Using DNA to find Goths

[akoddsson]

Regarding the use of DNA-studies to locate genetic Goths, I would 
suggest the following: 1) that a basis for comparison first be 
established and 2) that participation in such a study, naturally, 
should be voluntary. The place to begin would be on Gutland. Now, 
there has naturally been immigration to Gutland, like other areas, 
such that care must be taken that the sampled population is in all 
likelihood (i.e. no records or history to the contrary) descended 
from much earlier Gutlanders. It is thought that Gutland experienced 
much more emigration than immigration prior to it becoming a major 
trade center during the Hansa-years. I am no expert on this, but it 
seems reasonable to assume that the DNA of aboriginal Gutlanders 
(collected before they, perhaps, disappear) could provide a measure 
(including variations of old date) useful in identifying descendants 
of Goths on the continent. Of course, personal privacy would need to 
be protected and participation voluntary. One question would be, has 
this already been done? Secondly, how would the gutlanders of today 
feel about this proposal, given that opinions could vary? I think 
that I lot of care and respect would need to be shown were such a 
study to be done. I am assuming that a lot of folk, naturally, would 
not like to be tested for some such historical reason as identifying 
Gothic DNA. I myself would participate, given that it were free and 
that my privacy were protected, for simple historical curiosity, but 
then I am not Gutlandic and, thus, would not be participating. I did 
participate in a Viking DNA project, but that was much broader than 
trying to extract only an aboriginal Gutlandic sample. The typical 
method would involve focusing on the 23rd chromozone and isolating 
direct patrilineal descent or mitrochondrial DNA in females. It's 
cheap, easy to do and allows folk to arrive at the likely lines of 
descent via a sample without the expenses and time involoved in more 
complicated and thorough DNA studies. Ask the experts on this for 
more information than that, which I learned through participation. 
Anyway, ideas and responses welcome.

Regards,
Konrad


--- In gothic-l at yahoogroups.com, Carl Edlund Anderson <cea at ...> 
wrote:
>
> On 25/07/2006 09:46, sturlus wrote:
> > Finding and defining specific Goths is even more difficult. 
However, this is not our primary goal. The Black Sea area is a most 
interesting place in Human history the past 10-12.000 years, 
especially in indo-european studies.

> I definitely agree with that.  The population and language history 
of the Black Sea area is fascinating.  There's doubtless a lot of 
scope for studies of population genetics in the region.
> 
> Cheers,
> Carl
> 
> -- 
> Carl Edlund Anderson
> mailto:cea at ...
> http://www.carlaz.com/
>






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