Beyond mere genealogical records we now live in a time when the human genome has been mapped. Much of that effort has now become available and useful to us average folks in the form of genetic research services.
As an adoptee with no familial information, I don't only not know my immediate ancestry but unlike many people I can't even say things like "I'm 50% Irish". Oh woe is me that I cannot join the ranks of hyphenated Americans :-) Seriously though, I purchased a DNA kit from 23andme.com for just $99, did the spitting in the tube thing and mailed in my sample. Now I wait 6-8 weeks to finally know if as I suspect I am a very short Viking jarl! Or what if I find out I'm mainly Latino or of African decent? Will I then need to conform to the political-social norms of hating all white people? Joking, joking....keep reading.
