New Book says that Cotton Swabs Give Clues for Family Tree Research

The following is a press release concerning a new book written by Chris Pomery in the UK although I see the book is actually printed in Canada:

A few seconds spent using a small ball of cotton to pick up some skin cells on the inside of the cheek may prove to be the best investment that you can make if you're curious to know more about your family history. The cheek cells adhering to the cotton contain your personal DNA signature. A new book from The UK National Archives in Kew, DNA and Family History, argues that the power of DNA testing is about to change genealogy forever.

"In a few years' time we will carry a biometric, genetic datacard in our wallet as proof of our personal identity", says Chris Pomery, who explains the facts about the science and its major implications for ancestral and surname research. "DNA testing is set to become the third major foundation upon which family historians build their genealogy, complementing both oral history and documentary history."

While DNA testing has been around for two generations it has only been used by family historians in the last five years. But a simple test will show how much a group of men are related and reveal whether they share a recent paternal ancestor. If the degree of relatedness is sufficiently strong, it provides an estimate as to how many generations ago the common ancestor lived.

Our DNA changes very slowly, allowing us to determine links with ancestors from the past even when documentary evidence becomes incomplete or hard to find. DNA signatures do not lie so can be used to verify existing family trees and to stimulate documentary research into surnames.

DNA and Family History: how genetic testing can advance your genealogical research is published by The UK National Archives on 18 October. Priced £12.99, it will be available from all good bookshops or direct from Dundurn, 8 Market Street, Suite 200, Toronto, Canada M5E 1M6

You can read more at http://www.dnaandfamilyhistory.com

Comments

[Peter Burnard]

Mr Pomery seems bemused by haplogroups,but fails to tell us which clades or Haplogroups are associated with the British Isles including Ireland.