Sent to the St. Mary's CO., MD list. Interesting what the LDS Church's new
project is.
Camp Springs, Maryland--The Suitland Maryland Stake of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints will host a special morning fireside meeting
with Brigham Young University (BYU) Professor Scott Woodward, Ph.D. and
hisresearchers in the BYU Molecular Genealogy Research Project (MGRP). The
researchers will collect DNA samples and family trees from the general
public to become part of the first genetic world family tree. The fireside
will be held on Saturday morning, November 18, 2000 at 9:00 a.m. at the
Suitland Md. Stake Center, 5300 Auth Road, Camp Springs, Maryland. Also
speaking at the fireside will be Megan Smolenyak, author of the best-selling
book, In Search of Our Ancestors.
All are invited to attend the fireside. However, only those 18 years of age
and older may participate in the study itself. After completing a consent
form, participants will have a small blood sample drawn from them and are
asked to submit at least a four-generation pedigree chart showing the names
of their ancestors along with their birthplaces and birth dates. Those who
do not have a completed four-generation pedigree chart are urged to visit one
of the many family history centers of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints in this area. Collecting individual samples of blood for
DNA analysis takes only about ten minutes. The fireside & participationin
the study are offered at no charge to the general public.
The visit of the BYU researchers is part of a large-scale study to construct
a correlated genetic and genealogical database. Molecular genealogy fuses
genealogy and genetics together and the resulting database is designed to be
a valuable resource for genealogical investigation.
In practice, molecular genealogy links individuals together in family trees
based on the unique identification of genetic markers. This is accomplished
by using the information encoded in the genetic material, known as DNA, of an
individual or of a population to determine the relatedness of individuals,
families, tribal groups, and populations. Pedigrees (family trees) based on
genetic markers can reveal relationships not detectable in genealogies based
only on names, written records, or oral traditions. The fact that DNA is
inherited and that each individual is the product of his progenitors means
that DNA can be used to create unique identifications and,
also, to identify members of the same family, the same clan or tribal group,
or the same population.
This DNA analysis can prove especially helpful to those whose ancestry
lackssurname identification or for whom records were not created, as is often
the case with those of African, of Native American and of Scandinavian
ancestry. In addition to holding out the possibility of eventually helping to
find the persons ancestral homes through genetic analysis, participation in
the project confers additional benefits, to include the following:
Preservation of each participants unique genetic code for his or her
descendants;
Possible cross matching of participants DNA to determine relatedness;
Verifying existing genealogical records; and
A genetic discrimination between closely related individuals or those sharing
the same name.
Phase One has the BYU researchers traveling from country to country
collecting 100,000 blood samples for DNA from 500 worldwide populations.
This phase may take several years. Once all of the genetic samples are
collected, the project will move into Phase Two of their research by creating
a private database in order to analyze and to record the genetic markers for
all ethnic, tribal, familial and geographic groups.
The research team guarantees the privacy of the genetic information gathered,
which is protected by both state and federal laws and protected in a
high-security facility with access by only the project head.
More information on the Molecular Genealogy Research Project, may be obtained
from their their official web site at
http:/molecular-genealogy.byu.edu/.
Incidentally, local organizers are seeking additional medical personnel (such
as physicians and nurses) who have training and experience in drawing blood
samples (phlebotomy). Such personnel should contact Cole Goodwin,
accordingly:
Cole Goodwin, 8534 Biscayne Court, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772-5164
TEL: 301-952-8336 (home); 202-777-2649, ext. 7963 (work and fax)
E-mail: cole_goodwin(a)hotmail.com
The Suitland Maryland Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints is located at 5300 Auth Road, Camp Springs, which is
located just off Exit 7-B of the Capitol Beltway around Washington, DC.