A technique developed by researchers at the University of Sheffield , which allows the identification of a person's area of origin over a millennium, has a similar name and "mode of operation" to the GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite navigation program
Specifically, as stated in a university announcement, this particular tool (Geographic Population Structure- GPS) was created by Eran Elhaik (University of Sheffield) and Tatiana Tatarinova (University of Southern California) and its function is similar to that of a satellite navigation system, as it "allows you to find your way home, but not to the one you live in now, but to that of your ancestors 1,000 years ago.".
Until recently, scientists were able to pinpoint where DNA evolved to within 700 kilometers – which, in Europe, translates to the “distance” of two countries. However, this technique has a 98% success rate in pinpointing the origin of populations from the correct geographical areas, down to village and island accuracy.
Such an achievement – being able to find where the last “mixing” of the genetic “pools” that resulted in the creation/configuration of an individual’s DNA took place – could have significant implications for the development of personalized medicine, the advancement of the science of signaling, and the study of populations and ethnic groups whose origins are the subject of study.
Genetic admixture occurs when individuals from two populations that were until recently separate mate and reproduce. This results in the creation of new gene pools. Such processes are very common in history, especially in cases of mass migrations and invasions.
"If we think of our world as being made up of different colours of 'soup', representing different populations, it is easy to visualise how genetic mixing occurs. If a population from a 'blue soup' region mixes with a population from a 'red soup' region, then their children will appear as 'purple soup'," says Dr. Eran Elhaik. "The more mixing that takes place, the more colours appear, which makes it harder to trace DNA ancestry using tools like SPA (Spatial Ancestry Analysis), which has an accuracy level of less than 2%.".
"What we've discovered is a way to find not where you were born - you see that on your passport - but where your DNA was formed 1,000 years ago, by creating models of these mixing processes. What's remarkable is that we can do this with such great precision that we can find the village where your ancestors lived hundreds of years ago. This has been impossible until now.".
To demonstrate the accuracy of the GPS estimates, Elhaik and his colleagues analyzed data from ten villages in Sardinia and more than 20 islands in Oceania. According to the study, published in Nature Communications, it was possible to “geolocate” a quarter of the inhabitants in Sardinia directly to their village of origin and most of the rest within a 50-kilometer radius of it. As for the results for Oceania, they were 90% successful in determining the island of origin of the inhabitants.
"This technique means that we can no longer easily categorize people's ethnic identities with a single label. It is impossible to choose a 'box' such as 'White British' or 'African', as we are very complex models, with our own unique identities. The concept of race is simply untenable.".
Dr. Tatiana Tatarinova developed a website for the tool, giving the public access to GPS. “To help people find their roots, I developed a site that allows anyone with their genotype recorded to upload their results and use GPS to find the area of origin of their ancestors,” she says.
"We were surprised by the simplicity and accuracy of this method. People in one geographic area are more likely to have similar genetic characteristics. When they also have characteristics found in other, distant areas, their area of origin is generally the closest area in which these characteristics can be found.".
