top of page
SAMPLING
Anchor 1
Step 1: Invitation

Step 1: Invitation

Project recruitment begins with a formal letter of invitation.

Step 2: Informed Consent Process

Step 2: Informed Consent Process

We discuss your rights as a participant, as well as the benefits and risks of participation in this project.

Step 3: Signatures

Step 3: Signatures

The investigator and the participant sign the informed consent document.

Step 4a: Sample Collection

Step 4a: Sample Collection

The participant is asked to provide about a teaspoon's worth of saliva into this sample collection tube.

Step 4b: Collected Sample

Step 4b: Collected Sample

The saliva sample is now in the tube, and mixed with chemicals to help stabilize the DNA.

Step 5: Coding for Privacy

Step 5: Coding for Privacy

The collection tube containing the saliva sample is labeled with the collection date and a unique participant code ID.

Photography © 2010-24, Loruhama T.R.

GENETIC ANCESTRY ANALYSES
Anchor 2

In our project, we are conducting three kinds of analyses: maternal, paternal, and biparental genetic ancestry.

 

We will trace your maternal ancestry by analyzing DNA from your cells' mitochondria (small cellular components) and, if you are male, your paternal ancestry from your Y-chromosome. We will also provide ancestry information from both sides of your family ("biparental") by analyzing chromosomal DNA from the cell nucleus, not including the sex chromosomes.

MATERNAL ANCESTRY
PATERNAL ANCESTRY
BIPARENTAL ANCESTRY
ANCESTRY INFERENCE: BASIS
Anchor 3

Genetic ancestry inference is just that - inference - and therefore not definitive. Genetic ancestry inference relies on individual samples from around the world. These individual samples are compiled into reference databases, which can vary from one testing laboratory to another.

 

The better the laboratory's reference database, the more potentially accurate the inference estimate. A reference database should consist of individuals with geneaological relationships to ancestral populations from the same area.  Because reference databases are often incomplete or lacking in individual samples from particular geographical areas, the usefulness of a reference database for biogeographic estimation can vary both by global locale and on the laboratory conducting the genetic ancestry inference analysis.

 

This is a recently-taken screenshot from the AncestryDNA.com website. AncestryDNA is a large genetic ancestry testing company in the United States that uses many of the same individual samples used by other companies and academic researchers to compile their reference database.

 

This map demonstrates that currently, several areas of the world are more densely sampled than others. Poorly sampled global regions will yield low resolution biogeographic estimates, whereas better sampled regions have the potential to provide greater biogeographic resolution.

For example, if an individual's genome shows strong affinities with individual samples from the American continent, the biogeographic ancestry estimate will simply figure as "Americas" for that person. If instead, her genome shows affinities with individual samples scattered throughout Europe, it might be possible to further refine her biogeographic estimate to particular subregions, such as  "northern Europe" or "Iberian peninsula."  

 

Because genetic ancestry inference heavily depends on reference databases, a genetic ancestry estimate could differ depending on the reference database. A genetic ancestry inference is also likely to change along with additions to the reference database in the coming years. However, given that major global regions are currently represented in global datasets, it is unlikely that individuals would experience large-scale changes, such as a change in estimate from"Europe" to "Oceania." Finer-scale refinements are more likely, such as from "East Asia/Americas" to simply "Americas" or even "South America."

HOW SHOULD GENETIC ANCESTRY TESTS BE USED ?
Anchor 4

Genetic ancestry tests can be used in myriad ways, for example to infer your own ancestry/ies as well as familial relationships between you and others. Researchers will also often use genetic ancestry tests to better understand affiliations among populations.

 

Ancestry estimates should be considered as preliminary or supplementary tools rather than as conclusive outcomes. As detailed above, ancestry estimates carry a certain degree of uncertainty, and absence of evidence should not constitute evidence of absence. For example, if via your family oral history, you have knowledge of ancestors from a particular geographical area, but a genetic ancestry inference analysis does not confirm it, a simple reason for this may be the use of an inadequate reference database in the analysis.

 

For this reason, genetic ancestry tests should not be used as the basis for establishing your individual (or group) ancestry affiliation to obtain particular social benefits or entitlements, for example in terms of employment or university admittance.

bottom of page