DNA can reveal ancestors' lies and secrets

The National Geographic project is being used to illustrate the common ties that we all share as well as defining the spread of mankind through the World. It is not used for proof of paternity.

Just another ploy to destroy traditional families. Most kids are legitimate. The ones who aren't don't want to know that their mothers were whores.

National Geographic is sponsoring the Human Genome Project. I think that you can go online and request a kit. The testing is free, as I understand.

very interesting clip Trav, and I love the illustrative explanation. The people's sihlouetted poses and the shady man in the hat are great! I hope rather than family breakups and trauma though, such genetic testing could also bring out some more positive social consequences, such as showing just how racially and ethnically mixed most of us are.

Who did the artwork on this article?

I have three sons, who if I tried to deny them I would be arrested, they are exact clones. It's pitiful, handsome little bastards.lol

the real family tree.

peace-in

If families find out they're not actually DNA related to one another, it shouldn't change the way they feel about each other. Family is just as much a social concept as it is science. I think of some of my friends as family even though we're not DNA related.

I have a 2 yr old son, Im 24 yrs old this is my first and last child. This is why DNA test should be manditory at birth I had one with my baby and recomment it to all guys out there HAVE A DNA TEST!!!!!!!

wwuuuuuttttttt

Sperm donor banks add another dimension to the mix. Someday someone's going to marry their half brother or sister.

gargaryun, you can trace your ancesters back through records the mormans kept. Alot of native Americans were assimilated into non-native groups and families to hide their heritage. We thought only my mother's mother's family were native. but ends up my grandfathers family was takin into a group resembling them in characteristics and lang. sounded similar. Native American groups can also, help you follow back through to the family they merged with. It can be done.

Fascinating!

One can be sure of one's mother (barring hospital births where infants are mixed up much more frequently than one could imagine), but never absolutely sure of one's father.

Whoa I hope my dad is who he says he is!

The fact that there's been inter-marriage with Native Americans in My direct ancestory was one of those un-spoken "secrets" that was known but (mostly) not talked about when I was growing up....Both Paternal & Maternal branches of My Family have been in the Midwest (Kansas, Nebraska, Indian Nation-Oklahoma)pre-1850s...It used to just drive My Maternal Grandmother NUTS when My Grandfather would make the comment "Lemme see that PAPOOSE" about a new member of the Family @ the yearly Reunions....& in looking @ photos taken in the 1920s & 30s, even HER bloodlines show up.
I'd love to have some DNA tests done, looking for known racial markers, but costs are still prohibitive.
(Yes, We have fairly extensive Genealogical records, but Indian ancestory tended to NOT get listed in Marriage & Birth records, quite often)