Dnageek’s blog

Y chromosome is the only chromosome that you find in all males. It has distinctive shape and function as it involves in sex-determination during embryo development (A human male contains one X chromosome and one Y chromosome).

Other than that, Y chromosome contains paternal DNA which is used in determining father’s ancestry (patrilineality) as it is passed from father to son. It is because most of the Y chromosome passes almost unchanged from generation to generation.

In search of our parent’s ancestry enable us to understand our roots and our anthropological history.

Basically, random mutation causes slight changes in Y chromosomes that enable us to elucidate total generations of the two Y chromosomes that are derived from a common ancestor also known as Time to the Most Recent Common Ancestor (TMRCA).

Based on this concept, it is possible to clarify the distinct relationship between two males to make sure they are really related with each other. In cutting-edge of DNA testing, several genetic markers are used to estimate how closely males are related to each other which can be done in a very short time and as well as to trace the paternal line.

Five millions years ago, our Y-chromosome had been traveling around the world since humans and our primate cousins were evolutionary separated. Y chromosome Adam was discovered from comparison test on men around the world which able to construct a family tree for mankind that indicates the most recent common male ancestor lived about 60,000 years ago in Africa.

The importance of the date of our common Y chromosome ancestor is that it effectively gives us an upper limit when our species began to leave Africa between 60,000 and 50,000 years ago. This is known as “Out of Africa” theory.

Though the name “Adam” is just a metaphor, consistent results of tracking the most recent common male ancestor reflect humanity’s origin and spread around the world are within biblical range of about 10,000 to 60,000 years ago.

J.J. Yong, a DNA blogger with wide interest in DNA testing, genealogy, phylogenetics - as long they are related to DNA. He truly believes that amazement of DNA is like bringing us closer to humanity or humility of mankind.

Humans have something in common – DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) which is secretively hidden in our chromosomes. Since DNA is a type of nucleic acids which is made of from millions of nucleotides. Nucleotide is a basic unit of building a long strand of DNA – just like building a house; the basic units are the bricks, concretes and etc.

What is so mysterious about DNA?

Since it’s a small structure with approximately 2.2 – 2.6 nanometers wide, it contains a genetic code that can be deciphered to unveiled the secrets of our body. Advances in DNA technology enable us to unlock the secrets of our body as to search for the meaning of mankind.

You look like your mom…you’d got the eyes just like your father…you’re as strong as your uncle…

These traits can be explained as it is related to genes – genetic information that inherited from our parents – possibly contains sub-information about our ancestors. DNA can be treated as our entity – a living proof that makes us adapting to all sorts of surroundings.

This represents how humans are enabling to survive since human population had reached more than 6.6 billion as recorded on July 2007.

How do we look different among each other?

All of us differ to the type DNA – means that each of us has DNA which has different genetic information except individual twins who has identical DNA. People often being mislead by assuming fingerprint is similar to DNA.

Actually, humans have their own distinctive fingerprints and DNA but individual twins have different fingerprints. However, differences of DNA among races based on their appearances (phenotypic traits) have yet able to be distinguished as we need more time and effort to map and identify common distinctive traits at the DNA level.

J.J. Yong, a DNA blogger with wide interest in DNA testing, genealogy, phylogenetics - as long they are related to DNA. He truly believes that amazement of DNA is like bringing us closer to humanity or humility of mankind.