The other day, my daughter spit into a tube and popped it in the mailbox. Well, there was a bit more to it than that, but basically, that is how easy it is to get your DNA analyzed, thanks to biotechnology companies such as 23andMe.
Now she, well we, are anxiously awaiting the results. Hopefully, in a few weeks, she will receive some information about her ancestry and general health and wellness characteristics connected to that DNA line. I’m interested in the results not just because she is my daughter but also because I am adopted. I have no idea what my biological ancestry is other than a few snippets of info listed in a paper file in a drawer in a dusty government office.
Why is this even important? Other than the curiosity factor, DNA is the pathway to information about your health, your lifestyle choices, and your future, not to mention future generations should you choose to bring others into this messed-up world. (Yes, I am a bit jaded these days with the state of our world.) Would I live my life any differently if I knew my genetic makeup? Probably not, but at least it would give doctors a starting point if my health should take a downward turn. Or at least I’d know what I’d passed on to my unsuspecting children.
Genealogy, according to Merriam-Webster, is: an account of the descent of a person, family, or group from an ancestor or from older forms. In simple terms, it is the study of family ancestral lines. Genealogy is not to be confused with family history. Genealogy is putting together a family tree. It is names, dates, birthplaces, etc. Family history is what fills in or connects those lines. Family history is the collection of stories, traditions, and experiences that bind people together. I suppose you can’t have one without the other.
There has always been a collective interest in researching ancestry, but it has surged in popularity in the last few years thanks to the enormous number of DNA tracing or family tree/ancestry tracing programs available online. Just google “trace my family ancestry,” and millions of links will pop up.
“Although genealogy was always of interest to nobility when establishing ‘pedigrees’, it’s believed the real interest started after the publication of Alex Haley’s 1976 book Roots and the subsequent blockbuster television series of the same name. Suddenly, everyone realized how personally rewarding and interesting it could be to learn about the history of the family that resulted in ’you’!” says Jane Richardson, president of the Saskatoon Genealogical Society. “The growth of online resources and the new science of genetic genealogy increased the possibilities for research and discovery, and interest hasn’t stopped growing. I’ve seen statements that genealogy is the second most popular hobby after gardening.”
The Saskatoon Genealogical Society is a branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society. The mission of the SGS, according to its website, is to “provide expertise and assistance to people to help them participate in family history research and to collect, preserve, and deliver Saskatchewan-specific genealogical records and materials.” SGS has branches throughout the province, about 675 members, and one of the largest genealogical lending libraries in Canada! That is really something!
Jane joined the Saskatoon Branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society (SGS) in 2003. “I had always been interested in history and ‘old stuff’ and decided to register for the “2003 Annual Genealogical Seminar, Saskatoon Branch of SGS” because the program sounded really interesting. It was at this conference that the genealogy bug truly bit me, and I purchased my first membership. I wanted to learn how to research my family history and pass this information on to family members. I didn’t have any children of my own, but my first great-niece had been born in 2002, and this was something I could do for future family generations.”
“(Knowing one’s roots” is important because) it helps you understand who you are and broadens your understanding about why you may be different but also similar to others,” says Jane.
I began looking into my genealogy in the late 1990s. I spent a lot of hours in our local library’s history room, pouring over Henderson directories, and sent several inquiries to the provincial archives, land titles, and other government offices. Of course, my search was a bit complicated because I was searching for a family lineage without knowing who the family was. But that is another story for another blog. Suffice to say, I did get the results I was looking for. It would be a lot easier now with the internet, and yes, I must admit, I have gone hunting online and discovered quite a few interesting things about my biological family.
People have various reasons for wanting to delve into their family tree. Some want to pass the info on to future generations. Some want to confirm family history (we all know how stories get embellished through the generations). Others want to know if they are related to someone famous/historical or are curious about an ancestor’s participation in a historical event or time. Others want to trace medical conditions. And some are just plain curious.
Talk about perfect timing. While working on this blog, my daughter received her 23andMe results. I must admit I was a bit skeptical when she first decided to do this, but I can now say that the information she received from the one little sample she provided is phenomenal. The accuracy with which it describes her is amazing, and the doors to the future have been thrown wide open. She agreed to talk to me about it. (This is a short summary of the hours of conversation we have shared as she realizes the possibilities this information can bring.)
“I decided to do 23andMe because I wanted to know more about my ancestry, especially on my mom’s side because we don’t know much. I wanted to confirm my ancestry based on the stories I’d been told. The way that the DNA analysis can accurately describe your physical characteristics is interesting,” she says. “It fascinated me that it could predict things to do with health, especially things that I can consider in the future and things to watch out for. These are the things that you can take to your doctor for discussion or testing. One thing I found quite interesting is that I have a higher amount of Neanderthal DNA. That could be why I am, or was, a better sprinter than a distance runner, and why I prefer salty foods over sweet.”
Some of the information my daughter received has also answered a few questions for me. After all, we do share DNA, and that DNA has been shared over hundreds of thousands of years. In our case, her dad has less European ancestry than I do, so it is easier for us to attribute certain factors to the maternal or paternal side. And there were even a couple of names that popped up that got me excited. Seriously? I have biological relatives in the same city in which I currently live. Wow!
So, what does this newfound information mean to a 28-year-old? “I am going to create a family tree and maybe track down some distant relatives I’ve now found out I have. It’s exciting to know that I have relatives in different places worldwide and we are all connected.”
Even though there are a lot of resources online, you shouldn’t just jump in and start your search for long-lost relatives. Trust me. It gets very overwhelming, very fast.
“Educate yourself on the basics of family research first; it’s easy to get things wrong if you haven’t learned some research and documentation skills first,” says Jane. “Also think about joining groups such as ours to tap into the knowledge and experience of others. Jane, 70, knows what she is talking about. She was involved with SGS before she retired 10 years ago, but she admits her involvement has increased with the extra time she now has. “Genealogy is my primary retirement hobby. It keeps my brain active with learning and problem solving, plus it connects me with people with a similar interest.”
She adds that it is absolutely important for retirees to get involved in things like volunteer work. “It gives extra purpose to your life and allows you to meet and interact with new people.”
Well said. As for me, I’m sold. I’m going to sign up, spit into a tube, and pop it into the mailbox. Who knows, dear reader, maybe you and I are from the same Neanderthal pod!
Interesting Reads & Things:
Genealogy.com: Genforum & Family History Search
Family History | Free Family History Search | Ancestry CA
20 Reasons Why Is Genealogy Important – The Genealogy Guide
5 Reasons You Should Join a Genealogy Society (familytreemagazine.com)
Back to the Basics: Genealogy 101 | Ancestry – YouTube
Generations See What Their 150 Year Old Relatives Look Like For The First Time – YouTube
The PERFECT Place to Start Finding Your Family Tree (It’s NOT Ancestry) – YouTube
Wanderings Art 