Who knew I'd be so ethnic? Where my roots led me (What box to check?)

houston chronicle ^ | Sept. 30, 2006, 7:03PM | ASHLEY HERZOG

[cbkaty]

The idea of taking a DNA test first came to me in August, after I read a Time magazine article entitled "Diving into the Gene Pool." The author, Carolina A. Miranda describes herself as an "olive-skinned Latina," but a DNA analysis test uncovered connections to places likesuch as Poland and Mozambique. Intrigued, I decided to order my own analysis kit from DNA Tribes, a company that promised to trace my ancestry back to ancient times.

I didn't expect my experience to be anything like Miranda's. For starters, I was fairly certain of my ethnic heritage: Irish on my mother's side, German and Polish on my father's. This genetic profile was evident both in my family's cultural heritage and my appearance: I have the fair skin and blond hair that is typical of Northern Europeans. I assumed that my DNA analysis would show strong links to Northern Europe, with perhaps a smattering of other European blood on some distant branch of the family tree. But like Miranda, I was in for a surprise.

The first part of the test identified "deep ancestral roots," listing the top 20 places in the world that my ancestors likely came from. I was shocked to see that my strongest genetic roots were in Spain, followed closely by the Himalayan region of India. Other top matches included Turkey, Norway, Romania and Saudi Arabia — places I'd never dreamed of identifying with. And I apparently should not waste time searching for long-lost relatives at Oktoberfest parties this year: Germany graced the bottom of the list, barely beating Northern Italy as a contributor to my genetic profile.

The second part of the test listed 20 places in the modern world where my genetic relatives are likely to be found today. Because of our shared Spanish origins, I have strong ties to the people of present-day Mexico, Costa Rica and Argentina. And while the test suggested that many of my relatives — such as the Swiss and Norwegians — look like me, others bear no resemblance. Outside of the Hispanic world, my closest relatives can be found in northeast India.

My family was just as baffled as I was by the results. There are plenty of possibilities: For example, my mother's ancestors might have been "Black Celts," or Irish citizens of Spanish descent. But there are few clear answers. Without extensive genealogical research or possibly a time machine, most of my genetic connections will remain mysteries.

Although the DNA test couldn't explain how people from across the world came together to create me, a white Christian girl living in the American Midwest, it did prove many of my assumptions false. I took the test thinking that my ancestors farmed potatoes in Ireland and fought in Charlemagne's noble army, and some of them did. But others bowed to Mecca and weathered harsh winters in the Himalayan foothills. Without a DNA test, I never would have known it.

I'm not alone in my ignorance. Geneticists claim that many Americans' genetic profiles are as diverse as mine, and few precisely reflect the cultural identities we embrace.

If this is true, it raises some interesting questions.

First, what do terms likesuch as "race" and "ethnicity" really mean? Do they describe a person's actual genetic makeup, or do they relate more to social affiliations with a particular group? Since I have genetic links to several populations that are considered nonwhite, should I start checking the "multiracial" box on government surveys and job applications? These questions are difficult ones, and every answer is highly debatable.

In any case, DNA tests have proved one thing: People of different ethnic identities often have more in common than they think.

Discovering your true ancestral origins can be confusing and even painful. But it can also be the first step toward greater appreciation for people around the globe.

Herzog is a journalism student at Ohio University in Athens and a graduate of The Woodlands High School.

[GoLightly]

Green jello just doesn't nail to the door that easily.

Like Christmas fruitcake, no one actually eats the stuff. Given enough time, the green jello nails onto a door quite nicely.

[SamuraiScot]

I'm betting they came from Spain and were fleeing the Inquisition, but the families that actually bear those surnames contest this assumption.

If your hypothesis is right, maybe we're kin. Some of my ancestors came from Holland to NYC around 1648 after leaving Spain with the Inquisition. (By the way, did the Spaniards kick them out for collaborating with the Moors? I've often wondered.)

I have a book called Americans of Jewish Descent—A Compendium of Genealogy (New York: Ktav Publishing House, Inc., 1971). It's quite exhaustive and goes back hundreds of years. My grandmother and her sisters are tracked through their Sephardic line. Maybe your folks' records were available to these people too. It might be worth tracking down a copy.

[Albion Wilde]

Actually, didn't the Celts that came to and settled in Ireland migrate from northern Spain? So it would make sense that Irish and old Spanish populations would share some DNA.

Q. What's five feet tall and a mile long?

A. A Saint Patrick's Day parade.

[Albion Wilde]

"First, what do terms likesuch as 'race' and 'ethnicity' really mean?"

My question is, "First, what do terms likesuch as 'likesuch' really mean?"

[Albion Wilde]

Ping to an interesting thread, and this post, which contains some facts you mentioned to me awhile back about Celts in Spain -- check the link about Spanish Celtic music!

[Bohemund]

Isn't this assumption unfair to the Spaniards? The 16th and 17th century Spanish were welcome guests in western Ireland and Scotland, since the English were in the process of trying to exterminate the Irish and Scots, for whatever reason. Irish chieftains sheltered the fleeing Spanish armada on their way back to Spain.

And just as the French and the Scots had a long history of friendly relations (Bonnie Prince Charlie's mom was French), I wouldn't be surprised if the Spanish and Irish had long-standing alliances of all sorts. Isn't that where we get names like Costello?

While there was trade between Spain and Ireland, the survivors of the Spanish Armada were greeted much less civilly than all that. Contemporary accounts describe how the Irish peasants clubbed to death the sailors who made it to shore:

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/spanish_armada.htm

And "Costello" dates back to Norman times.

[Albion Wilde]

Despite my blond hair and blue eyes, many of my girl friends are convinced that I have to have black ancestry based on other physical attributes. I hate stereotypes so I'm thinking I should get a DNA test or something?

What, pray tell, are those attributes? Are you a good dancer? Do you like purple? Do you tell your friends to 'talk to the hand'? LOL...

[Cronos]

Mid East islamic connection.

The Mid-East isn't purely Islamic -- Syria is 10% Christian, LEbanon is 40%, even E$gypt and Iraq are 2% and a couple of centuries ago, the percetnages were even higher, while 1400 years ago, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt were completely Christian.

[Albion Wilde]

Now that I find I must be poly-ethnic, then I need to come up with an explanation for green jello with cucumbers, mayo and cottage cheese in it.

LOL! -- you've been cracking me up all day! How about my mother's recipe: Cheez Whiz on hot dog rolls!

[Drango]

OK FRiends...let me give you the other side of the coin. There is very highly effective DNA testing that will tell you if you are related to someone. These test are not to measure minority status, but are used by genetic genealogist to trace family history. DNA testing is real, effective and mainstream.

Don't confused scam test with those run by the highly credible, highly scientific, http://www.familytreedna.com/ and other groups such as National Geographic Society https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/index.html.

[Albion Wilde]

Great thread! Bump for later check-back.

[unlearner]

My guess is that the author started to type "like" then changed it to "such as" and failed to delete the "like".

But imo race and ethnicity mean nothing. They are an arbitrary nomenclature superimposed on stereotypical physical traits, rather than meaningful correlations between relevant information like language, nationality and family heritage.

While you can label some people as "black", it is essentially a pointless classification, no different than say labeling people who have pointy noses. The term "Hispanic" is meaningful because it is about language. "African American" blurs the line because this would really apply to people who were born in Africa and later became Americans (which might not mean they are black either).

I suppose one could make a case that being "black" might be meaningful in the context of a study on skin cancer, but this would just muddy the water. There are many people from India who are darker than many so-called black people. If someone referred to an Indian as "black", they would probably be corrected (even if this is a correct observation).

[pepperdog]

Oh no! This means Ward Churchill could actually have some American Indian blood! We are going to have to form a Board of Ethnicity and they will determine what you can call yourself, it's the only way.

[RightWhale]

'Ethnicity' has little to do with race. This is an example of meaning inflation. Since we can't think racially anymore, we have to go to a quasi-related term to express race. Ethnicity is made of custom, culture, language. While race might appear to form part of the mix, it is not necessary.

[MamaB]

Do you think the NA DNA tests are reliable? My great grandmother was NA but we have no idea what tribe. A cousin has been all over the country talking to people trying to find that out.

[MamaB]

My late husband said if you go back far enough we are all related. I have 42 generations in my FTM with 1905 surnames. The earliest date is 733 but it is not my direct line.

Does anyone use FTM? If so, FReepmail me. I have a question but I can not find the answer in the book.

[pepsionice]

I think alot of guys are really in the state of mind...believing that mom or grandma or great-grandma....were absolutely faithful, and the spouse is the only possible candidate for their line of the family. DNA will likely eventually prove that alot of marriage unions weren't exactly ironclad...and that DNA might lead around in circles. Its a nice little science tool...but for any fool to find their long-lost chain of relatives in Warsaw from over 700 years ago...is smoking alot of dope. We can use DNA for alot of great medical ideas...but we shouldn't rate it too high on other uses.

[ARA]

A lot like past life regression..

[Red Boots]

Do you think the NA DNA tests are reliable? My great grandmother was NA but we have no idea what tribe. A cousin has been all over the country talking to people trying to find that out.

I've no idea really. My mother-in-law always said she was 1/4 cherokee so I've looked at the tests offered thru Ancestry.com, for my husband. THey're supposed to be reputable.

[MamaB]

Have you tried the Dawes List? I hope I spelled that right. What makes mine so hard is that she was an orphan and was raised by a white family. I have a photo of her and her daughters. I think the son might be on it too.