DNA Testing
by
Henry Robert Burke
(to see Henry Robert Burke's DNA results and find out how you can obtain your own, see the bottom of this page)
by
Henry Robert Burke
Data obtained from DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) can be used for many purposes. This article is meant to give some detail about the process and product of DNA testing in regard to genealogy. The discovery of DNA about fifty years ago eventually led to development of the Human Genome Project (HGP). The completion of HGP opened a new door for science and must be recognized as one of the most exciting accomplishments in the annuls of human endeavor! The HGP may be of great benefit to humanity by advancing our knowledge and capability but there could also be some negative implications!
Cells are the fundamental working units of every living system. All the instructions needed to direct their activities are contained within the chemical DNA. DNA from all organisms is made up of the same chemical and physical components. Humans are living organisms so DNA is the foundation of the Human Genome Project (HGP). While the results of a DNA test done on a individual cannot give names, personal information or particular circumstances about ancestors, DNA testing can give critical genetic information relating to racial composition and origin. Results of a DNA test along with details about family history, can help an individual to better understanding his or her genealogy.
The HGP traces its roots to an initiative in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Since 1947 the DOE, (and its predecessor agencies), has been charged by Congress with developing new energy resources and technologies to pursue a deeper understanding of potential health and environmental risks posed by the production and use of energy resources. Such studies, for example, provide risk assessment data for the use of nuclear energy.
The HGP's ultimate goal was to generate a high-quality reference DNA sequence for the human genome's 3 billion base pairs and to identify all human genes. Other intended uses included sequencing the genomes of model organisms to interpret human DNA, enhancing computational resources to support future research and commercial applications, exploring gene function through mouse-human comparisons, studying human variation, and training future scientists in genomics.
In June 2000, to much excitement and fanfare, scientists announced the completion of the first working draft of the entire human genome. First analyses of the details appeared in the February 2001 issues of the journals Nature and Science. The high-quality reference sequence was completed in April 2003, marking the end of the Human Genome Project 2 years ahead of the original schedule. Coincidentally, this was also the 50th anniversary of Watson and Crick's publication of DNA structure that launched the era of molecular biology.
Available to researchers worldwide, the human genome reference sequence provides a magnificent and unprecedented biological resource that will serve throughout the century as a basis for research and discovery and, ultimately, myriad practical applications. The sequence already is having an impact on finding genes associated with human disease. Hundreds of other genome sequence projects on microbes, plants, and animals have been completed since the inception of the HGP, and these data now enable detailed comparisons among organisms, including humans.
Many more sequencing projects are under way or planned because of the research value of DNA sequence, the tremendous sequencing capacity now available, and continued improvements in technologies. Sequencing projects on the genomes of many microbes, as well as the honeybee, cow, and chicken are in progress.
Beyond sequencing, growing areas of research focus on identifying important elements in the DNA sequence responsible for regulating cellular functions and providing the basis of human variation. Perhaps the most daunting challenge is to begin to understand how all the "parts" of cells, (the genes, proteins, and other molecules), work together to create complex living organisms.
Continuing analyses of increasing data will provide a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the molecular processes underlying life and will have an enduring and profound impact on how humans view our place in GOD's Creation.
The results of Henry Burke's DNA test are presented here:
The contact for obtaining information on how you can get your DNA analysis is as follows:
ANCESTRY by DNA.
DNAPrint genomics, Inc.
900 Cocoanut Ave.
Sarasota, FL 34236
tel 941-366-3400
fax 941-952-9770
http://www.ancestrybydna.com/
email: admin@dnaprint.com
Note: The MGC webmaster was able to access the above website using his Netscape browser. However, with Internet Explorer, you may have to change the settings for your CONTENT ADVISOR in order to see the site.