Genetic Testing as Genealogical Proof for Lineage Societies, Family Organizations, and its Wider Genealogical Applications

As genetic genealogy transitioned from laboratories to households in the early 2000s, it heralded a new era. It offered a glimmer of hope in solving genealogical puzzles, revealing birth parents for adoptees, and unraveling the intricate web of human relationships. It also brought a significant potential—the ability to genetically disprove lineages that had been accepted as genealogical truths for decades, if not centuries.

Shows like Who Do You Think You Are and Finding Your Roots have showcased how genealogy with DNA testing can give users glimpses at previously unknown lineages. While genetic genealogy investigations utilize all forms of testing (autosomal, mitochondrial, and Y-chromosome), Y-chromosome (yDNA)  testing to determine the direct paternal lineage occurs more frequently for historical genealogical questions.[1] This is because autosomal DNA (atDNA) is harder to confirm past 5-7 generations, and comparing mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to maternal genealogies, often lacking information, leads to frequent dead ends.[2]

According to Dr. Turi King, millions descend from King Richard III.[3] This may be why dozens of lineage societies exist in the United States for various royal lineages, from Charlemagne to the Plantagenets. For American historical lineages, we can turn to Jamestown and the Mayflower. There are an estimated 30-35 million Mayflower descendants from the surviving 53 passengers worldwide, perhaps double that for the known 1000 possible ancestors of the Jamestowne Society.[4]

Each lineage society sets and maintains its own rules on processing an application. Some lineage societies hire trained genealogists to approve membership applications, while others rely on volunteers who are society members to analyze the applications and submitted documents. In addition, each lineage society determines what it will and will not accept as proof of lineage.

Professional researchers have long raised concerns over the validity of the documentation provided to these organizations due to a lack of training and consistent genealogical standards. Staff or volunteers responsible for validating research often encounter incorrect or fraudulent lineages perpetuated by unsubstantiated research and compounded by the public’s blanket acceptance of those famously published lineages.

Some organizations have begun to accept DNA analysis as a part of their membership application process. The groups investigating this avenue to prove a lineage are doing so to allow individuals whose families have record losses, which in the past barred them from membership, to have a way to join. Unfortunately, there is no standardized set of guidelines on using DNA as proof of lineage. But for those with no other proof, there is hope that they can also celebrate their ancestry with others with the same background. However, there are times when lines do become permanently closed due to mistaken identity or DNA results.

Genetics is not only challenging genealogy but the world as we know it. Advertisements bombard us for testing, crimes are solved with it, brick walls caused by documentation loss are crumbling, and people have up-ended their family lines because of it. This is just the beginning of my research and the literature on the topic.

While people and the countries they live in try to navigate the ethical and legal uses of genetics, the science will continue to grow.[5] Any organization that wishes to use DNA testing as part of its familial verification processes must not only set realistic standards for use but also be flexible enough to realize that those guidelines cannot be set in stone. As discoveries about using this science are made, the guidelines must leave room for change and updating. We have discovered a tool that can not only inform us about who we are but also redefine us.

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[1] Cox, D. (2024, January 31). Are you related to a king? Why you might carry royal DNA. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230503-coronation-of-king-charles-iii-do-you-carry-royal-dna

[2] Calafell F, Larmuseau MHD. The Y chromosome as the most popular marker in genetic genealogy benefits interdisciplinary research. Hum Genet. 2017 May;136(5):559-573. doi: 10.1007/s00439-016-1740-0. Epub 2016 Nov 5. PMID: 27817057.

[3] Coughlan, S. (2021, November 1). How millions don’t know they’re related to royalty. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-59041055

[4] Gower, N. (2021, August 6). Mayflower 400 years: How many people are related to the Mayflower Pilgrims?. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57698818; Jamestowne Society. (2021). Qualifying ancestors. Jamestowne Society. https://www.jamestowne.org/qualifying-ancestors.html

[5] Strand, NK. (2016, March) Shedding Privacy Along with our Genetic Material: What Constitutes Adequate Legal Protection against Surreptitious Genetic Testing? AMA Journal of Ethics, 18. 264-271. DOI: 10.1001/journalofethics.2016.18.3.pfor2-1603.