11 - Discovering Unknown, Missing, or Mistaken Relatives

Summary

Much of recreational DNA ancestry offers consumers a long reach into the history of their descent by discovering which biogeographical population most closely matches their DNA profiles. The science and DNA analytics provide probability estimates that their DNA markers (ancestry informative markers, or AIMs) are most likely from a particular continent or even a specific country. But DNA ancestry tests have applications that go well beyond recreational genealogy. Even prior to the growth of this sector of direct-to-consumer testing, DNA was used to determine paternity and to establish identity in criminal investigations. An important and largely unintended application of ancestry DNA testing has been the uncovering of family secrets: “Why does my father look so different from his parents?” or “Why are my mother’s skin tones so much darker than those of her parents?”