All articles tagged with #ancestry
Hollywood actors Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors received Guinean citizenship after tracing their ancestry to Guinea through DNA testing, and were celebrated in a private ceremony in Conakry, highlighting Guinea's recognition of descendants of enslaved Africans.
Genetic ancestry tests from companies like 23andMe and Ancestry.com often oversimplify or distort human history, relying on arbitrary reference populations and statistical approximations that do not accurately reflect individual lineage or the complex, interconnected nature of human migration and genetic diversity.
A large U.S. study shows that people's self-identified racial and ethnic categories do not accurately reflect their genetic ancestries, highlighting the complexity of genetic diversity and the limitations of using race and ethnicity as proxies in genetic research and personalized medicine.
Following the 2024 presidential election, many Americans, including celebrities, are considering leaving the U.S. and exploring dual citizenship options. Nine countries—Ghana, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Spain—offer pathways to citizenship based on ancestry, allowing individuals to claim nationality through parents, grandparents, or direct ancestors. These countries provide various benefits and requirements for those seeking to reconnect with their heritage or obtain a second passport.
Scientists have discovered that all blue-eyed people are descendants of a single human who lived between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago. This genetic mutation, found in the HERC2 gene, switches off the OCA2 gene responsible for brown eye pigment, resulting in blue eyes. The mutation likely spread as humans migrated from Africa to Europe.
In Charleston, S.C., a project to collect DNA from Black residents has evolved into a search for living descendants of 36 enslaved people whose bones were discovered by a construction crew. Despite initial skepticism due to historical exploitation, participants like Edward Lee have been swabbed for DNA, hoping to uncover clues about their ancestry and history. The project aims to provide Black residents with new insights into their heritage and connections to the region's history of slavery.
Every person with blue eyes on Earth is a descendant of one single human who lived between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago, as a genetic mutation from the HERC2 gene completely turns off the OCA2 gene, diluting brown pigment into blue. This discovery, made in 2008, suggests that all blue-eyed individuals share a common ancestor and that the mutation likely spread when humans migrated from Africa to Europe. The study also explains the rarity of blue eyes, estimating that 8 to 10 percent of the world's population have them, mainly among people of European descent.
Ancestry revealed that Taylor Swift and poet Emily Dickinson are sixth cousins, three times removed, tracing their connection back to a 17th-century English immigrant who settled in Connecticut. Swift has referenced Dickinson before when describing her writing styles, and the revelation of their family connection comes as Swift prepares to release her 11th studio album, "The Tortured Poets Department," on April 19.
Ancestry has discovered that Taylor Swift is distantly related to the renowned poet Emily Dickinson, with the two being 6th cousins, three times removed. Both Swift and Dickinson descend from a 17th century English immigrant, and Swift has previously referenced Dickinson in her work. The connection between the two women has long been noted by Swift's fans, and Swift's upcoming album "The Tortured Poets Department" further emphasizes this familial tie.
Ancestry has revealed that Taylor Swift is related to iconic American poet Emily Dickinson, being sixth cousins three times removed. Swift's ancestors settled in Connecticut before eventually moving to Pennsylvania, where they married into the Swift family line. Swift has publicly referenced Dickinson and fans have speculated that her album "Evermore" was inspired by the poet, as it was released on Dickinson's birthday and features similar themes. This isn't the first time Ancestry has discovered connections between American icons, having previously found a link between Tom Hanks and Mister Rogers.
"The View" host Sunny Hostin, after learning about her ancestor's involvement in the slave trade, still believes in reparations and racial justice, despite her family's history. She expressed feeling enriched by the knowledge and shared her mother's emotional reaction to the news. Hostin also discovered that her third great-grandfather, born into slavery, registered to vote in Georgia in 1867.
"The View" host Sunny Hostin, despite learning about her family's slaveholding ancestry, remains a staunch supporter of reparations, asserting that she still "deserves" them and that the country has much work to do in terms of racial justice. Hostin expressed feeling enriched by the knowledge of her family's history and shared her mother's emotional reaction to the revelations. She also discovered that her third great-grandfather, born into slavery, registered to vote in Georgia in 1867.
Taylor Swift's family plays a significant role in her life and career, with her mother Andrea being a supportive figure and inspiration for her songs, her father Scott moving his job to support her music career, her brother Austin pursuing a career in acting and producing, and her grandparents influencing her music and personal life. Swift's family history includes a grandmother who was a famous opera singer, a grandfather who served in World War II, and great-great-grandparents who owned a music store in New York.
Actor Bob Odenkirk, known for his role as Saul Goodman in Better Call Saul, was surprised to learn on the PBS show Finding Your Roots that he is related to King Charles III as his 11th cousin. Odenkirk, who grew up in Chicago, expressed amazement at the news and reflected on the concept of monarchy versus democracy, ultimately finding humor in the unexpected revelation.
Bob Odenkirk discovers surprising French and royal ancestry on the PBS series Finding Your Roots, learning that he is part-French and related to King Charles III through his sixth great-grandfather, the Duke of Plön. The actor expresses gratitude for his ancestors' sacrifices and reflects on the implications of his royal lineage, ultimately finding the revelation "crazy" and humorous.