test that uses over 1500 markers to investigate and describe various European populations. We do offer a test called Euro DNA 1.0, which uses populations from Northern Europe, South Eastern Europe, the Middle East and South Asian. Which are all groups that share significant genetic similarities due to the migration and interactions of populations but are not always seen as being related due to political and geographical considerations. EuroDNA 1.0 uses over 300 genetic locations, so the new test takes into account a much larger set of information. What we wanted to try and develop is something that focused in on groups and populations that will be of interest for people of European decent. This also brings us back to the issue of the unexpected result, adoptions and other surprises in a person’s history. While your paper trail may tell you one thing, the DNA may have something else to say and that could be because of these issues; or they can be due to the fact we’re learning new things about how the world’s populations have interacted and been in contact. It might be saying we share things with people we never expected or thought we did and that I think shows there is more out there to learn than most people expect when they start out. New tools are available, the information is a bit different from the traditional tools of the genealogist but new questions can now be asked and hopefully answered. Test results provided by DNAPrint Genomics are the property of the individual client; information is kept confidential. Read full details about AncestryByDNA by visiting http://www.ancestrybydna.com/welcome/ordernow/ or http://www.dnaprint.com for an overview of services offered by DNAPrint Genomics. |
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