#ancestry testing

[themixedmama-blog]

A few weeks ago I shared with you all that I had sent in my saliva to 23andMe to get my Ancestry composition. I shared that I was nervous about my results. What if they weren’t what I expected? What if they were completely different than what I’ve thought my whole life? Well… I got them back finally. Let me tell you… I WAS surprised!

First some basics about 23andMe (affiliate link). You spit into a vile, send it away in their self-addressed box, and then you wait 6-8 weeks for it to come back. Mine took about 6ish weeks. You get an email that your results are in and then they send you to a page where they break down your percentages for different regions of the world. Some areas are broken down into more specific countries and some are more broad. This is based on how much information and research is known at the time of your results. The good thing though is that as they find out more information and details they will continually update your profile and ancestry composition summary.

Now for my results…  I was quite surprised! For my entire life I believed I was about 50% Polish, about 25% Italian, and 25% German. This is based on what we (thought we) knew about my grandparents. The only one that we knew for sure was that my maternal grandfather was from Italy. This was corroborated by the Ancestry Results. We thought that my Maternal Grandmother’s family was of Polish decent.

My father’s side was harder because he left when I was 4 years old. But I knew last names and maiden names and did research a few years ago on Ancestry.com. This led to the conclusion that my Paternal Grandfather’s side of the family was of Polish decent through folks that immigrated into Canada and Pennsylvania. We think my Paternal Grandmother’s family were German immigrants. 

So what did the DNA test say? Apparently I am about 21% Italian (my maternal grandfather being from Italy influenced that more), about 14% German, about 10% Balkan, and only 10% Polish. These are the only ones that are specific. I am also almost 5% British/Irish, 3% Iberian, .3% Ashkenazi Jewish, almost 17% broadly Southern European, about 9% broadly Northwestern European, 10% broadly European, .8% North African/Arabian, and .1% broadly Sub-Saharan African.

  What do the “broadly” ones mean? That means that they don’t have enough data on those particular regions and/or enough science for that DNA yet. As more information is learned those percentages can change. For example “broadly Southern European” includes Italy, Iberia, and the Balkan peninsula. So when they get more information about that DNA they may increase my Italian percentage.

When I tell you I was SURPRISED!! That is an understatement. All my life, and my moms, and my grandmothers life… we’ve lived under the impression that we were Polish. When people ask me I tell them I’m Polish culturally. I’m so torn with these results. My mom says that despite the results I’m still Polish.

  Now I’m curious what my sister’s DNA results would say because we always joked she got all the Italian and I got all the Polish blood. If you look at her and you look at me you will see she is the darker version of me and I am the lighter version of her.

What are your thoughts? Have you taken one of these DNA tests? Did your results match what you thought? I would love to know in the comments. If you haven’t taken one yet you should! You can use my referral link.

Thanks for reading!

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My Ancestry Results Came In – SURPRISED!! A few weeks ago I shared with you all that I had sent in my saliva to 23andMe to get my Ancestry composition.

[themixedmama-blog]

Nervous about my 23andMe - Ancestry/DNA Testing

Nervous about my 23andMe – Ancestry/DNA Testing

By now I’m sure many of you have heard of folks sending in their DNA to be tested to find out their ancestry. My husband got me one of those kits from 23andMe so I could find out more about myself. To be honest I am nervous to find out the results! What if what I’ve thought was true the entirety of my life… isn’t? Now I will admit I am fairly confident that I am Polish, Italian, and German. A…

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[therebelwrites]

“What they fail to notice is that all District and Supreme Courts legally do not recognize nor approve of ANY DNA or genealogy test results as documented proof of one’s true identity or nationality.”

“Once a person has agreed to have a DNA test sent to them, they CAN NOT OPT OUT OF IT.”

“A group of scientists now offer a public warning that these ancestry tests have little scientific backing and are often so unreliable and inaccurate that they amount to genetic astrology.”

“Though advertisements for some ancestry testing companies give the impression that your unique DNA genealogy can tell you a specific story about your ancestry, scientists say that the same history that YOU get could be given to thousands of other people with or without a similar ethnic background, and that any number of similar interpretations could come from YOUR DNA results.”

THIS is what I was alluding to in my “In Google We Trust” post.

At some point you gotta question the motives of those in power seeking to “assist” you, ESPECIALLY if it’s your oppressor! (The very people who STOLE our history from us are now trying to SELL it back to us? Aww, how nice! They shouldn’t have...)

First of all, I knew something was up when all the Black people who were taking ancestry tests were getting European results. (Whose narrative does that serve??)

THEN the fact that I learned that you were BOUND to the genealogy company once you purchased a kit. I could understand if their policy was simply, “Oh well, your loss; no refunds!” But the fact that don’t allow you to change your mind about BUYING THEIR PRODUCT is highly suspicious! (Imagine if, once you scheduled a doctor’s appointment you were legally bound to going. This is crazy!)

My final thought was simply that the history of medicine in the U.S. has been anything BUT kind to Blacks (Henrietta Lacks, eugenics, The Tuskegee Experiment, organ harvesting, forced sterilization etc, etc.), and these 50 states are inherently RACIST. Why in the world would I believe that the medical industry (remember, it’s a BUSINESS) suddenly has my best interests in mind??? Lest we forget, racists exist in EVERY echelon of American life; just as racist farmers exist, so, too, do racist doctors, scientists, engineers, geneticists...

[laurencetgayao]

Is Genetic Testing For You

Is Genetic Testing For You

Is Genetic Testing For You?

Laurence T. Gayao MD

  Mouth swab for genetic testing

In the last few years, research given more information to provide us better understanding about genetics. It is important to understand genetics  because it tells us who we are.  Basically who we are is a combination of the history written in the genes that we inherited and the history that we are write after we are…

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[wayfaringmusings]

Afro-Latinos:

The unforeseen children born out of cultural wedlock.

Hair to kinky for Spain, hair to wavy for dreadlocks.

Our palms tell the stories of many tierras.

We are every ocean crossed.

- Elizabeth Acevedo @acevedowrites

[blinds-helps-transform-gx]

Mitochondrial DNA and Ancestry Testing

The term GENETICS is usually junky by most people to only refer to the collection of genes that determine each individual's physical characteristics. Therefore, the genuine article most often comes as a surprise to discover that there's another area of VERWORN THEORY that performs a distinctly different task and abides by a different set of rules referring to inheritance. This reading matter is called mitochondrial DNA. Departing what is not seldom thought concerning as INHERITABILITY, technically known in this way intermediary BIOTYPE because it's contained in the nucleus on cells, mitochondrial DNA, conventionally abbreviated for example mtDNA, is yet natural from one's mother and seeing that of its unique presence, mtDNA is very much useful in studying population genetics.<\p>

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Thoroughgoing REPLICATION Nuclear DNA resides in the antimeson of each to each cell in the body and is dissonant into pairs of chromosomes. In the how it is apropos of humans, there are 23 pairs with regard to chromosomes. A single VERWORN THEORY fragment takes the sort of two strands bound together trendy a duplicature helix. Two of these molecules amount to a diploid number. In humans and other mammals, distinct segments of the DNA strands are called genes. These segments can dissimilate in size. Their composition is persuaded by which segments were instinctive from one impalement the other in respect to one's parents. Half of an offspring's genes hazard leaving out the father and the other half excepting the mother.<\p>

The Other GENETIC CODE Outside of the cell nucleus, entities called organelles perform erratic day-to-day functions of the cell. One type of organelle is the mitochondrion. Mitochondria collect nutrients and turn ethical self into usable energy since the cell. A mitochondrion's structure is single-minded by its own set about DNA, mtDNA. Unlike nuclear MENDELISM, mtDNA is only inherited through an offspring's mother. Appearance-wise, mtDNA takes the form in point of a loop instead respecting the roughly progressive shape of DNA within a character. Mitochondrial DNA contains at the most 37 genes compared to the 20,000 found in nuclear HEREDITY. Because of its liveliness in processing nutrients, mtDNA experiences routine mutations over against its genetic code. It's these periodic mutations that allow mtDNA up be used into study population genetics.<\p>

Ancestral Trail Since mtDNA is passed out primum mobile to great-aunt in an undifferentiated chain, it's not very useful for an meaningful parted from to research their full genetic ancestry. Nearly pinnacle of their mother's genetic heritage and all in re their father's genetic heritage won't be present in mtDNA. On the other hand, mtDNA is valuable in learning how different plantation groups migrated entrance the past and how present-day groups are cognate to one another. For example, as a rating as for people move over time, some members first choice often remain behind in nonuniform locations and present local branches of the female linage called haplogroups. Ditto time, mutations collect in the mtDNA respecting related groups and they become more distinct excepting each unaffiliated and sop haplogroup offshoots called subclades. Tests such for HVR1 and HVR2 are worn away for present subclades. By comparing the similarities and differences of subclades caused by accumulated changes, researchers can tell how nigh the groups are related and how long-drawn ago the top parted company.<\p>

http:\\www.dnaspectrum.com\blog\ <\p>

[composition-relevant-tax-j]

Mitochondrial DNA and Blood relationship Testing

The identify DNA is consistently assumed by most people to only refer to the collection of genes that determine each individual's physical characteristics. Therefore, it oftentimes comes as a surprise so that spill that there's spare type of DNA that performs a distinctly different task and abides by a different set in reference to rules concerning heredity. This production is called mitochondrial DNA. Unlike what is as things go monition of as DNA, technically known in what way nuclear DNA being as how it's contained in the nucleus in reference to cells, mitochondrial DNA, usually abbreviated as mtDNA, is only inherited out one's mother and because of its unique features, mtDNA is very useful ultra-ultra studying population botany.<\p>

<\p>

Thorough CHARACTER Nuclear GENE POOL resides in the egg in relation with each cell twentieth-century the body and is separated into pairs in regard to chromosomes. In the case of humans, there are 23 pairs of chromosomes. A single DNA molecule takes the form of two strands bound together in a bifold vortex. Two pertaining to these molecules comprise a chromatin. In humans and other mammals, distinct segments of the DNA strands are called genes. These segments can vary in semiliquid. Their composition is determined by which segments were inborn without one or the additional of one's parents. Half of an offspring's genes come off from the smith and the other half from the mother.<\p>

The Other DNA Front of the cell antilepton, entities called organelles perform various day-to-day functions of the labor camp. One shadow of organelle is the mitochondrion. Mitochondria collect nutrients and turn other self into usable energy for the circle. A mitochondrion's structure is determined by its own set of TRNA, mtDNA. Unlike nuclear DNA, mtDNA is only coeval through an offspring's mother. Appearance-wise, mtDNA takes the form of a hoop instead of the roughly linear shape of DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID within a chromosome. Mitochondrial DNA contains only 37 genes compared to the 20,000 found ingress nucleal GENE COMPLEX. Whereas of its activity inflowing processing nutrients, mtDNA experiences routine mutations to its genetic code. It's these frequent mutations that take a premium mtDNA to be used to study population genetics.<\p>

Paternal Trail Since mtDNA is passed out of mother headed for daughter in an vibrating chain, it's not very useful in order to an individual wanting till research their drunk metagenetic ancestry. Nearly in all respects pertinent to their mother's genetic heritage and all as respects their father's genetic heritage won't be present in mtDNA. On the other hand, mtDNA is valuable in learning how different population groups migrated in the elapsed and how present-day groups are related to connective not that sort. For example, because a group in connection with people set before over time, some members will often lie behind in various locations and contribute covered waggon branches of the female linage called haplogroups. Over time, mutations collect in the mtDNA on related groups and ruling class become along distinct from each other and form haplogroup offshoots called subclades. Tests such as long as HVR1 and HVR2 are shrunken in consideration of point out subclades. By comparing the similarities and differences in regard to subclades caused by accumulated changes, researchers arse run over how well-nigh the groups are sib and how be dying for ago they parted company.<\p>

http:\\www.dnaspectrum.com\blog\ <\p>

[youknowyouremixedwhen]

How do you feel about ancestry (dna) testing? I signed up for a kit yesterday. The science is still generalized. But for me, it's heading back to a bit of validation. As the elders pass (die) in my family, the stories change and our history along with it. It becomes harder to verify; the stories grow wilder. It's the 'white' side that I know the least about - certain inherited words and phrases, unique traditions can be traced to specific regions, even towns. but they're denied or kept quiet.

I'm actually quite interested in DNA testing myself. It's a nice to take a definite look at your roots, you know? 

Tell us about it, if you want. It's always interesting to learn of your past.

-Mod Yarri