ScienceNews reports that researchers led by Eske Willerslev at the University of Copenhagen are attempting to sequence the genome of legendary Native American “Sitting Bull” (see “Genome of a Chief ”). Earlier this year (2010), Eske Willersleve announced the successful sequencing of approximately 80% of the genome of “Inuk,” a man from Greenland who left behind a few small fragments of bone and four hairs frozen in permafrost when he died about 4,000 years ago (see “Long-Locked Genome of Ancient Man Sequenced ”). Using these ancient DNA ...

This morning, a single tweet sent me on a 2-hour tour (more, if you count drafting this post!) of my genome. In the tweet, Mary Carmichael expressed interest in a potential book regarding the orchid/dandelion theory recently described in a December 2009 article in The Atlantic “The Science of Success .” Before this morning, I was not familiar with either the article or the theory. The introduction to the article, reproduced below, does a good job of summarizing the main thrust of the very long (but extremely interested and worthwhile) report: “Most of us have genes that ...

From a Press Release issued by Family Tree DNA on August 11, 2010: FAMILY TREE DNA’S 6th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GENETIC GENEALOGY FOR GROUP ADMINISTRATORS TO BE HELD OCTOBER 30 & 31, 2010 IN HOUSTON HOUSTON, (August 11, 2010) — Family Tree DNA , the world leader in genetic genealogy, will host its 6th International Conference on Genetic Genealogy on October 30-31, 2010, at the Sheraton North Houston in Houston, Texas. Each year, world renowned experts in genetics and science present cutting-edge developments and exciting new applications at this two-day educational forum ...

Last week I wrote about the results of my Family Finder autosomal DNA test by Family Tree DNA (see “A Review of Family Tree DNA’s Family Finder – Part I “). The Family Finder test uses a whole-genome SNP scan to find stretches of DNA shared by two individuals, thus identifying your genetic cousins (and will soon include the Population Finder analysis of admixture percentages). I currently have over 33 genetic cousins in Family Finder, and I’m working with them to identify our common ancestor(s). The Affymetrix microarray chip used by FTDNA includes over ...

Mary Carmichael , a science editor for Newsweek, is in the midst of a week-long dilemma . This Friday, after reading a series of articles written by members of the DTC genetic testing community, she will decide whether she should purchase a genome-wide SNP analysis. Although the decision might be a simple one for some, in light of the recent critique of DTC genetic testing in the media, in the literature, and by the government, it is certainly understandable that Mary is looking for further insight into her decision. Today, Mary is asking “What Can I Learn From At-Home DNA Tests? ...

Since late 2007, several “direct-to-consumer” or “DTC” genetic testing products have entered the marketplace, many of which offered some degree of autosomal ancestry analysis (including 23andMe , deCODEme , and Pathway Genomics , among others). In early 2010, genetic ancestry testing company Family Tree DNA announced that it would begin offering a new genetic genealogy product (see “Announcing Family Finder – An Autosomal Test From Family Tree DNA ”). The new product, called “Family Finder ,” is one of only a very few autosomal genetic ...

On May 6, 2010, the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany presented the world with a draft of the genome sequence of the Neanderthal (press release here (pdf) and full article here (free), NYT article here ). As part of the announcement, the team presented their conclusion that 1% to 4% of the genome of non-Africans is derived from Neanderthals: “An initial comparison of the two sequences has brought some exciting discoveries to light. Contrary to the assumption of many researchers, it would appear that some Neandertals and early modern humans ...

Doctor Radio I was recently asked to participate in a discussion with Dr. Deb Neklason, Ph.D on the satellite radio channel “Doctor Radio,” hosted by Dr. Ira Breite . We largely spoke about a 2008 study, led by Dr. Neklason (who I thought did a wonderful job of explaining the science and results in layman’s terms during the show), in which it was concluded that a gene that often causes cancer traces back to a Mr. and Mrs. George Fry who came to America in 1630. I have a write-up of the study here ...

Today at noon, the American Society of Human Genetics lifted an embargo on “Inferring Genetic Ancestry: Opportunities, Challenges, and Implications (pdf),” which will be published in the May 14th issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics. This paper is a follow-up to a 2008 paper called the “ASHG Ancestry Testing Statement and Recommendations” in which a committee from the ASHG addressed concerns about the claims made by genetic ancestry testing companies. I wrote an article here on the blog at the time – The ASHG Ancestry Testing Statement and ...

In honor of mother’s day, I’m reposting a portion of an entry from March 16, 2009 (“Visualizing Your Genetic Genealogy “). It also follows a SNGF from Randy at Genea-Musings called “Matrilineal Line .” In my genealogical research, I have sometimes found myself missing the trees by focusing on the forest. I think it happens to many genealogists – we get caught up in the research, the dates, the places, and we forget that there was so much more to people than their vital statistics. This can happen to genetic genealogists as well. The connection ...

The following is a press release from GeneTree : New GeneTree Services Enable Users to Make Sense of Genetic, Genealogy Information New GeneTree Products and Services Focus on Making Genetic, Family History Information Comprehensible and Meaningful to Users As a wholly owned subsidiary of Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, GeneTree is able to Leverage the World’s Most Comprehensive Collection of Correlated Genetic and Genealogical Information on Behalf of Users Re-Designed Web Site Includes Enhanced Content and Features SALT LAKE CITY (March 31, 2010) - GeneTree today ...

Daniel MacArthur at Genetic Future writes “Willful ignorance is not an effective argument against personal genomics ,” which is a criticism of an embarrassingly bad op-ed by Camilla Long in the Times (U.K.) entitled “When DNA means do not ask .” In the article Long mentions several types of genetic testing including “superficial services such as ancestry tests.” A truly uneducated statement, considering that ancestry tests are among the informative of all genetic tests! Like Jasia (congratulations!!), I am truly honored to be on the 15 Genealogy Blogs ...

Randy Seaver at Genea-Musings (“I’m Puzzled by DNA Claims on ‘Faces of America’ ”) writes about the fourth and last episode of “Faces of America ,” a PBS documentary series investigating the ancestry of several famous people in America. This fourth episode included several different types of genetic genealogy to examine the ancestral origins and relatedness of the show’s members. 1. Whole Genome Sequencing by Knome The first type of genetic genealogy was whole-genome sequencing by Knome of Henry Louis Gates and his father. This analysis ...

Kevin Davies, Ph.D., currently the Editor-in-Chief of Bio-IT World, recently wrote an article about Pathway Genomics in which he reviewed the company’s Health Test product (see “Pathway and Me: Consumer Genomics Firm Delivers First Results ”): “Earlier this year, I submitted a saliva sample to Pathway to get a feel for how the latest consumer genomics offering compares to the more established companies in the field. Pathway communicates the health results not by a numerical relative or lifetime risk but via a series of color-coded bins depending on their potential ...

Late last fall, Family Tree Magazine requested nominations for the best genealogy blogs, and then opened voting for the nominated list. Yesterday, they announced the winners of the voting. Diane Haddad wrote about the announcement on the Genealogy Insider blog , and Maureen Taylor wrote the article that will appear in the May issue of Family Tree Magazine: “Fab Forty .” I am very pleased and honored to announce that TGG was selected as one of the 40 Best Genealogy Blogs, in the category of genetic genealogy. I would like to thank everyone who nominated and voted for me. I ...