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.

[Paladin2]

Blonde? ;-)

[cbkaty]

Good...I believe my point is now noticed.

[Strategerist]

The other irony is that these methods are entirely based on tracking "random" (there's that word that sends creationists fleeing in horror and terror) mutations.

And if someone really wanted to I'm sure they could contract with a lab for a custom to see how much a segment of their DNA matches that of a Chimpanzee...pretty much anyone who does it will find out it's 95% identical.

Not a lot of demand for that test.

[StACase]

I would say all those Chimpanzees are our closest relatives DNA studies are also highly suspect.

[cbkaty]

I just lead the horses to water....

[Red Boots]

This is how we end affirmative action ! We're all minorities now !

[RegulatorCountry]

I've got quite a few ancestors, both paternally and maternally, who came to Berks County, PA in the early-mid 1700's, and then to NC in the early 1750's, originating in Pfalz-Am-Rhein, Alsace, and Canton Basel Switzerland; they were German speaking, with Jewish surnames, but were Protestant Moravians. They just "appeared" in that general region in the very late 1400's, and seemed to move around a bit. I'm betting they came from Spain and were fleeing the Inquisition, but the families that actually bear those surnames contest this assumption. So, there's a potential connection to the middle east by way of Spain for this tenth generation white southerner, right there. And, this would be the case for nearly all people from here, northwestern North Carolina, whose families go back a ways. I wonder how well one of these DNA testing kits would do, as far as helping to sort that sort of confusion out?

[Jack Hammer]

The tests may or may not be bunk, and, let's face it, the article was written by a kid trying to make a start in journalism; however, it raises an important point, IMO. Namely, here in America most of us are mutts - the point is whether or not it's ethically justifiable to cash in on the fact at a time when ethnicity opens the doors of special privilege, and wether or not - and to what extent - ethnicity should be explored or even recognized.

[A_perfect_lady]

I agree. They probably toss out the DNA sample and assign you a list of random countries.

[Savage Beast]

"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."

Looks like truth has set Ashley free. Well, at least free from some incumberances.

It takes courage--well, either courage or apathy--and a good sense of humor, to search out your ancestors, requirements for any quest for truth.

But to search out our descendants, if we could know them, would no doubt require far more courage, apathy, and humor!

I've always said that, when DNA analysis is perfected sufficiently for ancestral line revelation, the racists are in for a shock!

[unlearner]

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

Nada.

[Polybius]

Actually, didn't the Celts that came to and settled in Ireland migrate from northern Spain?

That is the ancient Irish legend but the fact is that northern Spain and Ireland were simply the northern and western extents of the Celtic world prior to the Roman conquests.

There was no need to sail from northern Spain to Ireland to explain a common genetic stock. The Celts expanded from Gaul to Hispania and from Gaul to Britannia to Ireland.

So, if you travel to Galicia (from the Roman term "Land of the Celts") and Asturias in northern Spain, you won't find locals playing castanets and guitars or any flamenco dancers but you will find the locals playing bagpipes. In case you are interested: The Celtic Music of Spain -- Galicia & Asturias

Prior to the Roman conquest, this was the geographic extent of the Celtic world:

During the Hellenistic times, Celtic invaders reached Anatolia (what is now Turkey) -- as depicted in the Hellenistic statue "Dying Gaul" -- and settled there giving rise to the Galatians. That would also account for a DNA match to "Turkey".

For these DNA tests to be informative, they should give out the rersults of ancient ancestral root results by referring to "Celtic" or "Slavic" or "Arab" or "Sub-Saharan". Describing a genetic makeup as "Spanish" or "Turkish" is as meaningless as describing a genetic make up as "New Yorker".

[Savage Beast]

The possibilities are endless, all right! That's one thing--of many--that makes Leftists so laughable. They're running around defining and redefining everything, trying to control everything, trying to keep the lid on truth which destroys everything they stand for-- That's why they hate liberty so much. It reveals truth and destroys all their allegations, undermines their agenda (which is power for its own sake), and leaves them looking like the fools and sociopaths that they are.

Mendacity is the only thing Leftists have. It's their eucharist as well as their fundamental immorality.

Truth is what they fear most--and for good reason!

[machman]

Well, I was talking about something like that. But more of the lines from this story...

http://www.breakingnews.ie/2004/09/09/story165780.html

[yuta250]

I was fairly certain of my ethnic heritage: Irish on my mother's side, German and Polish on my father's.

The author's last name "Herzog" would appear to be of jewish extraction which might account for the genetic similiarity to mideast regions, odd that she doesn't acknowlege this likely reason for some of her genetic diversity, but it has been known for some time of the genetic relationship between the Celts and the Spanish, or more specifically the Basques, who along with the Celts carry more of the rh-negative blood trait than any other group.

[Beckwith]

Charles (the Hammer) Martel showed more guts than the nuanced jerks running France now.

[Beckwith]

Isn't this assumption unfair

"Life's not fair."

The Irishman JFK

[The Cuban]

What are you an idiot? When did Spanish men rape Irish Women? In your racist complot?

[KarlInOhio]

The author's last name "Herzog" would appear to be of jewish extraction which might account for the genetic similiarity to mideast regions,

Herzog is the German word for "duke". Maybe she's related to David Duke? :-).

As for the racial check box, maybe she should do what I do when I see one: skip it entirely. One time when someone was filling out a form for me and checked off "white" I made her restart because I wouldn't sign something with a race on it. It pissed her off.

[Old Professer]

More likely we can quit reading childish prattle being passed off as journalism.