allele – a genetic variation at a certain location on the gene that controls a specific trait. Alleles are inherited from parents, one from each parent for each SNP value. Some Alleles are dominant and some are recessive. They determine our inherited traits.
autosomes – Chromosomes 1-23
base pair – Combination of AT or GC
centimorgan – (cM) the measurement of how likely a segment of DNA is to recombine from one generation to the next. Places on the chromosome that are one centimorgans apart have a 1% chance of recombining during meiosis. It corresponds to about 1 million of base pairs
centromere – the area near the center of each chromosome is its centromere, a narrow region that divides the chromosome into a short arm and a long arm.
chromosome – The structure containing DNA molecules and some proteins found in the nucleus of a cell and contain genes.
DNA – deoxyribonucleic acid, nonliving molecule that can replicate itself and carries all the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms.
endogamous populations – groups of people who tend to marry within their own culture, religion, tribe etc., resulting in a small gene pool.
genes – the basic unit of heredity. Though genes people inherit various physical traits, such as eye color and other traits we do not see, such as blood type and resistance to diseases. Although genes play a role in inherited diseases, often our environments or lifestyle affects our health.
haplogroup – A branch on the World Family Tree
haplotype – a set of results for a group of markers tested from various locations on a chromosome that is inherited from one parent. This is your DNA signature.
MRCA – most recent common ancestor. The place in a family tree where two different individuals share the same pair of ancestors.
nucleotide – A molecule comprised of a sugar, a phosphate and one of the bases.
phylogenetic tree – The World Family Tree It is a series of similarly patterned Haplotypes which share a common ancestor.
recombination (meiosis) – the process of cell division in which genetic material from each parent is halved to form the DNA contribution in the egg or sperm cells.
Rsid – the rs number is an accession number used by researchers and databases to refer to specific SNPs. It stands for Reference SNP cluster ID.
SNP (or “Snip) – a SNP is a location in the genome that is known to vary between individuals. When researchers identify a SNP, they send a report (which includes the sequence immediately surrounding the SNP) to the dbSNP database. If overlapping reports are sent in, they are merged into the same, non-redundant Reference SNP cluster, which is assigned a unique Rsid.
STR – short tandem repeats. A short pattern of the four bases repeated in tandem or next to each other. The number of times this pattern is repeated determines the marker result for the Y-STR test.
triangulation – chromosome matches between two or more individuals.