Uncovering Family Themes Through the Generations: A Journey Through Genealogical and Genetic Records to Document my Family History Narrative
Abstract
This research weaves together genetics, genealogy, and ethnographic memoir writing. Having begun genealogical and genetics research in Winter 2019 and studied the conventions of memoir writing in Fall 2019, I further developed my previous genealogical research with additional DNA testing that included mtDNA analysis of myself and my father, as well as that of my father’s Y-DNA ancestry. I also conducted detailed interviews with family members. Tracing my ancestry through DNA and family stories allowed me to better understand my origins. As a result, I developed a deep connection with my culture and my parents’ homeland of Pakistan that often feels distant to me, as a Florida native. Genetic results indicated my ancestry is 86% Northern Indian, 11% Southern Indian, 2% Northern African, and 1% unassigned. These results reflect the ancient human migration from Africa through the Indian subcontinent. In accordance with known human migration patterns, my mtDNA revealed my oldest human ancestor belongs to the L1 haplogroup, followed by the L3 branch from about 67,000 years ago in East Africa. My mtDNA display that I belong to haplogroup H2 reflecting more recent migration patterns. In the ethnographic interviews I conducted with family members, I focused on three major themes: love, migration history, and refuge from sectarian violence. I reflected on the contribution of these themes in building my own identity. In sharing my genealogical and genetic journey, my aim is that this project may serve as a guide to others who are looking to do the same.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Emily Schmitt Lavin, Dr. James Doan, Dr. Kathleen Waites
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-6-2021 12:00 PM
End Date
4-9-2021 12:00 PM
Uncovering Family Themes Through the Generations: A Journey Through Genealogical and Genetic Records to Document my Family History Narrative
Alvin Sherman Library
This research weaves together genetics, genealogy, and ethnographic memoir writing. Having begun genealogical and genetics research in Winter 2019 and studied the conventions of memoir writing in Fall 2019, I further developed my previous genealogical research with additional DNA testing that included mtDNA analysis of myself and my father, as well as that of my father’s Y-DNA ancestry. I also conducted detailed interviews with family members. Tracing my ancestry through DNA and family stories allowed me to better understand my origins. As a result, I developed a deep connection with my culture and my parents’ homeland of Pakistan that often feels distant to me, as a Florida native. Genetic results indicated my ancestry is 86% Northern Indian, 11% Southern Indian, 2% Northern African, and 1% unassigned. These results reflect the ancient human migration from Africa through the Indian subcontinent. In accordance with known human migration patterns, my mtDNA revealed my oldest human ancestor belongs to the L1 haplogroup, followed by the L3 branch from about 67,000 years ago in East Africa. My mtDNA display that I belong to haplogroup H2 reflecting more recent migration patterns. In the ethnographic interviews I conducted with family members, I focused on three major themes: love, migration history, and refuge from sectarian violence. I reflected on the contribution of these themes in building my own identity. In sharing my genealogical and genetic journey, my aim is that this project may serve as a guide to others who are looking to do the same.
