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Genetics and Health

Gene Talk #4: Confucius’s DNA

by Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD on June 18th, 2006

Last week, I mentioned in jest that I’d like to be tested for a link to Confucius. And what d’ya know? Such a DNA test is already available for about $125 USD.

The Pop Occulture Blog speculates on why people might be interested in proving their link to historical figures and celebrities:

What it comes down to, I think, is that people just want to feel special. They want to feel set apart and important and they want that feeling to just be handed to them by rights, rather than needing to do a lot of hard work on themselves to get it. Chances are, of course, that if they did actually do the hard personal work to acquire that feeling of specialness and separateness, they would realize just how unnecessary that all really is in the end.

Very profound.

via A Tedious Existence

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POSTED IN: Featured Genetics and Health Blogs, Gene Talk, Genealogy and DNA

7 opinions for Gene Talk #4: Confucius’s DNA

  • razib
    Jun 18, 2006 at 8:51 pm

    i assume this is a Y test? so unless there isn’t something i don’t know….

  • Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD
    Jun 19, 2006 at 1:48 am

    razib: LOL I have no idea. The Reuters story didn’t say. But I think we can safely assume I don’t have a Y chromosome. I think….

  • Diana Lai
    Feb 1, 2007 at 4:29 pm

    I am very interested in the Confucius DNA test, as my grandmother is apparently a 73rd generation descendant. I want to have my DNA tested to see if it’s true–do you know how I could go about getting tested? Thanks!

  • Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD
    Feb 1, 2007 at 6:32 pm

    Diana: The Confucius DNA test I mention in this post is only for men since they test the Y chromosome but if you have a male relative who’d be willing to get tested, that would work.

    According to this Telegraph article, the Chinese Academy of Sciences is offering to test people. Perhaps you could contact them at their website.

  • Diana Lai
    Feb 1, 2007 at 7:40 pm

    Thank you for your response :) My paternal grandmother (my father’s mother) is the one who is supposedly directly descended from Confucius. Could I submit my father or brother’s DNA for the test? Or does the person tested have to be one of my grandmother’s brothers or one of his male descendants?

    Also, do you know what company performs these tests?

    Thanks again!

  • Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD
    Feb 2, 2007 at 1:06 pm

    Diana: If it’s your grandmother’s side who is linked to Confucius, using the Y chromosome test won’t tell you anything since the Y chromosome is only passed from father to son. A mitochondrial DNA test would be better but I’m not sure if one is available for tracing lineage back to Confucius. If I come across a company that can do such testing, I’ll let you know but I must warn you that many of these genealogy DNA tests yield confusing results.

    Edited to add: Sorry I didn’t read your question more carefully. Testing the Y chromsome of your grandmother’s brother or his sons would work.

  • Diana Lai
    Feb 2, 2007 at 2:34 pm

    Thanks again for your reply! Yes, please do let me know if a mitochondrial test for Confucius’s DNA becomes available.

    I might go back to China this summer, so while I’m there I’ll probably talk to my grandmother’s brother about the DNA test. Do you know the name of the company who performs these tests?

    Thank you!

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