DNA Questions
- Thread starter Dana Jean
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I told you that you were supposed to spit in the cup.........I got a zero on my DNA test..........
I thought the magazines were a little risque in the waiting room....
I'd like to represent the billions and billions who are gone from this world and we don't know their names or their stories or their contributions. Not just the strangers in black and white but throughout history. These are the people I think of most of all.
We have a family tradition of Native American background. I have a picture taken from probably circa 1895 of my grandfather and his sibs. A couple of the kids are obviously Caucasian, and three of the kids looked like they stepped off the rez. All of which goes to reinforce the family tradition.
(On the other side of the family, we also have a tradition of "black Irish," who are supposedly descendants of Spanish sailors from the Armada who washed up on the shores of Erie. I wonder what DNA has to say about that.)
My grandson got his DNA thing done. Don't know who. But it came back 1% Native American, which to my primitive powers of math means that my grandfather was not substantially Native. I look at that picture now and think that it looks like a blended family, and the the family legend has gone the way of so many legends - a kernel of fact, a six-foot growth of imagination.
Ultimately for me, I don't care. To my backward way of thinking, ethnic/racial pride is misplaced, because it's taking pride in something one has no control over. I don't mind honoring backgrounds and legacies, but the pride part escapes me. Take pride in something you're responsible for.
In any case, to answer the OP, I've never thought of exploiting any real or imagined racial background for some advantage. This treads on the boundaries of Hot Topics, but having been born and raised white, I have had my share of advantage.
(On the other side of the family, we also have a tradition of "black Irish," who are supposedly descendants of Spanish sailors from the Armada who washed up on the shores of Erie. I wonder what DNA has to say about that.)
My grandson got his DNA thing done. Don't know who. But it came back 1% Native American, which to my primitive powers of math means that my grandfather was not substantially Native. I look at that picture now and think that it looks like a blended family, and the the family legend has gone the way of so many legends - a kernel of fact, a six-foot growth of imagination.
Ultimately for me, I don't care. To my backward way of thinking, ethnic/racial pride is misplaced, because it's taking pride in something one has no control over. I don't mind honoring backgrounds and legacies, but the pride part escapes me. Take pride in something you're responsible for.
In any case, to answer the OP, I've never thought of exploiting any real or imagined racial background for some advantage. This treads on the boundaries of Hot Topics, but having been born and raised white, I have had my share of advantage.
I was 32% Irish. But my son was only 9%.
If you get 50% DNA from your parents, why didn't he get 16%? It's all in the way DNA gets handed down.
Your grandfather could have been substantially Native. The DNA can get diluted or lost very quickly.
A parent can pass a "different and variable percentage of ethnicity down to their children."
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I can't speak for all Native American prerequisites, but I know that for the Eastern Band of Cherokee, an applicant must have not only a blood quantum of not more than 1/16th, but must also be able to trace back to an ancestor's name on a certain census list. They also don't accept registration on people over 18.
The Cherokee tribe in Oklahoma likewise requires a direct paper trail. However, there's no blood quantum limit.
My family has names all over the Baker roll, and we have the census records to back them up, but we adults are out of luck for registration in the Eastern Band. I think the blond-haired blue-eyed angel to the left can still register, if her parents wish it. She's 1/16th blood quantum. Shows, dunnit?
We're not talking applicants for recognition in a tribe necessarily, just DNA for family ancestry. But it all is fascinating! Some tribes can be very strict about what they expect. I have a census of a grandmother on a reservation -- but I did not get any Native American in my DNA.
That little blond hair blue eye cutie should do that, if for nothing else than just to establish her lineage for future generations. As I've told others, you (royal you) may not be that interested in this ancestry stuff, but that doesn't mean someone in the future might find it crazy fun and will so appreciate every little piece of work you do on their behalf that they don't have to do. It's hard work!
I didn't mean just for Native American tribes. I meant for being able to claim any ethnicity on any official form. I'm sorry, I wasn't clear about that.
I agree about the whole ancestry torch to pass. My parents and grandparents, people I knew and loved, are strangers to my children and grandchildren. Right now, I'm the common link that brings them all together, but one day, I'll be gone. It's important that the ages are not forgotten.
Ooohhh , gotcha.
Yes, you must pass on all you know. You must. All the little stories, every little remembrance --It is so important.
I refuse to check boxes like that--lol. As far as scholarships, I think as long as you have a reasonable amount (say, above 25% of that ethnicity), it would be legally okay. Ethically... not so sure. Those tests have a high rate of error. I would check if the scholarship itself has a definition, i.e., a parent or grandparent completely of that ethnicity, before I would try anything. We've looked at scholarships for Lithuanians (my husband is half) for our kids, and each one has had it's own fairly strict rules.
Many of the tests actually have something in the fine print that says they are just for entertainment (I read that in an article by a geneticist. If I can remember what the name of the article or author was, I'll link. It was a pretty interesting read).
It's not the tests, but that the triplets are each getting different genes from the parents. We're all just a genetic stew, after all.
But, they say because they are identical, they should have the same DNA. Obviously this is not true and they don't know everything they think they know about multiple births.
Yes, these tests are for basic fun. Just basic little tests that give you a thumbnail sketch. With borders moving around way back when, people who think they are German, let's say, might not be exactly German. It is just a tool to give a person more information. I think if a person is wanting down to the last centimorgan, they have to take a very refined test through medical doctors. By no means am I disparaging these tests because I do believe they are true, just not sure the accuracy of the numbers.
Always thought this was just another scam being perpetrated on the public..wouldn't trust those results at all,do a search of your family tree instead,bet these companies are just fleecing the public on the dna tests..
I do hope everyone realizes my question was a legal/ethical devil's advocate question. I would never attempt to claim something I've got 2% of.
I don't believe they are fleecing. I have done my family tree back to the "old country" on many branches and the DNA is proving out.
I think you have to be accepted by that community as well. You can't just go and say 'I'm Native-American' or something. I think the elder's of that community have to accept you. My mother told me(and my father) that it was believed one of her relatives on her father's side that came from England back in the 1700's sometime was a English Jew from London, a fishmonger. I would like to take the test to see if that is correct.
Again, just speaking for me, I had a blast taking the test. So far, many of the things it said I was are absolutely showing up in my family tree. I am finding these people. That's the cool thing.
Are they 100% accurate? no, I don't think so , yet. I do think they are getting more refined as time goes on, but for now, it was a fun thing to do.