Imagine being able to step back in time, not only to learn about world history, but to discover how your own ancestors helped shape it. That's precisely what we offer with our innovative My Ancestry test, a historical ancestry analysis. This analysis is not just a genetic test; it's a gateway to living history, an emotional connection to those who came before you.
A personal journey to the heart of history
He My Ancestry test, with historical ancestry Zogen invites you on a personal and exciting journey through the ages. By tracing your origins across eight historical periods, from prehistory to the Middle Ages, this test intimately connects you with the cultures and civilizations that are part of your genetic heritage. It's a unique exploration that allows you to walk in the footsteps of your ancestors, discovering their worlds, their struggles, and their triumphs.
Discover the civilizations in your DNA
The Zogen report, My Ancestry, is a fascinating chronicle of your genetic roots. By highlighting the three ancestral cultures with which you have the greatest genetic affinity, the test provides a detailed map of your origins, revealing how your ancestors lived, migrated, and intermingled in the grand tapestry of human history.
This test goes beyond science; it's an emotional journey to your roots. By discovering the civilizations and cultures of your ancestors, you not only gain a deeper understanding of your own identity, but you also feel a more profound and personal connection to history. It's an experience that transforms the way you see the world and yourself.
Our historical ancestry test is more than just a genetic analysis; it's an invitation to an emotional journey to your origins. By unlocking the secrets of your DNA, you connect not only with your ancestors but also with the civilizations that have shaped the world we live in. It's a unique opportunity to embrace your heritage and celebrate the rich tapestry of human history that flows through your veins.
Science, the basis of our methodology
Want to know more? Here's a little science…
Ancestry, in its most basic form, could be defined as everything our ancestors have inherited over time and that has reached us today—that which connects us to the past and its people. However, ancestry is a much broader concept encompassing multiple meanings, knowledge, and interpretations. It has great importance in cultural, religious, and even political aspects, and can significantly influence personal and collective identities. In the field of genetics, these terms have a much more precise definition: your ancestors are the people to whom you are biologically related, and ancestry refers to the details about these individuals and their genetic connections to you. This reflects how human populations have moved, connected, and mixed across time and geography to reach us today.
All of that journey shapes our ancestry. Therefore, the study of ancestry can be understood as a great synergy between different areas of knowledge, allowing us to explain the heritage of our ancestors. For example, archeology, History, linguistics, and genetics are key pillars for explaining and contextualizing ancestry. Genetics reveals evidence of interbreeding between populations, but we need knowledge from other fields to fully understand the underlying causes.
With historical ancestry, what academics call “ancient ancestry”We are referring to populations or individuals who lived in the distant past, often spanning tens of thousands of years.
This involves analyzing current genetic markers and ancient human remains to understand migration patterns, genetic diversity, and the relationships between ancient populations and humans today. Studying historical ancestry allows scientists to better understand the historical migrations and interactions of human groups, as well as the development of specific genetic, social, and cultural traits over time. All of this is what allows us to carry out your analysis of historical ancestry.
Database
An important factor to consider when conducting this type of analysis is the reference database against which we can compare an individual to study their ancestry. This reference database must be as large and diverse as possible, including genetic samples from a wide variety of historical periods and geographic origins to cover all of human history and its genetic diversity. However, this is much more complex than it seems, as the samples are carefully obtained from the best-preserved archaeological sites to ensure the highest quality of the genetic material to be analyzed.
Thus, the creation of these references is limited by the availability of such biological materials. These samples, such as bones or teeth, must be in good condition for DNA to be extracted and analyzed. For this to occur, they must be preserved for thousands of years under very specific environmental conditions, especially low temperatures and low humidity. This is why some geographical areas have fewer fossil records compared to others. Items such as material remains, ornaments, clothing, tools, and everyday utensils can provide valuable clues about the ethnic group or cultural current to which individuals may have belonged. This information helps scientists better understand the historical and cultural context of ancient populations, allowing for a more precise interpretation of ancestry and genetic relationships over time.
It is necessary to date the samples to determine which historical period they belong to. In addition to considering the information that can be gleaned from observing the archaeological site, the samples undergo radiocarbon dating, or carbon-14 dating, in the laboratory. This is the most widely used technique for determining the age of archaeological remains. Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope present in organic matter that decays over time. By knowing its decay rate, the age of the organism to which the archaeological remains belong can be calculated. Furthermore, given the potential damage to the genetic material extracted from these samples due to their age, they undergo rigorous quality control. This process involves obtaining the ancient DNA, which is often fragmented and degraded, and then sequencing it using advanced techniques. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS).
At Zogen, applying the principles mentioned above, we have developed the My Ancestry Test with historical ancestry, which establishes a much closer connection between your genetics and the past, allowing us to trace your genetic history at a much deeper level than other companies on the market. This advanced analysis reveals our connections to the past and also demonstrates how modern science can unravel the mysteries of our genetic heritage.
Our ancestry test, step by step
Now we will explore in detail how this test is performed, from the collection of DNA samples to the comparison with sequenced archaeological remains.
Collection and analysis of DNA samples
Saliva kits and raw data:
The process begins with the collection of DNA samples from customers, either through received saliva kits.
Sample processing:
Once received, the saliva samples are processed in specialized laboratories. DNA is extracted and genotyping is performed using precise molecular biology techniques to isolate, purify, and analyze the genetic material. All samples undergo multiple rigorous quality control steps to ensure they are suitable for analysis and to yield optimal results.
Comparison with our customers' DNA
Comparative genetic analysisYour DNA is compared to our historical genetic database. This database includes genetic information from thousands of samples taken from archaeological remains across eight historical periods, spanning more than 40,000 years of human history, from the Paleolithic to the Middle Ages. In addition, we have hundreds of scientific articles and bibliographic references that provide solidity, robustness, and support for our methodology and analysis. We divide the analysis into eight historical periods to examine in detail the genetic similarities found with population groups from each era. If combined in a single analysis, the oldest signs of ancestry could be diluted. However, when used in a specific study, this data gains the importance it deserves. Our analysis has been divided into eight historical periods:
- Upper Paleolithic (before 10,000 BC)
- Mesolithic (from 10,000 to 5,000 BC)
- Neolithic (from 5000 to 3000 BC)
- Age of Metals (from 3000 to 1300 BC)
- Ancient Age (from 1300 to 500 BC)
- Classical Antiquity (from 500 BC to 500 AD)
- Early Middle Ages (from 500 to 1000 AD)
- High Middle Ages (from 1000 to 1300 AD)
These stages are determined by considering the beginning of various socioeconomic and cultural activities, varying according to different geographical regions of the world. We have sought the most accurate approximation to global geographical diversity. Depending on the particular geographical region, these stages may have begun or ended before or after the time periods established in our classification.
Algorithms and statistical models:
Sophisticated algorithms and statistical models are used to interpret genetic data. These algorithms can identify specific genetic markers and establish correlations between present-day DNA and archaeological samples. During the analysis, genetic similarities and differences between your DNA and reference DNA are compared, establishing the probability of sharing common ancestry with different groups. This is done by comparing your genetic patterns with those of reference groups. The more similar they are, the greater the probability of shared ancestry.
Interpretation of results and connection to history
Detailed reportThe result is a comprehensive report highlighting the genetic connections of a present-day person with various cultures and civilizations throughout history.
Historical and genetic perspectiveThe report not only provides information about geographic and cultural ancestry, but also offers insight into how migrations and mixing of populations throughout history have influenced your current genome.
The result is given as a percentage, reflecting the closeness to your genetic makeup and, therefore, a stronger connection to your ancestors. This means that, for the groups included in our reference, it is very likely that your ancestors were closely linked to those specific population groups, or to genetic mixtures that included those populations. This is not a snapshot of a genetic mix at a given moment, but rather the result of a continuous and complex process of population mixing over time. These populations have merged and diversified due to population movements, giving rise to the current populations and ethnicities. These traces are imprinted in our DNA and are reflected in the results of our analyses, covering the Paleolithic era through the Middle Ages, and more recent periods in the geographic and ethnic ancestry sections of our report.
Are you ready to purchase your test?
The historical ancestry section of the Zogen My Ancestry test is A fascinating fusion of genomics and archaeology, providing a unique window into the past. This detailed and scientifically rigorous analysis connects us to our ancestors in an emotional and personal way, and provides a deep understanding of how past civilizations and cultures have contributed to our genetic diversity. Through this test, we offer you a glimpse into the history of humankind and celebrate the incredible genetic journey each of us has taken.
Our My Ancestry test is not simply a genetic analysis; it's a comprehensive and multifaceted exploration of our heritage. Through its various sections, including Geographic Ancestry, Ethnic Ancestry, Historical Ancestry, Maternal and Paternal Halogroups, and Neanderthal DNA, this test offers the most complete and holistic view that current science can provide about who we are and where we come from.
Source: https://24genetics.es/ancestria-historica-un-viaje-emocional-al-pasado/
