Bennett Greenspan is the
President and CEO
of
Family Tree DNA. Mr. Greenspan founded
Family Tree DNA in
1999, which greatly had to do with his love for Genealogy. I
was fortunate enough to get an interview with Bennett whom is
extremely respected in the DNA Genealogy research. There is no better
way to learn something than to hear it from someone who is
professional and passionate like Mr. Greenspan.
MDT: How did you become interested in
DNA Genealogy
(Genetic Genealogy)?
BG:
In 1999 I had finished the complete genealogy of my mothers' mothers'
fathers lineage (NITZ) and then I entered the name in a database and
found a family from Argentina who had the same last name. They claimed to
come from the exact same area of the Yalta Peninsula...except that we
had no knowledge of them...and they had a 'story' of family in the
United States. All attempts to prove this connection by use of the
paper trail failed...so I got the idea of using the Y chromosome DNA
test on one
of their males and also on my cousin in California who was a NITZ male.
|
MDT:
Family Tree DNA offers a
67 marker
analysis for the
Y chromosome test which
no other
reputable company can compare to, what could we find out about
ourselves and our family history from taking this test? |
BG:
Besides offering the
highest resolution Y DNA test in the world we also
offer the highest level of SNP testing that is offered in conjunction
with those STR's (Short Tandem Repeat) markers. This combination can
place an individual in a very specific location on the "Tree"
of mankind
and also determine which branch of a large extended family one sit upon.
MDT:
Y chromosomal Adam and
Mitochondrial Eve are considered our
Most
Recent Common Ancestors (MRCA). Though it was in completely different
times, they were both found near Kenya, Africa. Does it mean this is
where mankind started?
BG:
Probably. Its important in science to be open to new ideas as new
discoveries are being made on a frequent basis, so we might find so
evidence of a different origin point other then the rift valley of
Africa, but at his point it appears that our origin point was there and
that we spread out form there to eventually colonize the entire planet.
MDT:
DNATraits offers valuable information to families with genetic
disorders, how could a DNA test help a family with
sickle cell
disease? What information can they find?
BG:
DNATraits is a totally
separate business with different partners from
Family Tree DNA, but it's
main benefit is to offer
inexpensive testing that is comprehensive,
offering EVERY SNP associated with a disease and therefore
providing
knowledge. Since knowledge is power, the point behind
DNATraits is to
empower individuals with the knowledge to not make parenting mistakes.
This means that if two people test and are found to be both carriers
for a Mendelian disease they can decide if they want to have children
and they can discuss the options of being carriers with their doctor
prior to a child's birth. This is
the case with Sickle Cell disease mentioned in your question, and the
same is true for Jews who benefit from knowing if they are carriers for
Tay Sachs,
Gaucher and host of other population specific diseases. We
feel that if everyone is aware of their personal carrier status we can
help eliminate Mendelian diseases in a generation or two.
However, it is also important
to
distinguish between DNA tests for Mendelian diseases and genetic
mutations associated with certain traits and/or conditions. While the first
is something quite clear in terms of determining the probability of a person
having a disease, not having it and just being a carrier, or not even being
a carrier, the latter deals with studies performed in groups of people
sharing certain conditions or traits, and having a corresponding gene
mutation - which is something that not necessarily imply into a personal
prediction for having that condition or trait.
MDT:
DNA
technology
is
a relatively new science that has expanded leaps and bounds in the last
50 years. Genetic Genealogy even less, what you think DNA technology will offer us in the next 50
years?
BG:
Genetic genealogy is at most 12 years old. Since that time the YCC
"Tree of mankind"
has expanded 1000% in size and the
geographic specificity has made quantum leaps. Within 50 years I
expect that one will be able to test his DNA and see where his family
is most located (in
Y chromosome,
mtDNA and
Autosomal terms), as well as to have
complete Mendelian risk assessment easily available. In addition,
most of the
human disease mapping should have been completed and we'll be dealing
with the ethical implications of preventing diseases form moving into
the next generation.
MDT:
I appreciate the
time you put into this interview and how easy you made it for our
readers to understand why DNA Testing can benefit all of us.
Best Regards
Bennett Greenspan
President
Bennett
Greenspan at Family Tree DNA
www.familytreedna.com
"History Unearthed Daily"
