Back in 2008 I started doing a bit of research on my family tree. At the time I had my mitchondrial DNA researched, finding out I am out of west Africa, no surprises there. Kunta Kinte, I am of your blood! And, a couple of months ago, the Genome project had a Family Finder sale and I decided what the heck, I'd go for it. I was curious if I would turn up with any American Indian blood in there. So... out of the blue today I went to the website and discovered my genetic analysis is completed and here are the results.
I am as follows:
Continent Population Percentage Margin of Error
African (West African) Mandinka, Yoruba 64.49% +/- 2.54%
Europe (West European) Orcadian, Spanish, French 21.90% +/-3.44%
Middle East Iranian, Jewish, Adygei 12.84% +/- 3.28%
The surprise, is the 9.56 - 16.12% Middle Eastern genes. WTF? Huh... that is a complete surprise. I was already up for not finding any American Indian, which I'll go into in a bit. That said, that I carry Iranian/Jewish and/or Adygei blood (and who the hell even knows what Adygei is?) is a surprise.
Frankly, I think what is currently interpreted by the genome tests as Middle Eastern, may well mask American Indian/Asian genes. No, I'm not nuts, hear me out. No where on the planet was European, African and Asian so mixed up as in the Middle East. I've read when that mixture is examined, it tends to come out as 'Middle Eastern' although that may well include Asian, or Native American genes. Remember, genetics testing and such is still a pretty young science. I'm pretty sure that fifty b'jillion African Americans, whom think there is Native American in their bloodlines, but test out as having none, aren't just flat out delusional. I think the science just hasn't caught up with the reality yet.
Anyway, here is the map of my bloodline's sources - so far as current genetics understands. Wow. By the way, the Genome project periodically sends me 'hits' of people from around the world that are my relatives - most of them are 3rd, 4th or 5th cousins. Everyone has such cousins, but they're so distantly related to you, you could potentially have kids with them without risking genetic abnormalities. My distant cousins are indeed, scattered around globe, recently revealed cuzs of mine dwell in Tennessee, Kentucky, New England, Trinidad, Tobago, Barbados, Scotland, Yorkshire and Northumberland in the U.K. May I add, whomever you are, you are at the very least, my 52nd cousin. Hi Cuz!
UPDATE: TOLD YOU SO! For fascinating reasons - no exaggeration - I won't go into here, I had a second DNA test done through 23 & me. Along with discovering I'm part Neanderthal *grunt* the new test revealed an ensy percentage of Native American, explained as thus:
You (i.e., 'moi') most likely had a fourth
great-grandparent, fifth great-grandparent,
sixth great-grandparent, or seventh great
(or greater) grandparent who was 100% Native
American. This person was likely born
between 1680 and 1770.
And that would be through my paternal grandmother's family. In your face Henry Louis Gates, Jr.!
great-grandparent, fifth great-grandparent,
sixth great-grandparent, or seventh great
(or greater) grandparent who was 100% Native
American. This person was likely born
between 1680 and 1770.
