Summary: the science of genealogy by genetics.
This summary lays out the basic science and methodology used in genetic testing that investigates historical population migrations and the ancestry of living individuals. The genetic markers used in this testing, and the distinction between Y-chromosome, mitochondrial and autosomes analysis, are explained and the shortcomings of these methodologies are explored.
Johnston
Josephine
J
The Hastings Center, 21 Malcolm Gordon Road, Garrison, New York 10524, USA. johnstonj@thehastingscenter.org
Thomas
Mark
M
D000883:Anthropology; D041321:Chromosomes, Human, X / Q000235:genetics; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y / Q000235:genetics; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D036281:Genetic Research; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods; D005826:Genetics, Medical; D005828:Genetics, Population / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D044382:Population Groups / Q000235:genetics*
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial