Genghis Khan, the famous Mongolian emperor, has long been considered the father of the Mongolian nation, but modern DNA evidence traced his legacy far beyond his imperial borders. In 2004, Oxford geneticist Bryan Sykes identified him as “the most successful alpha male in human history,” leaving his mark on the genetic blueprints of more than 16 million people alive today.
But how in the world did Dr. Sykes figure this out? It’s not as if he retrieved a DNA sample from Khan’s 782-year old corpse (which, by the way, is nowhere to be found). The answer’s actually much more mainstream than you might think—all it took was some modern-day DNA samples and a little detective work on Oxford Ancestors, a leading provider of DNA-based services for personal ancestry research.
In fact, nowadays you don’t have to have a PhD to make similar fascinating discoveries about yours or anyone else’s genealogy.
You can read the full story by Jennifer Berglund on the Book of Odds web site at http://www.bookofodds.com/Relationships-Society/Family/Articles/A0111-Genghis-Khan-and-His-Brood-Tracing-Your-Family-History
