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What We Can Use to Test Your DNA
What DNA Material You Already CarryWhat Are "Outside Lines"?
What Specimens We Collect
Unusual Samples and What Tests We Can Perform
What You Already Carry
Every male carries both X & Y chromosomes, and every female carries only X chromosomes. On a sample contributed by a female, we can test either the matrilineal line of descent, or examine the gender-neutral genome via our autosomal test.
On a sample contributed by a male, we can test the matrilineal line, patrilineal line, or the gender-neutral genome.
Outside Lines
DNA testing cannot "cross over" on gender in family lines. For example, a male donor can only receive pedigree information about his father's father's father, etc., or his mother's mother's mother, etc. -- but not his mother's father's mother. This is why we refer to the "outside lines" of descent.
What Specimens We Can Test
For most clients, we will send you a swab collection kit, which you will return to our labs for analysis. But occasionally there are unusual circumstances: clients would like to test a specimen of a deceased relative, or for a person who isn't available for collection. We can also perform our tests on the following, which are considered Special Specimen Classes.
DNA Extraction Class A
Bone, Hair Shaft without Root, Teeth, Funerary Remains
The DNA is extracted from a preserved bit of tissue, or relic of a deceased or unavailable person with this special test. Perfect for adopted or orphaned individuals who have a lock of hair, tooth or other sample. Also ideal for ancient funerary remains, archeological samples or museum relics. Valid for mitochondrial extraction from bone, teeth, and hair shaft (lacking hair root), from males or females.
This was the extraction method used in the following famous cases:
Gill, P. et al. (1994). Identification of the remains of the Romanov family by DNA analysis. Nature Genet. 6:130-135.
Jehaes, E. et al. (1998). Mitochondrial DNA analysis on remains of a putative son of Louis XVI, King of France and Marie-Antoinette. Eur J Hum Genet. 6/4:383-95.
Leary, H.L.F (2001) Sally Hemings’s children: a genealogical analysis of the evidence. National Genealogical Society Quarterly 89/3.
Stone, A. C. et al. (2001). Mitochondrial DNA analysis of the presumptive remains of Jesse James. J Forensic Sci. 46/1:173-6.
DNA Extraction Class B
Stains on Clothing, Chewing Gum, Cigarette Butts, Licked Stamp, Soiled Objects, Paraffin-embedded Tissue, Histology Slides
Class B extractions take the mitochondrial and Y chromosomal DNA from body fluids, stains on clothing, chewing gum, cigarette butts, formalin fixed paraffin-embedded tissue, hair root, licked envelope or stamp and other objects. Perfect for adopted or orphaned individuals who have a licked stamp from the alleged parent or relative. Ideal also for testing deceased parents who died before DNA testing was available. Mitochondrial DNA can be tested, as well as Y chromosome if the sample donor was male -- or, test both with our combo DNA analysis.
DNA Extraction Class C
Amniotic Fluid, Cerebrospinal Fluid, Fresh Frozen tissue, Ocular Fluid, Plasma, Semen
Extractions performed on these samples can test for mitochondrial DNA or Y chromosome if the sample donor was male.