Many individuals now search for basic knowledge of their
genetic ancestry BEYOND the recent centuries in which traditional pedigrees can
now be assembled. The application of genetics to traditional genealogy is
defined as Genetic Genealogy. This
growing field implements the use of genealogical DNA testing to reveal the
level and type of genetic relationship between individuals. Such applications of genetics have become quite
popular to family historians during the first decade of the 21st century, as
affordable testing methods have developed. With advancement of the field, the objectives
of genetic genealogist have also expanded.
Testing has been encouraged by amateur groups such as assurname study
groups, or regional genealogical groups.
As well, efforts of research projects such as the genographic project,
have led to testing sought by hundreds of thousands of people.
The Genetic Genealogy Revolution
In 2000, Family Tree DNA, created by Bennett Greenspan and
Max Blankfeld, was the first company devoted to direct-to-consumer testing for
genealogy research. The company originally provided eleven marker Y-Chromosome
STR tests and HVR1 mitochondrial DNA tests, originally testing in partnership
with the University of Arizona.
The publication of Sykes “The Seven Daughters of Eve” (2001),
which defined the seven major haplogroups of European ancestors, assisted in the
push for personal ancestry testing through DNA tests, into widespread public notification.
With growing affordability and availability
of genealogical DNA testing, genetic genealogy as a field, has grown rapidly. By 2003, the field of DNA testing of surnames
was acknowledged as officially arriving in an article by Jobling and
Tyler-Smith in Nature Reviews Genetics.
The number of companies providing tests, and the number of consumers
ordering the tests, had dramatically risen.
Citation:
Deboeck, Guido. "Genetic Genealogy Becomes Mainstream.
BellaOnline. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
