2. Everyone has heard of the acronym DNA. It refers
to ‘deoxyribonucleic acid’, which is a substance
that is present in every cell of every person’s
body on earth.
Each person’s DNA is unique to that person, and it
can be used for identification or matching
purposes over a range of different scenarios.
Most people are familiar with paternity testing
using DNA, or connecting a specific person to a
crime scene, but it can also be used to figure
out ethnicity.
3. Why Trace Your Ancestry?
In the vast majority of cases, anyone seeking a DNA
test to determine ethnicity is doing so for informational
purposes.
Basically, if you want to…
• dig into your past or your ancestry
• find out more about who you really are
• find out where your family’s history begins
…then a DNA test is a great place to start.
4. What Is a Haplogroup?
A DNA test that is searching for ethnicity will first tell
you which Haplogroup you belong to. A Haplogroup
is a family group that can be matched with other
family groups with common ancestral origins.
Different Haplogroups are associated with people who
live in specific areas of the world. Groups such as
Asians, Africans, Eastern and Western Europeans,
Native Americans, Middle Eastern and Australian
Aboriginals all have specific and unique Haplogroups.
5. What You May Discover
If you decide to take a DNA test to help you dig into
your ancestral origins and ethnicity, you may discover
things like:
• Names of relatives you didn’t know you had
• Ancient family lines stretching back thousands of
years
• Confirmation of elements of your family tree
• Which ethnic group your family originated from
6. What Is ‘Autosomal’ DNA Testing?
Autosomal DNA testing is a form of testing that makes it
possible to find family members across all lines of the family
tree.
This means the results of the testing aren’t limited to only
direct paternal or maternal lines. All 23 chromosomes are
analyzed with this type of test, which makes it more
complete and offers greater possibilities.
Genetic information that has been passed down through
generations from both parents is part of the equation, which
makes determining ethnicity more viable.
7. How Is DNA Collected?
Despite the complexity of going back into the past to
extract genetic information, the DNA test itself is
remarkably simple.
Basically, all that is required is a saliva sample, and
collecting it involves nothing more than swiping a
cotton swab across the inside of your cheek.
In some cases, a nurse will collect the sample, but in
others you may do it yourself as part of a kit.
8. Points to Consider
If you have any preconceived notions about your ancestry
and ethnicity, it’s important to keep a few points in mind.
Your DNA is your DNA and it will always be the same no
matter where you live. Any DNA test you take traces your
ancestral origins, so how many times you or your family
members have moved around is irrelevant.
What you will find out from a DNA test is the general
ethnicity of your ancestors and the region of the world they
came from.
9. Possible Limitations
Even though the DNA that is passed down along both male
and female lines is undiluted and the testing is very
accurate, there are possible limitations.
The primary one is that any DNA testing you have done will
only represent a small percentage of your overall ethnic
ancestry. The farther you go back, the more ancestors
come into the mix that contributed to your overall DNA
profile.
Still, having a DNA test for ethnicity will likely reveal many
facts about your history that you were completely unaware
of.
10. Advice
DNAForce is a trusted DNA testing facility. For more
information on their services, visit their website at
http://www.dnatest.ca/.