The biggest family tree ever tracing genetic and migratory history of the human

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The biggest family tree ever tracing genetic and migratory history of

the human race

16 Apr 2005 Medical News Today

Ever wondered where your family's ancestors roamed 60,000 years ago?

Now you can find out by participating in the world's most ambitious

project tracing the genetic and migratory history of the human race.

Members of the general public from all over the world can supply

their DNA to the Genographic Project, and scientists at The

University of Arizona in Tucson will do the genetic analysis. The

public DNA sampling is part of a larger undertaking to unravel the

origins and migratory history of mankind thousands of years back in

time by analyzing genetic samples from at least 200,000 people all

over the world.

National Geographic and IBM are embarking on the Genographic Project,

a landmark, five-year global study of human migratory history. The

project will reveal how our ancestors diversified into different

groups and what routes they took as they spread out over the Earth.

One major aspect of the project is doing field research and

collecting DNA samples from indigenous peoples throughout the world.

The field component of the project is underwritten by the Waitt

Family Foundation.

UA is participating in a different aspect of the project, analyzing

samples submitted by the public. Individuals can become part of the

project and learn about their own ancestors by buying a participation

kit and submitting their DNA sample.

" As more people provide their genetic information to the project,

researchers will be able to fill in the local details of how people

migrated across the Earth, " said Cusanovich, director of UA's

Arizona Research Laboratories. Cusanovich added that this is the

first time members of the general public can join a genetics project

of this scale.

F. Hammer, a research scientist at UA's Arizona Research

Laboratories and UA's BIO5 Institute, will analyze the general

public's DNA samples. His team will trace people's lineages using

markers encoded into DNA. The DNA samples will be analyzed in UA's

Genomic Analysis and Technology Core (GATC), a facility providing

genomic research services to public and private research

institutions. GATC has the capacity to process up to 10,000 samples

each month. The actual work load will depend on how many people join

in the multi-national effort.

" For the first time people all around the world can learn about their

genetic ancestry, " said Hammer, a population geneticist. One of his

specialties is deciphering prehistoric human relationships using

genetics.

By comparing the genetic markers, the UA scientists' work will unveil

new aspects of people's family trees, ones that are almost impossible

to discover through traditional genealogical methods. In contrast to

written historical records that can be lost or oral histories that

can fall into disuse, the information stored in people's genes

persists.

Cusanovich had his own DNA analyzed, which helped him trace his

family to a time " when the crusaders were rolling through the Middle

East. " Many people conduct genealogical research, said Cusanovich, a

UA professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics and a professor

in BIO5. " If you ask around here, you find that every tenth person is

building a little family tree at home. They go to all the records and

they're using Web sites to trace back their history. "

The UA scientists will analyze a tiny fraction of the participants'

genetic material: the y-chromosome, which is passed on from father to

son, and mitochondrial DNA, which is passed on from mothers to their

sons and daughters. This enables the researchers to decipher the

characteristic genetic markers of both parental lineages.

UA is collaborating in a joint venture with Family Tree DNA, a

company specializing in tracing ancestry using genetics. The company

has been contracted to process the samples in the Genographic

Project. Hammer is a consultant for and holds stock in the company.

UA will not generate profits from the project.

People who wish to participate in the Genographic Project can buy a

kit at $99.95 (plus shipping and handling) from National Geographic.

The kit contains a swab to collect cells from the inside of the mouth

and a tube to ship the sample to Family Tree DNA. The company then

registers the sample and sends it to The University of Arizona for

analysis. All samples are analyzed anonymously to protect

individuals' privacy, and the information will be used only for the

project. Participants can obtain their personal results on a Web

site.

Participants who want to find out about a whole new set of relatives

can do so by disclosing their names to Family Tree DNA and then plan

their biggest family reunion ever.

Websites:

The Genographic Project,

http://www5.nationalgeographic.com/genographic

Arizona Research Laboratories, http://www.arl.arizona.edu

BIO5, http://www.bio5.org

Family Tree DNA, http://www.familytreedna.com