Friday, February 29, 2008

Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation Presents Mongolia Photo Exhibit

This is an email from GenealogiaMolecular.com

Message: Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation Presents Mongolia Photo Exhibit, Lecture at Downtown Salt Lake City Library
People Living in Remote, Rarely Visited Locations in Central Asian Crossroads of Mongolia Provide Critical Ancestry Clues During a Time Before Most Written Genealogies Begin. Month-Long Mongolia Photo Exhibit and One-Night Presentation Offer Public Insights from Non-Profit Scientific Organization's Study of Humankind's Genetic Family Tree.

SALT LAKE CITY & ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF), a non-profit scientific organization that has created the world's most diverse and comprehensive collection of genetic genealogy, today announced the opening of a month-long exhibit of 30 photographs from its recent genetic genealogy expeditions to remote, rarely visited locations in Mongolia. Along with the photo exhibit will be a one-night program featuring a lecture by geneticist Dr. Scott Woodward and remarks from the Consul General of the Mongolian Embassy in Wash., DC.

The photo exhibit, which runs March 1-April 1, 2008, is entitled "From The Land Of Genghis Khan: Photographs From the Mongolian Genetic Genealogy Collection Expeditions of the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation." Both the exhibit and the lecture are open to the public and will be held in the Lower Urban Room of the downtown Salt Lake City Public Library at 210 E. 400 South. The exhibit will open simultaneously at the National University of Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar.

On Friday, March 21, at 6 p.m., Woodward, who is executive director of SMGF and one of the world's leading genetic genealogy researchers, will offer a lecture and discussion that includes Gonchig Ganbold, Consul General of the Mongolian Embassy in Washington, DC and Malan Jackson, Honorary Consul of Mongolia in Utah.

The expeditions were a joint research effort of SMGF and the National University of Mongolia. More than 3,000 DNA samples and related multi-generation pedigree charts from individuals in each of the country's geographic regions, 24 separate ethnic groups and tribes, were collected. All exhibit photographs were taken by Edgar Gomez-Palmieri, director of international outreach for SMGF.

Study of the DNA and genealogy collections from Mongolians in May and August of 2007 may reveal important clues about the genetic flow of the human family through time. Data gathered during the expeditions provide a window into an important period immediately before most written genealogy begins, about 500-700 years ago. At that time, Mongolians, led by Genghis Khan and others, spread through much of Eurasia and the resulting interactions likely contributed a significant genetic component to human populations from eastern Europe through southeast Asia. The expeditions gathered and preserved evidence that represents a national treasure for Mongolia, which is undergoing a renaissance of national identity.

"It was a privilege for me to work on this genetic genealogy project with Mongolians whose rich history, family and clan names stretch back as far as the Tenth Century A.D.," said Gomez-Palmieri. "Our results will shed new light on the deep ancestry of many people curious about where they fit into the human family tree."

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Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Oprah Winfrey announced on her show that DNA testing has managed to track her origin ethnic

This is an email from GenealogiaMolecular.com

Message: Oprah Winfrey announced on her show that DNA testing has managed to track her origin ethnic to a Kpelles tribe located in Liberia

Is That True That People Can Trace Their Ancestor Lines Via Ancestor
DNA Testing?
Genealogy research has been one upcoming and popular thing when one of
the most sought talk show celebrities, Oprah Winfrey announced on her
show that DNA testing has managed to track her origin ethnic to a
Kpelles tribe located in Liberia.

Then, with all the extensive studies and affordability of genealogical
DNA tests like the Genographic Project, annual sales have been
increasingly rising where an estimated $60 million was recorded in
year 2006.


Then, why people are interested in finding their origin? Is it because
they are looking to validate or invalidate their genealogical records?
Do they have or suspected any surname change or adoption in the line?


Are they looking to verify the relationships with a family from a
region where they believed their family has lived? Or do they believe
that they have a common ancestor with another individual or group?
Actually all the reasons mentioned are true.


However, the right reasons for the existence of DNA test kits seem
rational but whether the $70 to $900 ranging DNA testing provided
could pinpoint exactly your ancestor origin is another story.


The two most common tests in genealogy kits examine the paternally
inherited Y chromosome (Y-DNA), which is passed down from father to
son, and the mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA) that is passed down from mother
to child.


Another test links to autosomal DNA, which is inherited from both
parents. However, it is most likely that one small part of your family
tree can be concluded. Like the mtDNA test, the information only could
track you back to only one of your 16 great grandparents.


Referring to the lack of approach in ancestry testing technology,
Professor Easteal - a leading molecular geneticist has quickly slammed
online and availability of direct-to-customer DNA ancestry testing in
the markets now.


He claimed that they only helped to track down human variation that
emerged in population over time and not individual ancestry
information.


Your DNA information is just many of the tools that we can use to
confirm what we know, or find out something new about your ancient
heritage.


It's fascinating that our cells contain information about our history
and that we hold on to the hidden treasure for eternity.