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52 Ancestors, 52 Weeks: Week 16. DNA

 

DNA


I really don't think my father ever needed a DNA test to prove his father. When my cousin first shared the picture of my Grandfather as a child, I did think it was a photo of my Dad. It is often muted that heart disease and various cancers can run in families. Not only do the photographs show the resemblance between my Dad and Grandad, but the primary cause of my Dad's death was oesophagial cancer, but similarly his father died from throat cancer too. Is this a genetic factor, or could it have been related environmental or lifestyle choices.

So what to write about DNA? It is not really a subject that engages me. Is what makes us who we are, genetic or environmental? My thoughts are such that genetics plays it's part but influence, upbringing and the world around us has at least an equal part in this. But this is looking at the subject of DNA in a broader sense.

So having taken a DNA test from one of the genealogical companies does this help with our own research? To a point it does but conversely it is only as good as other peoples research in pinpointing that errant ancestor. There is not a store of DNA in the archives related to our ancestors, except for archeological remains which may help pinpoint from where in the world we have migrated way back when, but we are still dependant on nuts and bolts research to discover who our 4 or 5 times great grandparent may be. But then again, what if a woman has covered a pregnancy within a marriage or otherwise, with another man. This could lead to a few shocks along the way, but then  you could argue that the DNA route could give a more accurate account of our heritage.

My mother was adopted, we know her birth mother but not her father, maybe we need that conversation, but she isn't really that interested. As more people are being tested so I am finding matches not identified with any of my known paper genealogy,  if Mum had a DNA test it would be easier to work through the possibilities. But what would the purpose be, both parents would be dead? Her birth father like her birth mother would be names on a page, but it is her adopted parents and wider family are those we remember and those that have shaped our lives.





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  1. Barb LaFaraApril 26, 2021 at 6:51 PM

    I share many of your thoughts on DNA used for genealogy. As for finding, or being found by, unknown family, I had two positive experiences with that last year. One was due to having my 90+ year old mother submit her DNA.

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    1. mandy perryApril 29, 2021 at 12:35 PM

      Thank you again for your comment and your continued viewing of my posts. When Mum next shows any interest in family history, I will broach the subject of DNA testing.

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