Yep, we are headed into the bio century. In this brave new world a basic level of genetic literacy will be essential. That was a problem for me because I couldn’t tell one gene from another. But recently I discovered that the quickest route from the theory of genetics to the practice of it is to inspect my own genes. And the best motivator and context for that is that old fussy hobby of genealogy.<\/p>\n
I have near zero interest in the path-names of my ancestors (and with a common surname like mine, near zero chance of unravelling it) but the puzzle of deep ancestors turns out to be a fantastic way to get comfortable with the sprawling vocabulary, concepts and techniques of genetics. You plumb your own genes for clues about your ancestry and in the process all genes become less strange.<\/p>\n
About half a dozen companies offer a paid service to test your genes, taken from cells in the cheek, and provide a rough analysis of where you fall in the 100,000-year migration of humans across the globe. These outfits only sequence a very few points in your DNA, called markers. In general the more markers they check, the better. If you are willing, you can then submit your genetic marker results to the rapidly growing database of other folks who have tested their DNA. Some databases (and testing) specialize in African-Americans, some in Native Americans, and some try for a more general catch. All are quickly adding more markers, more sophistication, more crosslinking of results. In short, this is a fabulously fast-moving frontier that obeys the law of increasing returns: the more people that join, the more valuable and attractive it becomes for others to join.<\/p>\n
It is also pretty geeky. Whereas traditional genealogy is nearly literary, steeped in anecdotes, names, and human drama; this new craft of genetic genealogy or “genetealogy” is primarily numerical: it is a flood of statistics, databases, algorithms, and the stuff of computer science. For better or worse it is also a ferociously technical, heavily quantifiable, gnarly hobby, and the early adopters are sprinting ahead rapidly. In fact so much is happening so fast in personal genetealogy that it is quite easy for almost anyone to become the world’s expert in a particular domain.<\/p>\n
So how do you get started?<\/p>\n
The easiest way to launch into the world of ancestral DNA is to enroll in The Genographic Project. This innovative program, run by National Geographic and IBM, will test your DNA with 12 markers (a decent benchmark in 2005). In addition you’ll get a great National Geographic map of genetic geography and a fantastic National Geographic documentary (The Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey<\/i>) on our deep genetic roots and early human migration on this planet. This informative film, full of surprising news, is based on the work of Spencer Wells, who is both innovative scientist and enthusiastic host. He and crew scour the world for indigenous people with deep roots in one place, asking for samples of DNA to test, in order to piece together our “big family” genetic tree. The best parts are when they return with results and we see the diverse ways in which people and tribes react to the news of what science says about their arrival and relations. When you join The Genographic Project you fund this tree. A portion of the $100 fee for your test goes to Wells’s and other’s work, and you get your own DNA tested (anonymously) and the results in a form which you can share with others if you are inclined to. Since the fee is similar to what a commercial service would charge, it’s the way to go. You can graduate to more comprehensive and specialized testing as you progress.<\/p>\n
But as helpful as the Genographic supporting material is, you’ll need a master guide to help you decipher the meaning of genes. By far the best orientation to this exploding universe is the new book Trace Your Roots with DNA. Written for avid family-tree fans, this is a great layperson’s introduction to personal DNA testing. It illuminates the complexities of such concepts as haplogroups, snips, alleles, mtDNA, and diminishing genetic relationships — all crucial genetic knowledge even if you are not into genealogy. If you ARE into family roots, this book is will provide you with tons of concrete advice on how to persuade relatives to get tested, where to post your results, and how to correlate genes with traditional genealogical research.<\/p>\n
The authors are smart. They realize that news in this area will appear first online and only slowly migrate to paper books or magazines. They wisely direct you to preferred websites throughout their chapters. But their book offers a comprehensive overview of a frontier that no website currently offers. It is a wonderful portal to this coming century.<\/p>\n