Uses of Genetics

Genetics have more uses than just tracing lineages and pin-pointing carriers of diseases. Now they are used for many other purposes such as:

1. To find genetic signatures
2. To determine geographical proximity
3. To determine linguistic affinity
4. To study human migrations

It is interesting to note that genes have been studied in 3 populations of Pakistanis who speak 3 different languages - Burushos, Brahui (a Dravidian language) and Balti (Sino-Tibetan language).

Genes have been used to determine origins of people:

1. Parsis --> Iran
2. Hazaras --> Genghis Khan's army
3. Negroid Makrani --> Africa

Genetic signatures have not been found for these origins: Tibetan, Syrian, Greek and Jewish.

The basis of genetics is to ask people where they came from - oral tradition about origins.

Source:

Am J Hum Genet. 2002 May;70(5):1107-24. Epub 2002 Mar 15.

Y-chromosomal DNA variation in Pakistan.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11898125