Imagine being adopted, with no understanding of your cultural or genetic background. You don’t know your heritage or what diseases you are genetically predisposed to. Most of us have some idea about the roots of our family tree, but little understanding of what those lower branches mean in terms of our predisposition to a host of diseases and ailments.
Now, a group of computer scientists, mathematicians, and biologists from around the world have developed a computer algorithm that can quickly trace an individual’s genetic ancestry with only a small sample of their DNA. In fact, the program can trace the genetic ancestry of thousands of individuals in minutes, without any prior knowledge of their background.
This new combination of technologies seems best suited for adoptees and others who have no knowledge at all of their ethnic origins. You can read more in an article by Gabrielle DeMarco of the Rensselaer Polytechnic University at http://www.livescience.com/health/080404-bts-drineas.html.
My thanks to Sherrie McMillan for telling me about the article.
