What's Hidden in Your DNA?

I imagine people hope to find a link to someone notable.

If you go back far enough, almost everyone can find a connection to royalty or some historic figure, though these days people also get a kick out of finding rebels and rogues in the family tree. One of my favorite cases was cold-calling a man in Texas and revealing to him that had George Washington been America’s first king instead of president, he would be king of America today. He was tickled.

Everyone probably reacts a bit differently to your findings.

Oh, yes. I’ve had to share some sad and uncomfortable findings with certain celebrities over the years, and many respond very soberly. But then there’s someone like Judy Collins, who learned that two of her ancestors from Ireland served in the Civil War and another had been a drummer boy in the Revolution. Hearing this inspired her to write a song called “New Moon Over the Hudson,” which includes the lovely lyrics “My father’s father’s fathers/ Sailed from Ireland’s shore/ They played the drums in Lexington/ And they fought the Civil War.”

Uncomfortable findings?

I can’t share names because of promises of privacy, but one high-profile person had a Civil War ancestor who was a hero in their family lore but actually turned out to have been a deserter. Another famous individual wasn’t thrilled to learn about a womanizing ancestor who had a long series of wives. Our ancestors were just like us — some worthy of admiration and some just total schmucks.

Any personal surprises?

While researching my own family, I found out, accidentally, that my father’s only brother was actually his half brother. I finally settled on saying, “Hey, Dad, if I were to learn something unexpected or possibly unsettling about our family, would you want to know?” He instantly said yes. After I told him, he said, “Maybe that’s why he had asthma and I didn’t.”

What about DNA tests for health?

I always say, “Don’t get tested for giggles.” Prepare yourself and think it through. What if you’re predisposed to dementia, for which there’s no cure? For preventable diseases like colon cancer, it can be a benefit to know about it early on so you can get an exam sooner than you planned. 

You work with the military to identify recovered remains.

It’s the most fulfilling work I do. I’ve researched 1,360 cases so far. I determine who the closest living family members are and find relatives to provide DNA reference samples. When an identification is made, the service member can be returned and receive a proper burial. People have a desire for their loved ones to be remembered, and they deserve to be. To me they’re all heroes.