Genealogy by DNA: Can it Deliver?
Appealing to one of mankind’s most basic needs, that of belonging to a kinship group related by blood, Genealogy became one of the most popular hobbies and pursuits in the latter part of the 20th Century. Once considered the exclusive domain of lovable but somewhat dotty great aunts, Genealogy emerged as a fun and absorbing hobby cutting across age and gender. For some the hobby became an avocation, for many an obsession. In the mid seventies, Alec Haley’s Pulitzer Price-winning book, Roots , was a best seller and the television series was viewed by 130 million. Suddenly, almost everyone wanted to know more about their “roots” or family background. No longer living in extended families comprising many generations, in the small town their ancestors had lived in for generations, Americans had become rootless. The picture perfect fifties concept of Mom, Dad, three children and a dog had soured in the 1960’s as social unrest became the norm. Something was lacking and people wanted it back. By the late 80’s Genealogy had advanced far beyond anything that had existed before. Electronic Bulletin Boards, an early forerunner of the Internet and Genealogy Newsletters exchanged by regular mail were bringing families together. Often these were families whose last two or three generations hadn’t even known each other. It only remained for the Internet to become available to the majority of Americans for Genealogy to literally explode as far flung relatives became able to exchange documents and pictures instantly. Mailing lists for persons with similar interests were organized. Rootsweb, started as a volunteer effort depending on donations, was later sold to Ancestry.com, one of the earliest success stories. The stage was now set for the exciting new tool of DNA testing to enter the scene.
