BILL GAITHER/The Register-Mail

Rick Lundeen holds up the National Geographic map he received at his home Friday morning at the Hollowtree Apartments on West Carl Sandburg Drive. Lundeen participated in the National Geographic Genographic Project to trace human migration patterns.

A deeper look at his roots

Genographic Project traces human migration through DNA

Sunday, March 18, 2007

By CIGI ROSS

The Register-Mail

National Geographic launched the Genographic Project in 2005, using participants' DNA to map and trace migration patters of humans who lived many thousands of years ago. Participants can then discover and trace the migration pattern of their ancestors.

Lundeen found out about the program through an e-mail from National Geographic.

"I was kind of thinking it'd be an interesting thing to do because I'm interested in population groups," said Lundeen, who works as a science lab technician at Carl Sandburg College.

To participate Lundeen had to buy a DNA testing kit for $100 that included information on the project and materials to send in his DNA. Then he waited for the results.

The project doesn't map specific ancestors, but uses participants' DNA to show where people with similar DNA lived thousands of years ago and where they moved over time.

"National Geographic is trying to clarify population groups and where you as an individual belong in the overall family tree," Lundeen said. "They're trying to show where and how you came to be where you are now."

The project can map where participants' ancestors came from by using genetic markers - random mutations in DNA. The Genographic Project's Web site says once a genetic marker has been identified, geneticists can trace it to the point where it first occurred.

"I thought maybe I'd find out my ancestors were ancient Romans, but that was wishful thinking," Lundeen said.

Instead, Lundeen's results showed he had a genetic marker that indicated northern ancestors.

"I might not have been related to Romans but maybe Vikings," he said. "I knew my great grandfather and grandmother on my dad's side had come from Sweden. Being able to go back further in time and see where long ago people who share a genetic lineage had probably lived was pretty neat."

Lundeen discovered he was a member of haplogroup I. According to his results, his genetic markers indicate his ancestral history reaches back more than 60,000 years. His group of ancestors traveled from Africa, through southeastern and central Europe to Scandinavia.

"It makes me wonder what these people were like even more, and why they chose to migrate westward through Europe," he said.

As more people participate in the project more links and changes are made in each migration group.

"It's important for a project like this that there's worldwide participation," Lundeen said. "The more people who participate the more accurate your own reading becomes."

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On the Web:

National Geographic Genographic Project: www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/index.html