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With the advent of direct-to-consumer genetic sequencing companies like 23andMe and Ancestry, amateur genealogists can use DNA matches to fill out ever more branches on their family trees. And as scientists start to sequence the genomes of historical individuals who lived hundreds of years ago, people can now even check whether they share stretches of DNA with a particular king or enslaved person, for example.
Population geneticists Shai Carmi and Harald Ringbauer, who work with ancient DNA in their research, caution not to get too excited about a genetic match with a specific person from history. At the same time, a lack of a historical match doesn’t throw your whole family tree out the window either. Carmi and Ringbauer describe the surprising math behind why you have way more genealogical ancestors than genetic ones – and why you may not share any DNA at all with some of your forebears.
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A genetic match to an ancient person doesn’t mean you’re more related genealogically.
Mark Edward Atkinson/Tetra Images via Getty Images
Shai Carmi, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Harald Ringbauer, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Genealogical and genetic ancestors aren’t the same thing. A DNA match − or a lack of one − may not tell you what you imagine it does about your family tree.
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Science + Technology
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Richard Forno, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Chinese state-sponsored hackers are targeting critical infrastructure. Here’s what they’re doing, how the US government is responding and how you can help.
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Chris Impey, University of Arizona
Some ancient texts record what were likely dying stars, faintly visible from Earth. If close enough, these events can disturb telescopes and even damage the ozone layer.
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Economy + Business
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D. Brian Blank, Mississippi State University; Brandy Hadley, Appalachian State University
The downfall of the onetime multibillionaire holds lessons for investors and regulators alike.
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Amalia Rebecca Miller, University of Virginia; Carmit Segal, University of Zurich
Wall Street and big law firms are famous for their hard-charging, cutthroat work cultures. Here’s one reason they should reconsider.
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Robert H. Scott III, Monmouth University
The Garden State is the only one in the country that forbids self-service gas stations − and that’s not likely to change anytime soon.
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Politics + Society
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Tara Sonenshine, Tufts University
This isn’t the first time the US military has turned to building a pier to help reach people during times of war or other crises.
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Health + Medicine
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Ivan Gan, University of Houston-Downtown
A new study found that temporary assignments in new places reignited nurses’ passion to help others and helped them rediscover the meaningfulness of their work.
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International
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Nwakerendu Waboso, Brock University; Taylor McKee, Brock University
This year’s NCAA tournament might represent another high-water mark for women’s sport as new standards are set for ratings and even more pressure falls on the game’s superstars.
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The Conversation Quiz 🧠
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Fritz Holznagel, The Conversation
Here’s the first question of this week’s edition:
Oral arguments in the case of FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine were heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on March 26. Which of these is the name of the abortion drug at issue in the case, and not a car model?
- A. Impreza
- B. Touareg
- C. Mifepristone
- D. Aventador
Test your knowledge
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