Family History Tips
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Genealogy and geneology: family history and genetic research
An important genetic discovery has recently been made which has significance for our perception of the racial history of Britain, as well as being of importance to genealogy. It has been discovered that in Yorkshire, a region traditionally believed to be almost exclusively white before the 20th century, the holders of a certain unusual surname are genetically related to West Africans (Daily Telegraph, Wednesday, January 24, 2007). Turi King made the connection whilst a PhD student at the University of Leicester under Prof. Mark Jobling. She realised, in taking a sample of DNA from a man from Leicester, that he had the Y-chromosome type hgA1. This is extraordinarily rare, found almost nowhere in the world outside Africa.
The surname in question has not been revealed, in order to protect the man’s identity, as well as to prevent upsetting others who share the name. Conventional documentary genealogy was used in addition to the DNA testing, making a link between the man and an African living in England before the 1700s. There are two main theories for this unexpected revelation: one that he was somehow involved in the slave trade, or that his ancestors may have been inhabitants of Britain since the Roman period. This is yet another example of how genetics can be used to reveal more about the historical racial makeup of regions. There is now a significant amount of work being done in this field, particularly in this country.
One of the best writers on this subject is the geneticist Bryan Sykes, who has discovered much about the racial background of the United Kingdom (including Ireland) in his Blood of the Isles. He extracted DNA from 10,000 living subjects, all of which he believed to be descended from one of seven women living in the ancient past. His most influential discovery is that, from the genetic viewpoint, the majority of Britain’s inhabitants are the descendants of Celtic peoples. Many Scots, Welsh, and Irish already champion this side of their ancestry, though the English traditionally associate themselves either with Germanic or Scandinavian ancestors (Saxons, Vikings and Normans). He has likewise noted the presence of usually African genes in Southern England, thus showing the new breakthrough in Yorkshire is more widespread than might be imagined.
Though of general interest, it may be asked how this technology can help the family historian. The answer is that it can be of quite significant help in determining whether people of the same surname or who live in the same area are in any way related, by examining the amount of identical genetic material they share. There are the beginnings of an industry in DNA testing for individuals specialising in looking at familial relationships. This has been popular in the USA for a while, but the enthusiasm for this new way of looking at genealogy in growing in Britain.
Several companies now offer such testing for private clients interested in learning more about their family. One of the most successful of these organisations is DNA Heritage, based in Dorset; they use highly accurate testing and are well-suited to deal with genealogical investigations, running several surname projects themselves. There are also several businesses in America dedicated to this type of work. The company first sends a testing kit, and the sample (usually taken by brushing the inside of the cheek) is then sent back for analysis. The testing process takes around six weeks to produce a result, though this obviously depends on the efficiency of the laboratory and the volume of work. The most useful type of test for family history is the Y-chromosome test which examines variations in the DNA, known as markers; the basic premise is that the more frequently the same markers recur, the more likely two individuals are to be related to each other.
As with many disciplines, the best approach to genealogy is an integrated one. By itself DNA testing can only yield a limited amount of information about the relationship between individuals. For instance, though genetic material may be shared by two people, it can not always describe the precise relation between them. Since Y-chromosomal DNA changes relatively slowly, it is not easy to pinpoint the date of a variation in the genes. Nevertheless, it can still reveal connections sometimes impossible to make through any other method.
Documentary evidence will still be needed to flesh out the story of the family. Genetic testing can, however, be used to scientifically corroborate theories about a connection between individuals where the written evidence is unclear. Similarly, it can reveal dramatic (and sometimes unwelcome) truths about a family’s history. For instance, from using normal genealogical methods a well-referenced and secure pedigree can be established. However, a DNA test between apparently related members can reveal something quite different, and the uncomfortable possibility of illegitimacy.
If family history is a ‘join-the-dots’ puzzle, science can ensure we have the dots in the right place, but we will always need documents to join them up.
Jeremy Goldsmith
25 January 2006