June 29, 2008
Rebuilding The Family Tree
Lesley Stahl Reports On The Hopes And Limitations Of Genetic Genealogy
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Play CBS Video Video Finding One's Roots Lesley Stahl reports on the new field of genetic genealogy, which uses DNA to trace ancestry back hundreds of years. (This story was first broadcast on Oct. 7, 2007.)
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Marion West, left, and Vy Higgensen. (CBS)
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Interactive Genetic Journey Using DNA samples, the Genographic Project tries to map humanity's trip through the ages.
"It says … that you share maternal genetic ancestry with people from the Mende tribe in Sierra Leone. Do you know anything about Sierra Leone or … the Mende people?" Stahl asks.
"No," Vy says, tearing up. "Nothing."
"People have been waiting a lifetime for something like this. Now this is just a tiny bit of information now," Kittles says.
"But they take it as huge," Stahl remarks.
"Right. Because it's cracking open the door that was closed for centuries," Kittles tells Stahl.
"There's a place in Africa you could say that I'm from?" Vy asks.
"A tribe," Stahl says.
"A tribe? I'm thrilled," Vy says. "It puts a name, a place, a location, a people. It opens up such possibilities."
But the problem is Sierra Leone wasn't the only answer Vy got. A company called Relative Genetics found a match to a single person in the Wobe tribe in the Ivory Coast.
"Different? Now, I got all excited about that and this is different?" Vy asks. "Now, how could that happen?"
Then a third company, Trace Genetics, found that Vy's sequence matched sequences reported among multiple Mendenka individuals in Senegal.
And Family Tree DNA, the company that linked Vy with Marion in the first place, came up with a whole list of matches.
So what do we know about Vy’s ancestry? The DNA does indicate that she has distant relatives in the Mende tribe, but she also has relatives in all those other tribes. So no one can say for sure where Vy's maternal ancestor actually came from.
"When I handed Vy the certificate, she got extremely emotional about it. She wept. And it meant so very much to her," Stahl tells Hank Greely.
"People want to believe," Greely says. "And it's not fair of us to let them believe that we're giving 'em certain answers because scientifically we just can't."
"Hank Greely is concerned that the science isn't really there yet for you to be giving them the name of a tribe," Stahl tells Kittles.
"I think for most companies, I would be concerned too," Kittles says.
"But what about your own company?" Stahl asks. "He didn't exclude you."
"He included you," Stahl points out.
"But we have the largest set of sequences from Africa. And so with that … we're able to provide some level of probability in terms of frequency," Kittles says.
"But he would say that even though you have the largest database, it's still small on the scope of things," Stahl remarks.
"As I said, I share those concerns," Kittles replies.
"About yourself," Stahl says.
"About the field," Kittles tells Stahl.
Asked if he thinks there is any fraud involved here, Greely tells Stahl, "I don't think there's fraud. I think there is hype."
"You know, beer commercials imply that drinking their beer will make beautiful women fall all over you. I think the genetic genealogy companies don't go below the normal standards of the marketplace. But they don't go above it either," Greely says. "Some do a better job than others, but there's not one that couldn't improve. And that bothers me because they're using science to sell their product. And science is about the whole truth."
In Vy and Marion’s case, the truth is that they are related -- no doubt there -- even if it's not apparent on the surface.
"You know, Marion, you told me that the first time you looked at Vy, you said, 'She's a West,'" Stahl remarks. "I'm looking at the two of you, and I have to be honest … you don’t look anything alike. Nothing. You don’t look anything alike."
"Look at the eyes," Vy says.
"I'm looking at the eyes," Stahl says.
"You look at my eyes…," Marion tells Stahl. "Then you look at her eyes."
"Sorry, sorry, Marion," Stahl says.
But to them, it doesn’t matter a bit.
Their genetic connection, however small, has made each of their worlds larger. Vy says she’s actually come to enjoy hearing about how the hay is growing on Marion's ranch, and Marion is on his second trip to Harlem.
And the circle keeps on widening: remember all those other men whose Y chromosomes matched Vy's cousin James? Last month, Vy and Marion traveled to Nashville to meet a whole new batch of genetic cousins, a family reunion, courtesy of DNA.
Produced By Shari Finkelstein
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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See all 82 CommentsI couldn''t tell from what you wrote whether Harold L. West is your brother. If he%u2019s already been tested, you can learn something about your family''s origins by comparing it with other Wests. If there is a match, you will know that you share some family history with them. You%u2019ll be able to see whether your West line matches any of the 28 West families that have been identified, or with one that hasn''t yet found a match, on this West surname project page: http://web.utk.edu/~corn/westdna/west5.htm
The test they%u2019re using to look at the West surname is the Y chromosome, which is found only in males and is passed down father-to-son. It won%u2019t be possible to use it to learn about your maternal ancestors using the Y chromosome.
You could find out about the maternal lines by having someone test mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). If you could find someone who descends directly from mother to daughter from the possible Native American ancestor, then the result should tell you whether the person in question really was Native American or not.
The price of these tests starts at about $99. To get more useful info you might need to spend a little more. Why don''t you first see if any male relatives in your West family have already been tested, and if not, whether they would like to be. Maybe they%u2019ll even pay for it! You can get more information from the administrator of the West DNA project here:http://web.utk.edu/~corn/westdna/
Good luck!
I couldn''t tell from what you wrote whether Harold L. West is your brother. If he%u2019s already been tested, you can learn something about your family''s origins by comparing it with other Wests. If there is a match, you will know that you share some family history with them. You%u2019ll be able to see whether your West line matches any of the 28 West families that have been identified, or with one that hasn''t yet found a match, on this West surname project page: http://web.utk.edu/~corn/westdna/west5.htm
The test they%u2019re using to look at the West surname is the Y chromosome, which is found only in males and is passed down father-to-son. It won%u2019t be possible to use it to learn about your maternal ancestors using the Y chromosome.
You could find out about the maternal lines by having someone test mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). If you could find someone who descends directly from mother to daughter from the possible Native American ancestor, then the result should tell you whether the person in question really was Native American or not.
The price of these tests starts at about $99. To get more useful info you might need to spend a little more. Why don''t you first see if any male relatives in your West family have already been tested, and if not, whether they would like to be. Maybe they%u2019ll even pay for it! You can get more information from the administrator of the West DNA project here:http://web.utk.edu/~corn/westdna/
Good luck!
I couldn''t tell from what you wrote whether Harold L. West is your brother. If he%u2019s already been tested, you can learn something about your family''s origins by comparing it with other Wests. If there is a match, you will know that you share some family history with them. You%u2019ll be able to see whether your West line matches any of the 28 West families that have been identified, or with one that hasn''t yet found a match, on this West surname project page: http://web.utk.edu/~corn/westdna/west5.htm
The test they%u2019re using to look at the West surname is the Y chromosome, which is found only in males and is passed down father-to-son. It won%u2019t be possible to use it to learn about your maternal ancestors using the Y chromosome.
You could find out about the maternal lines by having someone test mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). If you could find someone who descends directly from mother to daughter from the possible Native American ancestor, then the result should tell you whether the person in question really was Native American or not.
The price of these tests starts at about $99. To get more useful info you might need to spend a little more. Why don''t you first see if any male relatives in your West family have already been tested, and if not, whether they would like to be. Maybe they%u2019ll even pay for it! You can get more information from the administrator of the West DNA project here:http://web.utk.edu/~corn/westdna/
Good luck!
I couldn''t tell from what you wrote whether Harold L. West is your brother. If he%u2019s already been tested, you can learn something about your family''s origins by comparing it with other Wests. If there is a match, you will know that you share some family history with them. You%u2019ll be able to see whether your West line matches any of the 28 West families that have been identified, or with one that hasn''t yet found a match, on this West surname project page: http://web.utk.edu/~corn/westdna/west5.htm
The test they%u2019re using to look at the West surname is the Y chromosome, which is found only in males and is passed down father-to-son. It won%u2019t be possible to use it to learn about your maternal ancestors using the Y chromosome.
You could find out about the maternal lines by having someone test mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). If you could find someone who descends directly from mother to daughter from the possible Native American ancestor, then the result should tell you whether the person in question really was Native American or not.
The price of these tests starts at about $99. To get more useful info you might need to spend a little more. Why don''t you first see if any male relatives in your West family have already been tested, and if not, whether they would like to be. Maybe they%u2019ll even pay for it! You can get more information from the administrator of the West DNA project here:http://web.utk.edu/~corn/westdna/
Good luck!
DNA DID NOT prove Thomas Jefferson to be the father of Sally Hemings''s children. I assisted Dr. Foster with the test.
The problem: He tested a known Sally Hemings male line descendant of Eston Hemings whose family had ALWAYS claimed descend from a "Jefferson uncle" meaning Randolph Jefferson, the Presidents brother. Dr Foster failed to notify Nature Journal, Monmticello or other researchers and thus there was surprise when the DNA''s matched. Having been forwarned they could only assume that the result would naturally happen because of thje long family claims. There was no match of Jefferson-Woodson, a long held family claim. Final analysis: NOTHING proves that TJ fathered Hemings children. Be careful of your own DNA studies and gather ALL family history.
Herb Barger
Jefferson Family Historian
you easily go into the trillions.
Charles
I was watching the newscast about tracing your family roots. I saw the story of "Vi Higginson", and tracing her family tree to "Marion West". My last name is West also. I know that I have "Blackfoot Indian" in my family tree. I know that my Great Grandmothers name was "Addie Howell". She lived in the Tennesse area. Around Knoxville, Danveridge, New Market, and Nashville area. I have been trying to tace my roots through "Ancestory.com", but that has been taking forever. I also noticed that the names on the paper that was shown contained a name of a living sibling of mine, by the name of "Harold L. West", which showed he has the "Y25" cromosone to trace male decendents. Is there any type of help anyone can give me to help in my quest to find my heritage? Money is a big obstacle for me at this time. I have been laid-off since February of 2008. Dispite the obstacle, I would still like to find my roots no matter how minut it may seem to some. PLEASE HELP!!
If you had done your homework you would have mentioned that the reason it is so hard for for women to match is because each generation we have a different female. And when we get an X chromozone a women does not know which X chromozone she is getting from her mother. She could be getting her 6th great-grandmother''s chromozone or she could be getting her 12th great-grandmother''s X chromozone. In any case it gets confusing.
Men are lucky they don''t have this problem.
I thought the report was good, but it did not account for the history of the African American slave story. I thought it would have been a better presentation if it had included some perspectives of history. We do know that everything, to include science, has limitations. Next time, Including some historical explanations can give us a better picture of what DNA science concluded.
This is like finding in a DNA of a french citizen from Marseille that he has italian, greck, spanish portuguese ,syrian and algerian ancestry in his DNA.In that case, we will have heard in the same time that it is normal because so and so. But when an African-American has multiple encestries on her DNA ,no one seems to know why.
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