| LIFE IN SOLERA | AUGUST 2022 | 25
Ancestor Research Using DNA
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) is the carrier of genetic instructions,
i.e., blue eyes, facial features, height, certain inherited medical
conditions, etc. But how can we use this DNA to find relatives? There
are companies, such as Ancestry.com, 23 and me, etc. that can process
a sample of your DNA, usually from your saliva. When you sign up to
have a DNA test done, they will send the appropriate collection kit to
you. Then you send it back to them for processing and computerizing
the results. They will process your sample and determine the DNA
that makes up your entire genome (this is lots and lots of DNA).
This is computerized and put into a database of other people who
have done what you did with a DNA sample and now with computer
programs, a person's DNA can be compared with all the other people
who have submitted DNA. You then get a list of with whom you
were a match. Each generation passes on some of their genetic DNA
material to the next generation, so when two people show some DNA
matches, you know that they are somehow related to you. The results
of these matches is made available to you. You now have names of
individuals that you can research and find possible ancestors that
you didn't know you had. This process is what is known as forensic
genealogy. It has been used by the legal profession to find heirs, by
law enforcement to find possible criminals, by the medical profession
to find possible medical genetics that are hereditary, and of course by
genealogists to find lost ancestors and to add new branches to our
trees. So, taking a DNA test and having it processed by one of the
aforementioned companies, it can be a great boon to building your
family tree and unblocking those 'brick walls' that you may encounter
in your family tree building efforts. ~ Bill Cramsie
ANCESTRY
GROUP
