DNA - Tracing your ancestors out of Africa

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the National Geographic Genographic Project, which aims to trace human ancestry and migration patterns through DNA testing. Participants share their thoughts on the project, express interest in participating, and discuss the implications of ancestry testing, including potential findings related to indigenous heritage and ancient relatives.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express excitement about the potential to discover their ancestral migration paths and genetic heritage, including Neanderthal or Denisovan ancestry.
  • Several individuals mention personal motivations for participating, such as curiosity about their heritage or the novelty of contributing to scientific research.
  • There are discussions comparing the Genographic Project to other DNA testing services, such as 23andMe, with some participants noting that the latter is primarily medically focused.
  • One participant questions the value of the information provided by the Genographic Project relative to its cost.
  • Some participants share anecdotes about family members encouraging them to explore genealogical DNA testing, expressing skepticism about its usefulness unless for specific purposes like confirming adoption.
  • There are humorous remarks about sending in pet DNA for testing and playful comments about the potential results.
  • Interest in the historical context of migration patterns, such as whether ancestors arrived in Europe before or during the ice age, is also mentioned.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express interest in the Genographic Project and its findings, but there is no consensus on the value of the information relative to its cost or the effectiveness of different DNA testing services. Some participants are enthusiastic about participating, while others remain skeptical.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various aspects of DNA testing, including the focus on ancestry versus medical information, and the implications of genetic findings. There are also mentions of specific costs associated with different testing services, which may influence decisions to participate.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in ancestry, genetic heritage, and the scientific exploration of human migration patterns may find this discussion relevant.

Evo
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I was watching the National Geographic Genographic Project where they are collecting DNA from people worldwide and tracing their ancestor's migrations around the world.

You can be a part of the project by purchasing the Geno 2.0 Genographic Project Participation Kit. I think this would be fun to find out which migratory paths your ancestor's took. Some of the results were surprising. I think I'm going to do it (when I can spare $200). Kind of cool to be part of the project.

By participating, you will:

• Discover the migration paths your ancient ancestors followed hundreds—even thousands—of years ago, with an unprecedented view of your ancestral journey.
• Learn what percentage of your genome is affiliated with specific regions of the world.
• Find out if you have Neanderthal or Denisovan ancestry.
• Have the opportunity to share your story and connect with other Genographic Project participants, helping us fill in the gaps in the human story.

How your participation helps the Genographic Project:

As a Genographic Project participant, you will have the opportunity to contribute your data to our Genographic database, helping our scientists and researchers who are working to chart a comprehensive map of the early stages of human history. Participation in the Genographic Project database is your choice and is not necessary to access your individual results.

http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/ngs/product/genographic-kits/geno-2.0---genographic-project-participation-and-dna-ancestry-kit

The results give you an unprecedented view of your lineage. You will discover the migration paths your ancient ancestors followed thousands of years ago, and learn the details of your ancestral makeup—your branches on the human

Included in the markers we will test for is a subset that scientists have recently determined to be from our hominin cousins, Neanderthals and the newly discovered Denisovans, who split from our lineagearound 500,000 years ago. As modern humans were first migrating out of Africa more than 60,000 years ago, Neanderthals and Denisovans were still alive and well in Eurasia. It seems that our ancestors met, leaving a small genetic trace of these ancient relatives in our DNA. With Geno 2.0, you will learn if you have any Neanderthal or Denisovan DNA in your genome.

https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/about/

I know a few people I am quite certain are Neanderthals. :devil:
 
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That is the coolest thing I've seen in a while. I think I may have American Indian in me, but I don't know. This could tell me if I do? I'm white, but I may also have some black in me. It would be cool to know. I think I'll wait until someone else here does it.
 
leroyjenkens said:
That is the coolest thing I've seen in a while. I think I may have American Indian in me, but I don't know. This could tell me if I do? I'm white, but I may also have some black in me. It would be cool to know. I think I'll wait until someone else here does it.
Yes, it can tell both of those things, definitely the American Indian. View the short video on the "about" link "Video: About the project".
 
Just ordered mine!
 
Drakkith said:
Just ordered mine!
Oooh! You'll have to share the results when you get them!
 
It's tempting, but is the information really worth the price? I'd be interested in your findings Drakkith.
 
Evo said:
Oooh! You'll have to share the results when you get them!

I'm 10% plankton...interesting...
 
It's worth it to me for the novelty of knowing, if nothing else. Plus you get included in the study and part of the cost goes back into funding the project. Finally, I will be contributing something to science. :cool: I think my kids will get a kick out of it. It's too bad the episode isn't available on the Nat Geo website, some of the people got some unexpected results. If my mother is correct, somewhere in my ancestry we came from another planet. :-p
 
I did the http://www.23andme.com DNA testing last year and it was fairly interesting, but in the end, I don't really take much away from it. It doesn't do anything for me now.
 
  • #10
Greg Bernhardt said:
I did the http://www.23andme.com DNA testing last year and it was fairly interesting, but in the end, I don't really take much away from it. It doesn't do anything for me now.
Isn't that mostly medical testing? This is nothing like it.
 
  • #11
Evo said:
Isn't that mostly medical testing? This is nothing like it.

It has an ancestry section.
 
  • #12
Greg Bernhardt said:
It has an ancestry section.
From the project.

23andMe is primarily a medically focused testing company, examining markers that are associated with disease risk. While they do offer some insights into ancestry, that is not their primary focus. The genetic technology we use for our testing is a custom-designed genotyping chip optimized for the study of ancestry, with far more Y-chromosome and mtDNA markers than are available with any other test. Our autosomal markers are similarly optimized for inferring ancestry, rather than medical testing, and we feel that it is the best technology available for this purpose.
 
  • #13
My cousin has been pestering me to go to a family tree dna testing site and have it done for genealogical purposes. It's $159 for mitochondrial, $169 for Y-chromosome, and $289 for both. It doesn't find relatives for you, it just compares known relatives. I don't see the point of it unless it is to show that you were adopted.
 
  • #14
Jimmy Snyder said:
My cousin has been pestering me to go to a family tree dna testing site and have it done for genealogical purposes. It's $159 for mitochondrial, $169 for Y-chromosome, and $289 for both. It doesn't find relatives for you, it just compares known relatives. I don't see the point of it unless it is to show that you were adopted.
That's not what this is either, it's not genealogical. This is that project that has been tracing the different migrations out of Africa, different paths taken and with markers in your dna (they have a huge database) they can determine which of the migrations and paths your ancestors took, going back to 40,000 to 60,000 years.

And then your data is added to the growing data base for the project.

I'm interested in knowing when my family went to Europe, was it before or during the ice age? Did they wander around and arrive after the ice age?
 
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  • #15
Evo said:
Yes, it can tell both of those things, definitely the American Indian. View the short video on the "about" link "Video: About the project".

That's pretty cool. If I was crazy enough, I would buy 2 of them, send in one sample with my DNA, and one with my dog's DNA just to see what his results are.
 
  • #16
leroyjenkens said:
That's pretty cool. If I was crazy enough, I would buy 2 of them, send in one sample with my DNA, and one with my dog's DNA just to see what his results are.
Lol, the dog should throw them.
 
  • #17
Neat! I want one.
 
  • #18
Hm, interesting. I was doing some light searching of results and found 1 result from a person named Jeff that genotyped his ancestry in 2007, the first phase of this public collaboration with science.

http://jeffyen.blogspot.com/2007/10/my-dna-results-are-out-genographic.html

I was hesitant at first but now I would like my results after seeing Jeff's. I think it would be rather good to know as I am highly curious now.
 
  • #19
Mentalist said:
Hm, interesting. I was doing some light searching of results and found 1 result from a person named Jeff that genotyped his ancestry in 2007, the first phase of this public collaboration with science.

http://jeffyen.blogspot.com/2007/10/my-dna-results-are-out-genographic.html

I was hesitant at first but now I would like my results after seeing Jeff's. I think it would be rather good to know as I am highly curious now.
The link the other guy posted with the map was great too. Ok, now I need to beg, borrow and steal to get mine.
 
  • #20
Fascinating idea!
 
  • #22
Somehow, someway, Ireland met with Sicily and I popped into existence. It definitely would be nice to see the science behind all those nutty reunions.
 
  • #25
Here is a short video on the Genographic Project. It first began in 2005.

 
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