DNA helps tell story of first lady's forebears

[muriel_volestrangler]

36. I think it was genealogists who were tracing Michelle Obama's ancestors

"The link was established through more than two years of research into Obama's roots, which included DNA tests of white and black relatives. The first lady knew she had white forebears, but she did not know who they were.

Now, for the first time, Obama, 48, can identify white ancestors who have remained hidden for generations in her family tree."

The connection could be made up to Melvinia, mother of Dolphus, through records. But it wasn't recorded who Dolphus's father was; a likely candidate is a member of the family of Melvinia's owner. So they then trace descendants of the owner, through records, until you find one (or more) willing to give a DNA sample for this.

If the tracing were starting from this woman, it would have to go like this: we've got back to an ancestor who owned slaves. I wonder if a male member of the family had any children that weren't recorded? OK, we'll have to find all his female slaves, and then trace their descendants and ask them if they'll give a DNA sample on the chance that one or more had a child by an unknown member of the slave-owning family. It's far more unlikely, involves a lot more guess work, and the chances of people giving DNA samples to strangers for a guess to fill in collateral branches of a family tree is far lower than someone agreeing to do it to work out the First Lady's direct ancestors.