The Genetics of Genealogy http://www.radioopensource.org/the-genetics-of-genealogy/ is a page on Radio Open Source web site dedicated to the broadcast of a discussion with Spencer Wells, John Hawks and Andy Carvin, on genetics and genealogy.
The actual program can be heard at this link: http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/ros/open_source_060330.mp3
FTDNA has announced a new 59 Marker test for the Y chromosome. The link above will take you to their page about Y DNA testing and the 59 marker test.
They have also revised their Time to Most Recent Common Ancestor (TMRCA) chart to show how this test will help to lower the number of generations one needs to search for the common ancestor: How many markers to test? http://www.familytreedna.com/faq2.html
The theoretical reality of these calculations will be tested when 59 marker results start to come in from know relatives.
This article will be available 6 months after publication:
Am J Hum Genet. 2006 Apr;78(4):680-90. Epub 2006 Feb 14.
Proportioning whole-genome single-nucleotide-polymorphism diversity for the
identification of geographic population structure and genetic ancestry.
Lao O, Duijn K, Kersbergen P, Knijff P, Kayser M.
Department of Forensic Molecular Biology, Erasmus University Medical Centre
Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. m.kayser@erasmusmc.nl.
The identification of geographic population structure and genetic ancestry on the basis of a minimal set of genetic markers is desirable for a wide range of applications in medical and forensic sciences. However, the absence of sharp discontinuities in the neutral genetic diversity among human populations implies that, in practice, a large number of neutral markers will be required to identify the genetic ancestry of one individual. We showed that it is possible to reduce the amount of markers required for detecting continental population structure to only 10 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), by applying a newly developed ascertainment algorithm to Affymetrix GeneChip Mapping 10K SNP array data that we obtained from samples of globally dispersed human individuals (the Y Chromosome Consortium panel). Furthermore, this set of SNPs was able to recover the genetic ancestry of individuals from all four continents represented in the original data set when applied to an independent, much larger, worldwide population data set (Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain-Human Genome Diversity Project Cell Line Panel). Finally, we provide evidence that the unusual patterns of genetic variation we observed at the respective genomic regions surrounding the five most informative SNPs is in agreement with local positive selection being the explanation for the striking SNP allele-frequency differences we found between continental groups of human populations.
PMID: 16532397 [PubMed - in process]
"Forensic scientists could use DNA retrieved from a crime scene to predict the surname of the suspect, according to a new British study. It is not perfect, but could be an important investigative tool when combined with other intelligence. The method exploits genetic likenesses between men who share the same surname, and may help prioritise inquiries.
The technique is based on work comparing the Y chromosomes of men with the same surname. The Y chromosome is a package of genetic material found only in males."
Abstract from Current Biology:
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Curr Biol. 2006 Feb 21;16(4):384-388.
Genetic Signatures of Coancestry within Surnames.
King TE, Ballereau SJ, Schurer KE, Jobling MA.
Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester
LE1 7RH, United Kingdom.
Surnames are cultural markers of shared ancestry within human populations. The Y chromosome, like many surnames, is paternally inherited, so men sharing surnames might be expected to share similar Y chromosomes as a signature of coancestry. Such a relationship could be used to connect branches of family trees , to validate population genetic studies based on isonymy , and to predict surname from crime-scene samples in forensics . However, the link may be weak or absent due to multiple independent founders for many names, adoptions, name changes and nonpaternities, and mutation of Y haplotypes. Here, rather than focusing on a single name , we take a general approach by seeking evidence for a link in a sample of 150 randomly ascertained pairs of males who each share a British surname. We show that sharing a surname significantly elevates the probability of sharing a Y-chromosomal haplotype and that this probability increases as surname frequency decreases. Within our sample, we estimate that up to 24% of pairs share recent ancestry and that a large surname-based forensic database might contribute to the intelligence-led investigation of up to approximately 70 rapes and murders per year in the UK. This approach would be applicable to any society that uses patrilineal surnames of reasonable time-depth.
====Researchers will perform DNA tests on the remains of Joan of Arc.
MSNBC has a more detailed article here: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/11330320/
"AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES, an unprecedented four-part PBS series, takes Alex Haley's Roots saga to a whole new level through moving stories of personal discovery.
Using genealogy, oral history, family stories and DNA analysis to trace lineage through American history and back to Africa, the series provides a life-changing journey for a diverse group of highly accomplished African Americans: Dr. Ben Carson, Whoopi Goldberg, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Dr. Mae Jemison, Quincy Jones, Dr. Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, Chris Tucker and Oprah Winfrey.
The program is hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., W.E.B. Du Bois professor of the Humanities and chair of African and African American Studies at Harvard University,
The "African American Lives" website provides detail on the program and on
the techniques used in the research.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/about.html"
Genetic Genealogy is used throughout the series, with emphasis in the first and fourth programs.
