Exploring your Genetic Ancestry

All living things have DNA. DNA is a chemical structure that makes our bodies grow and function. While our DNA and other factors make us each different from one another, all humans are remarkably similar, sharing over 99% of our DNA with all other people. However, in some parts of our DNA, small changes have occurred and these changes to the DNA can be inherited to offspring. While some changes to the DNA can cause genetic disorders, other changes have no noticeable effect. By studying the different types of genetic changes scientists can use this information to trace an individual’s deep ancestry to specific geographical regions and can also estimate how much of their ancestry is from that geographic region.