| Dear Fellow Genealogist,
Carl Sagan famously said, "We are made of star stuff." More specifically: "The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood... were made in the interiors of collapsing stars." Genetic genealogy has a way of making that feel both scientifically profound as well as deeply personal. Our DNA connects us not only to ancient humans, recent relatives and entire branches of our family trees that we didn't even know existed, but also to a cosmic puzzle designed to specifically humble us.
In today's newsletter, we break down the difference between X-DNA and mtDNA, explore MyHeritage DNA's Theory of Family Relativity, and take a closer look at what DNA tests can and can't do when it comes to building your family tree. While the science may be written in our genes, the genealogy still requires good research, careful interpretation, and at least one moment of thinking, "wait... who is this person?"
Looking to the stars and those shared matches,
— Katharine, Digital Editor of Family Tree Magazine
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