dna project

[anotheranon]

I was recently made aware of National Geographic's Genographic Project, an international effort to record humanity's genetic heritage. Anyone can participate if they send off for a test kit - in return you'll get a map showing the migratory patterns of your distant ancestors.

Not an endorsement, because I'm not actually participating. Not that I have any problem with it or with those who want to find out where their genes come from - D. and some of my co workers are all over it - but because I'm not that curious.

Sure there are some provocative hints that I might be part Native American on my dad's side, but being a woman this can't be traced (see the details at "test kit"). And while I find the genes of social groups tangentially interesting it's not as compelling for me as the social history behind it - my ancestors may have migrated from point A to point B, but why? When/where would my European ancestors have met my possible Cherokee great-great-n parents? What made them leave Europe? These to me are the more interesting questions.

But I provide the links for y'all who ARE interested - I'm told a kit might make a good Christmas present :)

Comments

[shemhazai.livejournal.com]

Oh that is just SO cool. WANT! This is definitely going on my christmas list!

I'm a bit curious...on my father's side I'm Norwegian-a-go-go, but apparently there's some Pennsylvania-dutch (1/8) on my mother's side, so I'd love to see where all I come from.