DNA
GENEALOGY TIMELINE
Genetic Genealogy
". . .
it's hard to realize you're living history while it happens . . . . “
As of August 2010 a new, improved, updated Timeline
is at ISOGG Wiki http://www.isogg.org/wiki/Timeline:History_of_genetic_genealogy I want to thank all the DNA pioneers who assisted with this Timeline through 2008 and to extend my appreciation to ISOGG Wiki for adapting this to their site and for their dedication and hard work in updating and maintaining it. At the suggestion of a WIKI editor, I will preserve this original page so that people can refer to it to see how the Wiki has changed over time. Georgia Kinney Bopp 9 August 2010 |
This Timeline began when I could not find an informal context - a simple history - to use when called upon to explain the new field of DNA and genealogy to those who knew less about it than I (a beginner in October 2002 - and not a scientist). This contains items I've found as well as contributions by others, primarily Ann P. Turner and participants of the RootsWeb GENEALOGY-DNA discussion list and members of the ISOGG community. The emphasis here is on “traditional” genealogy - rather than “anthrogenealogy”. The Timeline also attempts to record the contributions of pioneer genetic genealogy hobbyists who helped make this field respectable before it was accepted by the mainstream genealogy community. A few key DNA milestones not directly related to traditional genealogy are included in the Timeline.
LINK TO THE SHORT VERSION |
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Mendel, Wilkins, Franklin, Crick, Watson, Kornberg, Sanger, Berg,
McClintock, et al. In the fall of 2002, for fun, I looked up the date of first use of a few terms. genealogy (14th century) |
Early 1980's |
HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) preferred markers for genetic identification [for parentage/paternity testing] |
1980 |
Maternal inheritance of human mitochondrial DNA |
April 1981 |
Sequence and organization of the human mitochondrial genome. |
1983 |
Dr. Kary Mullis conceives and helps develop polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a technology for rapidly multiplying fragments of DNA (Nobel Prize 1993) |
June 1984 |
" |
1984 |
Alec Jeffreys of |
1985 |
Individual-specific 'finger-prints' of human DNA |
By 1987 |
Validation studies for RFLP-based DNA technology were initiated and, in 1989, a "DNA only" test battery was introduced (from a lab site; don't know if this belongs here and don't know if dates apply to the field in general or to the specific lab) |
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Mitochondrial DNA and human evolution. |
1989 |
Alec Jeffreys (who coined the term DNA fingerprinting in 1984) first to use DNA polymorphisms in paternity, immigration, and murder cases. 1989-90 - First use of DNA in a criminal case, using only nuclear DNA. These two may refer to the case described in above 1984 [Jeffreys] link |
Late 1980's |
An international team of scientists began the project to map the human genome. |
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The first crime conviction based on DNA fingerprinting (in |
September 1992 |
Identification of the skeletal remains of Josef Mengele by DNA analysis |
October 1992 |
October-November 1992 NEXUS, Thomas Roderick, Mary-Claire King and Robert
Charles Anderson piece on the use of mtDNA and genealogy (they term
"umbilical line" to 1972). They also announce a three-part study to
determine mutation rates and appeal for paper-documented umbilical lines of
ten generations or more. Roderick had been working on the idea for some time
prior to this. |
February 1994 |
Identification of the remains of the Romanov family by DNA analysis. |
November 1995 |
Trends in Genetics (Review article) |
1996 |
Genetic Genealogy, by Helene Cincebeaux, SYLLABUS Lecture Titles, 1996 FEEFHS Minneapolis Convention - (Title found at this site but may have since been removed: http://www.feefhs.org/) |
1996 |
FBI Laboratory begins using DNA in criminal cases, utilizing both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. |
January 1997 |
The Cohanim/Cohen/Kohanim study |
May 1997 |
Savin Project. Alan Savin launches the first DNA surname project by a
genealogy hobbyist - with Dr. Mark Thomas of |
1997 |
Cheddar Man - mtDNA testing establishes that |
1998 |
mtDNA of Marie-Antoinette does not match Naundorff (who claimed he was her
son); later (2001) test on remains of a child believed to be her son match
Marie. |
November 1998 |
Jefferson study (Y-chromosome DNA study) |
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An introduction to Genetic Genealogy, by Alan Savin. (9 November
1998) |
1999
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Pearl Duncan, New York author, links her family to the Akuapim people in |
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Sykes & Irven Y surname study (4 markers) |
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Bennett Greenspan, entrepreneur and genealogy hobbyist, develops Family Tree DNA (FTDNA). August - discusses with Michael F. Hammer (University of Arizona); October - sends 24 samples (proof of concept); January 2000 results back; March 2000 started accepting orders (see below). |
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James L. Sorenson, |
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Sykes develops Oxford Ancestors (OA); formally incorporated 2002 |
2000 |
DNA for Family Historians, Alan Savin |
2000 |
Commercial stage begins (FTDNA,
OA) |
February 2000 |
Y chromosomes traveling south: the cohen modal haplotype and the
origins of the Lemba--the "Black Jews of |
March 2000 |
BYU begins collecting samples March 6, 2000. As of September 2002, they
had about 32,000 samples, mostly from the |
April 2000 |
Mumma - first known surname project
with a commercial company (FTDNA) |
June 2000 |
Venter and Collins announce sequencing of the entire human genome. |
October 2000 |
Ann P. Turner conducts first known private mtDNA study. Turner and 4th
cousin 3 times removed go back in a straight line of females to MRCA Pamela
NIMS (b. 1794, MA). As a result of this, Turner begins the GENEALOGY-DNA-L
discussion list at RootsWeb. |
Note - add "early" web site pioneers - e.g., Duerinck, Pomery, Garvey (haplogroups), others? |
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2000-2001 ~ DNA
Pioneers Who Began Surname Projects April 2000 - December 2001 |
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The work that
began all this was the January 1997 Cohanim/Cohen/Kohanim study conducted by
scientists. Their interest was not
genealogy but it caught the attention of these pioneers (see also their entries above) who worked directly
with universities: FTDNA - Family Tree DNA Facts & Genes from Family Tree DNA |
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2001 |
Sykes' SEVEN DAUGHTERS OF EVE published. (The concept of mtDNA haplogroups goes back further. See also above, January 1987 Mitochondrial DNA etc.) |
2001 |
Sorenson starts Relative
Genetics - initially to handle samples from Molecular Genealogy Research
Project (MGRP) [a.k.a "BYU" project, now "SMGF project"] |
December 2001 |
Pioneer DNA surname projects between 2000 and end of 2001 are listed above |
August 2002 |
Dennis Garvey is the first to come up with modal haplotypes for “the three
main European haplogroups”. |
September 2002 |
DNAPrint Genomics [also known as DNAPrint and AncestrybyDNA] offers "BioGeographical Ancestry" (BGA) testing for "recreational genomics" - testing "for percentages of African, Indo-European, East Asian, and Native American ancestry" [their services later added to FTDNA product offerings and then dropped by 2004)] |
October 2002 |
This Timeline begins (by Georgia Kinney Bopp with help from the RootsWeb discussion list) |
October 2002 |
Alastair Greenshields begins www.ybase.org while developing DNA Heritage (see below entry pre December 2003) |
November 2002 |
Dennis Garvey is the first to estimate the ordering of mutation rates for
the markers used by the genetic testing companies. |
November 2002 |
Remains of the "unknown child" lost in the Titanic identified
using mtDNA |
December 2002 |
Clonaid claims birth of first human clone, baby "Eve." Lots of publicity but no evidence! (27 Dec 2002) |
December 2002 |
FTDNA reports they ended the year with 309 surname projects [would like data from other companies to include here] * |
February 2003 |
Genghis Khan: about 8% of males in Genghis Khan empire region have nearly
identical Y-chromosomes. |
March 2003 |
Kerchner begins first ethnic group study to use BGA, Y-DNA, mtDNA, and traditional research |
Spring~Summer |
Molecular Genealogy Research Project (MGRP) a.k.a. the
"BYU" project, transferred to Sorenson Molecular Genealogy
Foundation (SMGF). |
May 2003 |
The term "Anthrogenealogy"
introduced by FTDNA. |
June 2003 |
DNAPrint Genomics (see 2002) test helps investigators to suspect in string
of |
August 2003 |
"The Human Y Chromosome: An Evolutionary Marker Comes of Age" - Mark A. Jobling and Chris Tyler-Smith - the "complete" sequencing of the Y chromosome - about 23 million bases out of 50+ million (the unmapped portion is full of repetitive DNA sequences with very few landmarks to anchor them). |
August 2003 |
mtDNA "log" (Kerchner) http://www.mtdnalog.org/ See also October 2004 - http://www.mitosearch.org/ |
2003 |
African Ancestry specializes
in connecting Y and mtDNA profiles to specific places in |
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Trace Genetics specializes in the analysis of Native American ancestry. |
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DNA Heritage (DNAH) offers Y-Chromosome testing in October 2003 (had lab problems, resumed testing March 2004). |
December 2003 |
Family DNA Tree announces Ysearch - http://www.ysearch.org/ |
December 2003 |
Duerinck lists 830
Y-Chromosome DNA Surname Projects Or One-Name Studies (29 December 2003). |
January 2004 |
Note: There may be a 2007 policy change – need
more details. |
Spring 2004 |
Bartons form World Families Network
(WFN) as a resource for surname project administrators. |
March 2004 |
Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF) releases first subset of
its database. |
October 2004 |
Family DNA Tree announces MitoSearch - http://www.mitosearch.org/ |
October 30, 2004 |
Family Tree DNA's 1st International Conference on Genetic Genealogy
[for FTDNA Group Administrators], |
Fall 2004 |
DNA as a research tool for genealogists becomes mainstream enough to
interest three publishers (these are also available at Amazon.com and
elsewhere): |
December 15, 2004 |
FTDNA reports over 1,400 surname projects representing over 9,000 surnames
[variations]. |
2004 |
· NEW TOOLS (created by hobbyists and used by many hobbyists) Athey’s Y-Haplogroup Predictor (August) McGee's DNA Analysis Software
Tools |
January 7, 2005 |
YSTR Mutation Rates Study begun
by Charles Kerchner |
April 13, 2005 |
The Genographic Project announced by National Geographic, IBM, et
al |
May 10, 2005 |
Ann Turner, founder (see October 2000) of the RootsWeb GENEALOGY-DNA discussion list, retires as list administrator. Jim Bullock becomes the new administrator. |
April 2005 |
International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG) launched. Founding
Members: John A. Blair, Katherine Borges, Nancy Key Davenport, Kenny
Hedgpeth, Suzanne Johnston, Charles Kerchner, Linda Magellan, Douglas J.
Miller, Patrick Tagert |
July 3, 2005 |
Journal of Genetic Genealogy (JoGG) launched. Whit Athey, Editor;
Dennis Garvey, Associate Editor; Tom Roderick, Associate Editor.
Board/founders include Terry Barton, Ann Turner, Stephen Perkins, Richard
Barton |
January 7, 2005 |
YSTR Mutation Rates Study begun
by Charles Kerchner |
ISOGG group forms to create online Y-DNA
Haplogroup Tree to keep pace with the rapid developments. Coordinator: Alice
Fairhurst. Design team: Bill Bailey, Katherine Hope Borges, Michael Crocker,
Richard Kenyon, Sasson Margaliot, Doug McDonald. Content experts: Whit Athey,
Dennis Garvey, Phil Goff, Gareth Henson, Mike N. Humphrey, John McEwan,
Bonnie Schrack, Ann Turner, David Wilson. Content experts liaison with
experts from various DNA labs to determine what information is needed to
amend the tree. |
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December 2005 |
Hum Mutat. 2005 Dec;26(6):520-8. |
December 2005 |
Am. J. Hum. Genet. (online early) |
December 16, 2005 |
FTDNA reports over 2,500 projects, representing over 27,000 surnames
[variations]. |
2005
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· NEW BOOKS |
· NEW COMPANIES |
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· NEW DISCUSSION LISTS |
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LANDMARK EVENTS |
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MISC. |
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Jan/Mar 2006 |
Am J Hum Genet. 2006 Mar;78(3):487-97. Epub 2006 Jan 1 |
March 2006 |
Ted Kandell [Kandell, T.E. and Greenspan,B.] is the first private
individual to upload a full mtDNA sequence to GenBank and provides guidelines for
others to follow. |
ISOGG announces their first version of the updated Y-DNA Haplogroup Tree |
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July 2006 |
SMGF announces release of mtDatabase |
December 2006 |
FTDNA reports over 3,700 projects, representing over 58,642 surnames [includes
variations]. |
2006 |
·NEW TOOLS (created by hobbyists and used by many hobbyists) Glad's mtDNAtool: An mtDNA Analysis Utility - July |
·OTHER LANDMARK EVENTS |
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MISC. ·2006 JOGG - see articles by
genetic genealogy hobbyists |
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June 2007 |
First full genome sequences - James D. Watson and J. Craig Venter are the first to have full genome sequenced decipheredhttp://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/01/science/01gene.html |
June 2007 |
Relative Genetics data (and future orders) to be handled at
Ancestry.com [about June 18] |
June 2007 |
Genographic Project Public Participation Mitochondrial DNA Database |
October 2007 |
Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF) forms partnership with GeneTree
|
December 2007 |
FTDNA reports over 4,500 surname projects, representing over 71,500
surnames [includes variations] and 114,000 Y-DNA records (and over 59,000
mtDNA records). |
2007 |
MISC. · DNA accepted as Mayflower
descent proof · Chris Pomery publishes second book: Family History in the
Genes: Trace your DNA and grow your family tree · Increased interest in (and
controversy about) companies that offer “biographical” testing (e.g., identifying African or Native American
tribes) and other special tests such as deCODEme and 23andMe · FTDNA’s 4th
International Conference on Genetic Genealogy [for FTDNA Group
Administrators], |
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·OTHER LANDMARK EVENTS |
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Various |
The volunteer (scientists and
hobbyists) collaborative ISOGG YSNP Tree is cited by the scientific community: |
12 March 2008 |
Published genetics study "The
Phylogeny of the Four Pan-American MtDNA Haplogroups: Implications for
Evolutionary and Disease Studies" utilizes a mitochondrial DNA sequence
uploaded to Genbank by a client of Family Tree DNA. This is the first known instance of a study
using data submitted through a commercial testing company being used for
science. Accession# EF648602 |
March 2008 |
"Cluster analysis of extended
Y-STR haplotypes leads to discovery of a large and widespread sub-clade of Y
Haplogroup J2 pathway [abstract 994] by Bonnie Schrack, Whit Athey, and James
Wilson and presented at the annual meeting of The American Society of Human
Genetics, October 2006, New Orleans,
Louisiana was cited in the genetics study "Differential Y-chromosome
Anatolian Influences on the Greek and Cretan Neolithic". [Schrack and Athey are DNA pioneer
hobbyists.] |
April 2, 2008 |
Y-Chromosome Consortium (YCC)
phylogenetic tree revised. |
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2008 |
MISC. · 2008 JOGG - see articles by
genetic genealogy hobbyists/amateurs/pioneers/specialists |
* A summary of known projects; the first in
1997 are included in the Before 2000.
Until 2003, this information was from DNA pioneer Kevin Duerinck's list of Y-Chromosome
DNA Surname Projects Or One-Name Studies and FTDNA (Family Tree DNA). The
"one-name studies" included in Duerinck
account for the discrepancies between his FTDNA count and FTDNA's
reported number of surname projects.| My intention was to enter numbers
annually at year end to show the growth of Y surname projects over time.
However, Duerinck stopped reporting in 2004 and http://www.dnalist.net/ does not provide
project count. We know there are other surname studies but until noted
otherwise, FTDNA is the only company providing this information to the public.
Before 2000 -
4 projects (or 5, if one includes the Cohanim/Cohen/Kohanim
study that resulted in this great adventure).
2000 - 11 projects (or 12, if one includes the Cohanim/Cohen/Kohanim study that resulted in this great adventure).
2001 - 100 projects reported by FTDNA; no data from other companies; see Timeline 2000-2001 Surname Projects.
2002 - 425 projects reported by Duerinck in October (I recall this because that's when I started my project). FTDNA reported 309 projects at year end.
2003 - 830 projects (see Timeline entry). Earlier known 2003 numbers: March 29, Duerinck listed 581 projects most with FTDNA (about 40 OA and 20 RG listings). On 4 June Duerinck listed 605 projects (most with FTDNA).
2004 - Over 1,400 projects at FTDNA. Their web site (3 Jan 2005)
reported as of 12/15/04: 1,400 surname projects, 9,000 unique surnames
[includes variations], over 27,000 records in the database, over 9,000 distinct
12-marker haplotypes, over 8,000 distinct 25-marker haplotypes.
Information from other companies not available.
2005 - Over 2,500 projects at FTDNA. Their web site (16 Dec 2005)
reports 2,581 projects [includes geographical/regional/etc. projects], 27,293
unique surnames [includes variations], 50,357 Y-DNA records: 14,886 distinct
12-marker haplotypes, 17,458 distinct 25-marker haplotypes; 14,981 mtDNA
records.
Information from other companies not available.
2006 - Over 3,700
projects at FTDNA. Their web site (29 Dec 2006)
reports 122,531 records: 3,776 projects
[includes geographical/regional/etc. projects], 58,642 unique surnames [includes variations], 84,676 Y-DNA records: 21,669 distinct 12-marker haplotypes, 28,097 distinct
25-marker haplotypes, 22,726 distinct
37-marker haplotypes; 37,855 mtDNA records.
Information from other companies not available.
2007 - Over 4,500
projects at FTDNA. Their web site (3 Jan 2008)
reports 113994 Y-DNA records in the database, 26394 distinct 12-marker
haplotypes, 38148 distinct
25-marker haplotypes, 35577 distinct 37-marker haplotypes, 59132 mtDNA
records.
Information from other companies
not available.
2008 – [As of Feb 09] Family Tree
DNA announcement: 500,000 Y-DNA and mtDNA tests processed since our inception
in 2000
_____________________
~ Links to related
timelines ~
There is a timeline for development of Y chromosome markers in John Butler's
slide presentation. The very first test that was developed found absolutely no
differences in samples gathered around the world, and it was thought that the Y
chromosome wouldn't be very useful for genealogical or evolutionary studies. (Description from Ann P. Turner.)
http://www.cstl.nist.gov/biotech/strbase/ppt/AAFS%20Y%20Talk.PDF
Timeline of the History of Genetics
http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/kahales/301Genetics/timeline.html
Genetics course syllabus
Begins with Mendel (has genetics history links)
GNN - Genome News Network - Genetic and Genomics Timeline
http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/resources/timeline/
http://www.thinkquest.org/library/websitena.html?19037
Begins with the microscope and ends with cloning
The Timeline Related Links contain citations
History of Genetics Timeline
http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEPC/WWC/1994/geneticstln.html
Begins with
http://homepage.smc.edu/hgp/history.htm#timeline
Mendel to genome sequence; includes sketches of Mendel, OJ, Dolly the Sheep,
Monica and Bill, and more! But keep scrolling because it's less tacky than you
think . . . .
__________________________
MISC. NOTES
When first used for parentage/paternity testing?
"progeny testing" is another term although tends to apply to
(non-human) animals.
May belong on list:
Thompson, E. A. (2000) Statistical Inference from Genetic Data on Pedigrees
Institute of Mathematical Statistics.
PubMed
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed
search on some of the key words, view the abstract, and click on the link to
the publisher.
Other useful links are on the abstract page are Related Articles, and the word
Links. If you click on that and select Books, the abstract is displayed again
with many terms underlined, linked to sections of textbooks. This is a valuable
technique for lots of research .
For those of us who get our "science" info from PBS (search on DNA)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/
Please note that contributors are not cited as the source of their items although in some cases their wording (and citation, if given) is used. Again, my thanks to those of you who have provided information.
". . . it's hard to realize you're living history while it happens . . . . " – quote from private email to GKBopp from Ann P. Turner.