mtDNA. That is what my recent DNA test analyzed, which is maternal DNA. This passes down from mother to child, with little or no alterations in the sequence. However, these rare mutations allow scientists to assign people to "haplogroups". Members of a haplogroup are descended from a single common female ancestor who first had that particular collection of mutations. Haplogroups are usually assigned a geographic location based upon the location of the current population.
My results came back that I am a member of Haplogroup A2. Haplogroup A is found throughout modern Asia. Haplogroup A1 is found throughout modern Asia, while subgroup A2 originated in Siberia. Archaeological evidence suggests that the founders of modern Native American populations migrated to North America from Siberia over a land bridge across the Bering Strait, tens of thousands of years ago. These people populated all of North, Central and South America.
I read all this in my results, including information that I have the same mtDNA as at least six other people on the planet, who are in the Genetree database. They were all born in ONE place - every single one of them - the State of Guerrero, Mexico, home to Acapulco, and the silver mining town of Taxco. I have actual names of some of these people, but knowing that there could be literally hundreds of thousands of people within this mtDNA haplogroup - I'm not going on a man(or woman) hunt.
So, there you have it! I suppose I can say that I'm most likely "half-Mexican." Surprised?
42 comments:
I am surprised. I am not sure why I am surprised, but I am.
How about you? Were you surprised? Or are you still just soaking all this stuff up?
WOW! This was so cool!I am not surprised at the outcome. I am surprised I actually guessed correctly! I didn't explain in my guess but I have half Mexican friends that your childhood photo made me think of,and the photo of you with the baby Offspring.
Hola chicka! Does this explain the love of Margaritas?
No matter what it turned out to be you are beautiful on the inside and out! That will never change!
Now, what are your thoughts and feelings?
I can't say "surprised" because a) I don't "know" you and b) I don't think I know anyone with Mexican blood so surprised wouldn't be the right word.
But I am pleased that you know and, like the other posters, I'm interested in how you feel about it!
No - I guess not because my best friend growing up at your same skin tones and hair color and she was 1/2-Mexican (and the other half was Russian - odd combo, huh?)
So - now that you know, where does this lead you to?
You'll always be Canadian to me.
Those tests must be correct, the fact that your DNA comes from Taxco and you were found in a gas station is too unique to be coincidental.
What did you say? Huh? It's spelled Texaco? Oh, okay never mind.
As a friend, I have to offer one piece of advice...don't trust those gringos!
Am I surprised? Yes. And no. It doesn't jive with my guesses, but the results don't surprise me that much (for lots of reasons that I can't really explain).
Soooo, now you have at least part of the riddle answered, right?
sandy - I was actually surprised - but still absorbing it a bit.
kaytabug - it explains my love for Miller Chill, margaritas and mexican food! However, I'll have to reveal more "deep" thoughts in my next post.
aoj & the lurchers - I will tell more soon!
karmyn r - I'm not sure, but you can bet that I'll be doing more research! I'll post more about my reaction later.
marnie - Awww...thank you! I'll drink an extra one, just for that!
willowtree - LOL! Yeah, I still think it was a Sinclair station, tho!
desert songbird - part, yes - but there is more on my mind, believe it or not!
Very cool to know. Beautiful pictures of you. I am also 5'3". My fingers are not as long as I would like them to be. I play the piano.
I am a bit surprised. Where the heck did that curly hair come from?
Interesting. My husband is from Honduras. His son has the curliest hair, you would never think it but he does, it's beautiful.
I'm so happy you're getting some answers. :)
V E R Y interesting! And yes, I do believe this is the main reason you love Margaritas!! I'm interested to hear how you are absorbing this news. It's pretty cool, don't ya think??
WHAT FUN!! I'm so sorry I missed all of this! I love studying ancestry - yours was particularly challenging!
Usted es una senora hermosa!
this is just fascinating. absolutely fascinating.
so will you go there? and see what you can see?
How cool! Did you not know honestly? I'm not sure why you did the DNA test - do you study genealogy? are you adopted? Very interesting story.
I am surprised! Yet now that you saw it, I guess I can see it...
All that information was really cool. Is it throwing you into an identity crisis? Are you glad you did it?
Do you have information from your dad's side, too?
(((HUGS)))
junebug - thank you - and I play the piano, too!
kaycie - in observing some of the local immigrant population in my town more closely, I was surprised how many of them have curly hair.
lisa's chaos - I am happy, too - I will write more about more reaction in a future post.
bermudabluez - it is cool, and I will definitely tell you all more later. More margaritas for me!
susan in va - muchas gracias! Teehee! My husband has been singing me Mexican songs and giggling a lot. He's such a card!
laurie - I actually pulled up photos of the are on the 'net, and I do want to go there!
linda - if you click on the label in my sidebar called "THE STORY," you can get caught up. But in short, yes, I was adopted. I was abandoned a few days after I was born, in a gas station restroom in California.
kila - thanks for the hugs - they are truly appreciated! And yes, a bit of a crisis...but I'm doing better as days go by. I will see what other DNA research is available, for sure!
Wow! That is cool. Very cool. Hot blooded for sho'!!
I believe it's called MITOCHONDRIAL DNA.
OK, I've said it before. When it comes to securing the border, I think we should judge immigration based on how hot they are. You were a good pick.
AWWW I want to hug you too! HUGS!
(I came back for your responses to comments.)
I LOVE Margaritas and shots of Tequila yet there is not an ounce of Mexican in me...lmao my mind went south lol Oh shit I'm going to stop! I hope you got a giggle!
OK, I can not say I am surprised...but I have made you an official Italian anyway....
hehehehehehe
I am sure you now have many more questions...I hope you find your answers...
Guess what? I understood every word in your post. I actually LEARNED something while in college. I aced genetics! I don't think I'm too surprised, because you and I have similar hair and skin color and people are always asking me if I'm Mexican (I'm actually not, unless I'm adopted which would explain most of my life). Anyway, I think that type of gene typing is amazing, modern technology rocks. I can't wait to see your deep thoughts (I thought those were kind of deep, but, well I'm not) You know what? My dad was adopted so we don't really know why one of my brothers and I are so dark and the other two are pale, blonde hair and blue eyed. Oh, never mind mtDNA is only maternal, so I'll never know why I'm so dark and only one out of five of my kids is dark.
Yikes. This is about you Tiff, I know, I'm sorry.
I'm not really surprised at the result. I didn't guess but it actually went through my mind at the time I read your previous posts. Do you think you might change your mind about following this up?
Well, good thing it didn't come back as Irish descent. That will lead to nothing but drunkeness and heartache. Cheers Tigger!!
Very cool! Isn't modern science grand?
I have a friend who has a theory that people have a tendency towards the place they are born as a sort of natural instinct. Kind of like how some animals always return to their place of birth to mate and propagate their species.
Have you ever had some deep desire to visit that area in Mexico, or perhaps just somewhere in Mexico in General?
Even though I myself didn't spend very much time in Frankfurt, Germany compared to all the other places I've lived in my life, I do find that there is some sort of psychological happiness about being "home" when I go there.
R.O.
Well this is just so cool! I want to get this DNA test too!
Wow! You know, I was GOING to say "you look like you are from Acopulco, Mexico, but I changed my answer at the last minute and said Italian. Mostly because I can't spell Acopulco.
How Cool!!!! I'm going to have to go back and read how all this came about. I wanna do it!!!
By the way, you have a lovely family! You are all just gorgeous!
I'm not surprised.
The lovely skin, the dark eyes, somewhat short. And feisty. Yes, you are!
My hubby loves margueritas - and there isn't an hispanic gene in his blonde dna. I think they are an acquired taste.
claudia - thanks so much! I feel hot-blooded - so it must count for something!
m@ - Awww...you are too sweet. And you're right about the DNA.
kaytabug - YES - I did chuckle! And thanks so much for the hugs! Also glad that some people actually come back to read the responses!
bond - I will wear my unofficial Italian Princess crown with great pride! Teehee!
simply jenn - don't be sorry! I loved your comment! I may see what other tests are available.
chrisb - won't change my mind - I will still pursue it slowly, in my own way...
matt-man - can I take the drunkenness, w/o the heartache?
R.O. - I've only been to the border towns, which weren't very pretty. And with the illegal immigration thing going on - no desire. Put when I pulled up photos of Guerrero - something tells me I want to visit!
southern doll - go to genetree.com, and it's $150.
nudememphissteve - I appreciate the effort - Acapulco! Just so you know...
real live lesbian - thank you! I think the kiddo is the best looking one - no fat hips on her. Yeah, it's a simple process and it was fun for me!
pamela - thank you for the compliment! But does he like mexican food?
I enjoy reading your responses, to everyone! Your comments and WT's are the 2 that I ALWAYS read every comment from everyone.
I LOVE Mexican food too. Where does that leave me? Maybe DNA results do not explain ones love of certain types of food and drink, or ones great ability to dance. This makes me want to learn more about DNA.
I guess you could say that the second picture shows that more than any of the others. That must have been pretty neat finding out all that information. Now, to figure out why.
Now you know. I bet it will take a while to absorb. No matter what the test says you are still you.
You and your daughter are both beautiful!
I learn something new every time I read someone else's blog!
Are you surprised?
kaytabug - I guess I thought I might be black, since I do that "head thing" and can dance hip hop...so I'm clueless. Maybe we need more testing?
sirdar - Oh, there is SO MUCH MORE I need to figure out - but mostly about why I reacted the way I did to finding out.
beckie - thank you so much! And yeah - it is still sinking in. I'll post about it later, after it is totally sunk!
dumdad - sounds like you will be called smartdad very soon!
mjd - yes and no - but not too much. Statistically and geographically, it was the logical outcome.
Just checking back by to read everyone else's comments. I cannot even imagine the myriad of thoughts and feelings you must be experiencing.
Just to let you know that you're in my thoughts and prayers and I think you are just enormously courageous.
sandy - thanks so much, and I am doing pretty well - lots of other turmoil going on in my life that has made the timing interesting. I'll be telling you all more very soon!
What an incredible time we're living in, that you could find this out in the first place. I don't know what I thought before you told us..I guess I didn't speculate too much.
Does this do anything to "ease" your mind...were you uneasy about anything to begin with?
Iam facinated!! That is so neat!! makes me wanna know mine too!!!!!!!!!
Well, I missed the guessing. I didn't even put a guess in on your birthday in September, however, I was thinking native American or Mexican. I think each time your learn something about your background, it takes time to absorb it. No matter, you are a beautiful person inside and out. And funny too ;-).
robin - I'm not sure it was anything but...well...weird. I am at ease, and yet full of more questions at the same time.
jettie - go to genetree.com, send in $150, and they will send you a test!
colours of dawn - thank you! And I think I have absorbed...somewhat!
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