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• Information Search May 19 - 07:49 pm

I'm excited about the current "DeCode" genetic maping/testing project that has been occuring throughout Iceland. Since the people of that country have been isolated for centuries, they have been able to accurately trace many generations of their heredity and discover where many of their present traits, diseases, and other qualities originated and branched out. As a result they are hopeful of developing treatments and cures from their research efforts.
It would be great if other isolated cultures throughout the world began participating in such research. In fact, the entire world should be involved in this endeavor to unlocking the secrets of our genetics.

Can DNA reveal race? More specifically can DNA tell us if a person is say Irish or Native American? If a scientists can deteremine of a person is Native American from their DNA can they more specifically determine which tribe using a person's DNA?

Yes, Kuma, this is possible. DNA isn't just found in the nuclei of cells, it's also found in small organelles called Mitochondria (sp?). Mitochondrial DNA comes only from the mother; the father has no input. After a while, a distinct group of people (like the irish or native americans) pick up distinct mutations in their mitochondrial DNA. These mutations can be identified and can usually tell of what origin a person descends.
Note that this doesn't always work. Say an irish woman marries an african man and has a daughter. This irish-african mix woman then marries somebody else from africa and has another daughter. The grandchild of the irish woman still has the irish mitochondrial DNA, even though she's only 1/4 irish.