Discover your ancestors via DNA testing

Cape Family Research Forum (CFRF) members learnt how DNA kits can help uncover who their ancestors were.

- ROSHAN ABRAHAMS

The topic of the forum's meeting on Saturday May 10 was "Family DNA Project: demonstration, discussion and experience of DNA testing kits".

The CFRF meets on the second Saturday of every month at Muhammadeyyah Primary School in Wynberg.

The talk covered how to use DNA kits, interpret results and integrate DNA findings into family research.

Guest speaker Micheline Fortuin, a family researcher, said a DNA test gives a breakdown of how your parents contributed to your genetic profile.

"Each parent contributes 50% of your DNA. If your mom was German and your Dad was Indonesian, for example, you'd be 50% German and 50% Indonesian. Each grandparent contributes 25%."

Ms Fortuin said her parents passed away many years ago but she was using a DNA testing kit to find out about her family ancestors the Stoffels and the Jethros of Steurhof and Diep River.

DNA test kits are used to analyse an individual's genetic material and provide insights into various aspects of their biology and ancestry. In the context of genealogy and family research, DNA test kits can help people: