Can any known DNA test methods show ethnic traits?

Question

I just found out that my dad of all my life isn't my biological dad. My mom is not sure who my real dad is, since she cheated 5 times. Race-issues have been a central struggle in my life. Knowledge of who I really am is very needed.

Answer 1

Yes. The ethical questions that this new technology raises are legion.

http://www.dnaprint.com/welcome/productsandservices/anestrybydna/

Answer 2

The Center, in response to my question about establishing one's Native heritage said:


"To date there is no test which can determine a person's race or heritage. We can perform DNA testing to determine parentage, but not whether someone is of a particular racial or ethnic origin. If there is a match or biological relationship within the Native American population between two or more persons, to my knowledge there must also be supporting documents to provide the proof of all facts and then must to be considered by the Native American counsel. DNA testing is the most conclusive and widely accepted method to test for paternity to date (over the use/method of HLA testing.)"

Cellmark Diagnostics indicated that racial typing is not done nor were they aware of a test that would provide that information.

Answer 3

There are several out there that do just that. Interesting to note, however, that one Mexican-American girl that I read about had a test done that came back saying she was 56% Native American.
Sounds about right for a Mestizo but she had a second test done and it came back saying she had no Native ancestry! It wasn't clear if she had used the same or different labs but I guess they are still prone to error. They generally seem to run in the $200-$300 dollar range, unfortunately. National Geographic offers one for $99 but it doesn't specify ethnicity. It is part of an ongoing project that traces ancestors as they spread throughout the world from origins in Africa.

Answer 4

Scientists just recently discovered there was a tiny variation amongst the "races," but I'm not certain that kind of testing is generally available, nor am I certain that it would provide conclusive proof in a mixed race situation.

Your ID is more who YOU are than who your parents are.

The identity of your natural parent will change nothing in your life, the only person who can change that is you. And, it has nothing to do with your race or ethnicity.

You should consult with a local clinic for advice on getting a DNA test. Any clinic should be able to give you direction even if they cannot do it themselves.

Answer 5

Tracing the mitochondrial DNA will only trace the female line and likewise the Y chromosone the male line. In both cases it doesn't trace ethnicity - sorry ,only the female and male ancestral families. The gengis khan therory mentioned above was tracing the Y chromosome and because gengis's kingdom was from western asia to china you can see that that any of his descendents could be of any ethnic line. Likewise there have been Japanese and Red Indian people identified as comming from the same mitochondrial female line because it is thought that the Japanese began the Red Indian line by migrating to the American continent. Your only hope is to trace all the men and doing paternity testing to prove which is your father.

Answer 6

Yes, they all can. DNA is our blue print and ethnicity is just a collective trait and can be detected in DNA. Even the beginnings of the Human race can be traced back to the first humans in South Africa and we are all from that common ancestry and have some of the original human DNA. Jules, lecturer. Australia.

Answer 7

First of all, acceptance of who you truly physically shouldn't be an issue. Love yourself no matter what, finding out that you may be a different race doesn't change who you are inside. Anyway, DNA shows genetically linked traits, however, I'm not completely sure on the ethnic part, but i believe that they can find your differen ethnicities. (I believe that's how they find out if you have enough native american ancestory through your blood to qualify for scholorships and things)

Answer 8

i just saw this special during black history month where they traced back a bunch of prominent af. am. people beyond slavery and back to the mother Continent. they did it through both their mitochondrial DNA and measurements of physical traits. at any rate, they found the actual tribe of Chris Tucker and found out what region Oprah was from. i would think that it would be harder for a European though, what with it being much smaller than Africa and different nationalities. anyways, its possible. good luck finding your lineage

Answer 9

Race is just one part of you. There is this concept called intersectionality where one part of you doesn't overpower the other part because together it makes up all of you.

But sure you can find out your racial ancestry - it will tell you how much of what race you are. But unless your mom takes it too you wont know what part of what you get from your mom or you unknown father. Just because your Mom looks like/identifies herself as being ___, doesn't mean she really is so you can't rely on your test alone if you go for it.

http://www.ancestrybydna.com/welcome/

Answer 10

I do not know where you can go to but I did see on TV something about being able to tell what tribe African American people descended from by DNA test,if that is what you are asking then yes it can.

Answer 11

they can do tests to determine which race group you descend from --- it's not cheap.
Sorry your life isn't as you like it but just know you are loved by God and I wish you all the happiest in the world as you learn and become a responsible person.