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For years I've wanted to have my DNA results available to use alongside my genealogy research. Here is Part One of a review of the YDNA kit from familybuilder.com where I describe the components, the process, the pluses and the minuses.

From CSI to The Maury Povich Show, DNA and DNA testing has become a part of American popular culture. But what is DNA? In simple terms, DNA is a string of proteins that contain coded blueprints for our bodies. It tells our bodies how to grow. We inherit our DNA from our parents, which is where its genealogical value comes in.

On 20 October 2009, this column addressed the topic of Y-DNA testing for genealogical purposes. This relatively new development in science holds revolutionary potential for genealogy, especially African-American research. The most recent issue of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly (Sep 2009) contains the case study of an African-American family where Y-DNA testing revealed direct male line European ancestry.[1]