What’s Unique About Y Chromosome DNA Testing?Y Chromosome DNA Testing is a process which is used to compare a male ancestor's male descendants. The Y chromosome DNA testing is very helpful in the determination of the fact that how closely the two males are related in a direct paternal lineage. It is possible to find a Most Recent Common Ancestor with the help of various genealogy tests that also involve a Y chromosome DNA test. Y chromosome DNA testing is a very useful tool for the researchers like evolutionary biologists, forensic scientists, anthropologists and genealogists. It is also used to study human evolution, the pattern of human migration and for the purpose of human identification. Sometimes, it is also used to locate the geographical origin of human beings. The Testing Process... The process of Y chromosome DNA testing uses the fact that the male human DNA has an inherent Y chromosome. This Y chromosome can easily tell a researcher that whether two males, who carry the same surname or family name are relatives? After the relation is established, the Y chromosome DNA testing also identifies the Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) of the two males. Apart from the determination of the relationship authenticity of two individuals with their surname and the search of the MRCA, the Y chromosome DNA testing helps in another thing. It helps to find out the concerned individual's haplogroup. A haplogroup is the term used to refer a group of individuals, who have the same genetic characteristics. It is also known as haplotype and it also provides information about the individual's ancestral lineage, both maternal and paternal. The Y chromosome DNA testing is not a perfect method, it has some limitations as well. The most important limitation is that Y-chromosome DNA testing doesn't give much information about the degree of relatedness of two individuals. It can only provide a proof for inclusion or exclusion from the family. Tests For Females The Y chromosome DNA testing is only for males because only they have the inherent Y chromosomes. However, there is another test for females to establish their surname authenticity and to track their MRCA. The test is known as mtDNA test. The mtDNA is also known as Mitochondrial DNA. It is passed by the mother and is found in both male and female children. Therefore, like the Y chromosomes in the males, the women have an inherent mtDNA which is useful to get information about their roots. Y chromosome DNA testing has provided the researchers with a tool that can help in finding the history of human beings like never before. This quality alone makes Y chromosome DNA testing a wonderful and amazing technique. |