DNA Doesn't Define Who We Really Are

Townhall.com ^ | October 19, 2018 | Jonah Goldberg

[sauropod]

Excellent post. Thank you.

[Iron Munro]

[ASA Vet]

I'm finding my Ancestry DNA is a good additional tool to put together my extended tree. As more and more people spit into the tube the data base is improving. I'm using skills Uncle taught me to analyze the results. Almost the same as putting together a “net diagram.”

[glaseatr]

I'm kinda surprised it took someone in the media this long to float a defense of Pokahauntus.
In doing so they start destroying their commitment to DNA and the human body.
Fools.

[sauropod]

We’ll have to chat. You have a skill set that I do not.

Cheers, ‘Pod.

[bgill]

I used to believe nurture trumps nature. I was wrong. I’ve seen too many kids raised away from their biological parents that have turned out to be just like them and not anything like those who raised them.

[Greetings_Puny_Humans]

Meanwhile, this a-hole has boasted many times of his Jewish ancestry and has stated support for Isreal and being Jewish ought to be synonymous.

Goldberg is almost as big a gigantic hypocrite as Ben Shapiro, the latter having written articles about expelling all Palestinians from Israel, including the women and children, but decried Trump’s Muslim ban as immoral.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Exactly!

[caddie]

Bill Clinton gave new meaning to the word, ‘lederhosen’.

[Kickass Conservative]

There aren’t any DNA Markers for “Commie”, right?

[Oatka]

and

[Figment]

Her DNA didn’t actually show any Indian blood. It is no more than a slight maybe

[Albion Wilde]

Some people I know are passionate about their Irish heritage and are "black Irish" -- i.e., they have dark eyes and hair and, sometimes, a more Mediterranean complexion.

This is not the definition of "black Irish" I learned growing up in an Irish-descended family. Our people defined it as Irish with fair skin, blue eyes and black hair.

Jonah is not Irish-descended. His mother's maiden name was Steinberger, either German or Jewish, and his father was Jewish; so he is not speaking from family knowledge.

[JoeFromSidney]

My mother's parents were immigrants from Slovakia. My father was born in Italy. I see no point whatsoever in having my DNA tested. At my age, 87, my ancestry is irrelevant. How I lived my life says a lot more about me than does my DNA.

[ladyjane]

You can get some real surprises on Ancestry.

I have a friend who went on Ancestry. A first cousin messaged him - someone that he never heard of before. She confirmed that they are first cousins. He emailed his 5 uncles to ask them who this person was. They all got mad at him! He still doesn’t know exactly how they’re related.

I know another person who when he was in his 70’s found out he had a son! He was thrilled.

[ASA Vet]

The surprise I'm working on now is a cousin who matched me at 361 cM, and matches my dad's sister, (my aunt,) at 793 cM, so I knew she was on my Dad's side. Sadly, I didn't get dad to spit in the tube.

This cousin was born in 1953 in occupied Germany to a German girl and an American serviceman. She was then adopted as a baby by a different American serviceman and his American wife. The name of the biological father is unknown, SO Far, but we're narrowing it down.

Though DNA we've narrowed it down to my Dad's mothers side. My grandmother had several siblings. We found DNA matches with descendants of 4 of the sisters. Still working on which grand aunt's line the German is.

I sent her photos of our common ancestors, and some of her bio cousins. She had no bio family ties until now. She's excited of course, as are her American born children.

I will be inviting her to our annual family reunion in July.