DNA Questions

[skimom2]

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.

Of course!

 

[skimom2]

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.

Gotcha. I missed that they were identical I think you're right, though--we really don't know our backsides from our elbows in this emerging science.

 

[Blake]

When i was in Uppsala in Sweden in 1989 with my father, he wanted to trace his family line so he started in the local church where he came from and then went to the main place in Uppsala, and went as far back as 1519. (Pretty meaningless because back before around 1712 in Sweden they didn't have surnames so if your father's name was 'Eric' you were 'Lars' your name was Lars Ericsson. Our last family name before we took the 'blacksmiths name' was Danielson. There would be DNA of the Walloons in me because they were iron workers that settled around where my father came from, they came from Belguim, French speakers, my Swedish grandfather could still speak a bit of French. It is interesting though, I can't understand reading the post's above how identical twins could have very different DNA profiles. I assume they got tested at reputable companies. I want to read more about this.

 

[clyee0227]

Back to a random question:

I did a DNA test as some of you may know. I was truly a Heinz 57 mutt. I had so many interesting things turn up -- my question, let's say I wanted to go back to school. Maybe there's a scholarship involved but you have to be a certain ethnicity. Let's say I do have DNA proof I am that ethnicity -- can I check that particular box? Could I apply for that scholarship? I mean, I suppose I could apply for the scholarship, but ethically what are your thoughts?

What about other documents where you have to check a box. Could I check "other?"

As far as I've read, if you did a DNA test through something like 23 and Me or some other sight like that, those results are not able to be used for those purposes. I would contact whatever school you're thinking of attending or Federal Financial Aid to find out exactly what kind of documentation they DO accept. As far as checking the ethnicity box, you are free to check whatever you identify by. For example, some Caucasian/ African American mixed individuals identify more as being Caucasian and others identify more as being African American. I don't think it would matter unless you're intentionally attempting to mislead others as to what ethnicity you are. I just filled out a job application where that question was totally optional.
Off that subject, did you do your DNA test through one of those sites I mentioned above? My sister and I ordered some through Ancestory.com because we wanted to know how much Native American makeup our DNA made up (we know my grandmother's grandmother was full Native American.) However, that particular site's test wasn't able to give us that. I heard 23 and me may be able to but aren't able to narrow down to what tribe of Native American one would belong to. Do you have any advice on this?

 

[clyee0227]

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.

My sister and I wanted to have our DNA tested for a few reasons. One, I know that my grandmother had a grandparent that was supposedly full Native American and we wanted to know how much of our genetic makeup was Native American. And two, my maternal and paternal families are from Louisiana so I wanted to prove my argument that we were bound to have some African American makeup as well. We ordered them from Ancestry.com. My sister did hers and sent it in and was highly disappointed when she got the results. They aren't even capable of telling you how much Native American makeup we have because they only trace your heritage before the 1700's. What's even more odd is that it seems we're more English than most people that live over there actually IN England. How weird is that? LOL. I tend to somewhat agree with you....we are not able to control our ethnicity. I always think about that anytime I see something about white supremacy. I bet most of the people in those groups have no idea what their DNA background is. But does it make one any less of a white supremacist if one finds out they have a lot of genetic background that matches with a group they hate? Or does their hate alone make them just as great as someone who is more ethnically "pure"? I personally think there is entirely too much hate in this country already based on skin color and it shouldn't matter one way or the other. Opinion of others needs to be based on a person by person basis instead.
Do you mind if I ask what kind of DNA test your grandson took that was able to show Native American? And was it able to narrow down what kind of Native American exactly? My face gets really red when I get hot which I blame on my Native American heritage, and my sister has an explosive temperament which I also blame on it....lol.
I work in law enforcement and we see a lot of racial divide out there. The only thing I can say is I never judge someone based on their skin color but I am judged by my uniform all day long...I consider that racist too. People need to seriously educate themselves.

 

[clyee0227]

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.

Agreed. Identical twins do NOT share the exact DNA. A study was published in the American Journal of Human Genetics back in 2008 that debunked that theory. Nor do they share the same fingerprint. Think about it, if they shared the exact same genetic makeup then both would have the same diseases that were genetically transferred and everything. Another example would be that both would feel the exact same effects from drugs and alcohol as genetic markers determine how specific meds affect you, right? Yet I'm going to make an educated guess and argue that just because one twin can handle taking 3 pain pills, the other may only be able to tolerate 1. To the defense of whoever thought that the DNA makeup was the same for twins, that was thought to be true by the medical community for a long time.

 

[Grandpa]

Do you mind if I ask what kind of DNA test your grandson took that was able to show Native American? And was it able to narrow down what kind of Native American exactly? My face gets really red when I get hot which I blame on my Native American heritage, and my sister has an explosive temperament which I also blame on it....lol.

I don't know. My daughter told me about the results. I think it was done from a mouth swab, but I'm not even sure of that much. I'll try to remember to ask the next time I talk to one of them.

I work in law enforcement and we see a lot of racial divide out there. The only thing I can say is I never judge someone based on their skin color but I am judged by my uniform all day long...I consider that racist too. People need to seriously educate themselves.

People judge by appearance. If they held off and judged by quality of the person, bigotry would stop. But that's not our way.