Genealogy by Genetics

DNA

The most exciting recent advance in Family History Research is Genetic Genealogy.  DNA testing can:

There are various types of DNA testing available. At present, one of the more useful types of DNA testing  identifies male lineages by identifying a profile of markers on the y-chromosome.  Most of the time, a nearly exact copy of the father’s DNA used for surname testing is passed to the son. Thus all male members of a family generally share the same profile.  Mutations or changes occur randomly and infrequently.  Thus, it is possible to determine whether two males may have a common paternal ancestor.  A similar type of testing utilizing mitochondrial DNA which is passed mother to child can be used to determine the likelihood of common maternal ancestry.