Family DNA Sharing
- Leslie Ryan
- Jul 1
- 3 min read
Did you know siblings don't share their parents in equal 50-50 amounts? Most don't, in fact! Identical twins result from one egg dividing in two at just the right time to split into two separate halves. Only 3 or 4 of every 1,000 births results in identical twins. Let's talk about Family DNA Sharing!
Most people I meet are very surprised to hear that most siblings don't share exactly 50% of mom's and dad's DNA. Let's remember that DNA has four chemical bases Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Guanine (G), and Cytosine (C) that make up the rungs in the DNA Helix here. Each one is a different color.
When the DNA molecule is ready to duplicate, it begins dividing by "unzipping." Since the human DNA molecule is so long, it breaks at different points along the way at the same time.
When it is all unzipped, we have some long pieces of DNA and some shorter pieces floating around looking to (literally) hook up with their proper partner and make two new whole molecules.
Guanine (G) pairs up with Cytosine (C) Adenine (A) pairs up with Thymine (T)
All the DNA is still coming from Mom and Dad, but now it's getting mixed up and put back together differently. Think of it as a kaleidoscope. All of the same pieces and colors are there, but they come together in a new design.
I love this graphic from Your DNA Guide, Diahan Southard that shows Mom and Dad in the top pair, then their two kids. Each of those two kids have some of Mom and Dad in different combinations of Yellow and Orange. Then one of those kids marries a Green.
Step Three shows how these kids have Green and Yellow and Orange! DNA transfers from grandparents through their children to their grandchildren! When Pink joins the family, you can see that their great grandchildren now still have SOME of their DNA in different percentages, except for #3 which has no Yellow at all.
This is why testing as many family members as you can, siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles will give you more clues as to who those unknown ancestors might be!
I hope you will find this very, very simplified explanation about the great miracle of replication between all living things - people, animals, and plants happens.
Have you done a DNA test yet? My Heritage has a big DNA sale right now, $29 down from $89 plus free shipping (they are hard at work making their database as large as Ancestry's! Click here to find out: https://www.myheritage.com/dna/OYYV76ZDHG2GQT2FYHDTCFUXKGXY5AI
Speaking of Ancestry, they are jumping on the July 4th bandwagon with 50% off Membership sales, which is a pretty substantial savings! Click here Go To Ancestry Sales. They are also have a less spectacular sale on their ProTools "30% off" which is $3 for ONE month only, and then it goes back up to $10 per month.
Have a save and happy Independence Day Celebration this weekend, and Happy Canada Day today to our Canadian friends. If I can help with your tree or DNA, send me an email for a free, no obligation review of your tree.
Best regards and my thanks for sharing,
Leslie Ryan
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