DNA Testing and Genealogy
Tracing your ancestors and the genealogy of your family has become somewhat easier in recent years due to the advances in DNA testing.
For many people, it is important to establish a lineage of family links and be able to confirm these in any way possible.
Now you have a way to do exactly that, if you are willing to pursue it and deal with both the possible positive and negative consequences.
In the not so distant past, it was necessary to do exhaustive archival research and search through years and even decades or more of historical birth and death records just to determine if a presumed ancestor was exactly that; one of your true ancestors.
And even after discovering such historical family evidence, it was still likely not possible to absolutely confirm that the genetic family relationships accurately reflected what was historically recorded.
Any type of family record with respect to births, deaths and relationships could have been and possibly been altered to conceal one or more potentially dark family secrets.
There was no method available aside from any such historical records that existed until recently. Tracing genealogy using DNA testing is now possible under certain circumstances and conditions.
DNA Testing for Genealogy
If it were possible to obtain DNA samples from any chosen royal family hundreds of years ago, of any chosen domain or country, and to review their genetic profiles, it would likely not be surprising to discover some anomalies.
In other words, a recorded mother or father of a suggested offspring may be historically correct, but only serve as a lie that only DNA testing could disprove.
We can not yet travel back in time to gather DNA samples and use them to prove or disprove any degree of family lineage, whether it is a royal family, or simply your own.
But what can be done is to use recent historical records in addition to attempting to verify genealogy using DNA samples and testing methods to confirm that your family IS truly your family.
With the recent advances in DNA test methods; this has become simpler, at least with respect to potential relatives living now.
For relatives that are present, it would only be necessary to use a simple DNA testing kit to obtain a sample of their genetic material using a simple swap inside their mouth.
For presumed family members that are deceased, this can be substantially more difficult. If you have access to hair samples or any other type of biological material, then this may be sufficient in providing enough DNA material for testing and confirmation of family links.
In the worst case, and which involves forensic discovery, the body of the deceased would have to be exhumed and a reliable DNA tissue sample extracted.
This would not be something that is preferred and at best, not done unless absolutely necessary, and with legal permission from proper authorities.
DNA Family Tracing
You may not be certain whether specific family members are truly related, or have perhaps been adopted with or without your knowledge.
The only way to confirm this is to provide a sample of their DNA and yours and submit these samples to a reputable testing laboratory for analysis.
After engaging a reliable DNA test facility and submitting your samples, you will have to wait several days until the analysis is completed.
You should not be anxious about receiving results too soon. After all, you may have already waited years or perhaps even decades to find out who your true ancestors are.
You should ask yourself about the consequences of having any DNA testing procedures done for your self and assumed related family members.
It may seem just another simple medical procedure, but the results may dramatically affect you and perhaps your family in an emotional manner.
DNA Testing Consequences
Confirmation of DNA identity can have both positive and negative consequences. If it were the case that DNA testing proved without a doubt that your family is exactly that – YOUR family, there would likely be no reason to pursue the issue any further.
However, some family members may want to know why this information was desired in the first place. This is one of the potential issues that you may have to address.
But what happens if the DNA test results reveal that a family member is not genetically related? This may be a child that you have raised as your own and now you discover that you are not the true parent.
You would have a difficult choice; tell them the truth or say nothing. In either case, it would be at best emotionally painful.
A wise course of action would be to continue to do what you have already done: be there for them and help, no matter what.
Regardless of who the biological parent is, far more important is the relationship that is established between the parent and child. This is what you have done, before knowing what the DNA test results provided, and even after.
Don’t let your ego get in the way of helping your family, even though you may feel this to be almost a need. Do what you can, and in the best way possible to help not just yourself, but your family as well.