First, we looked at their biogeographic origins. By comparing the DNA of these 17th-century colonists to the 23andMe database, we were able to pinpoint their ancestral connections to specific regions across Britain and Ireland. 🌍 [3/9]
Next, we looked at their connections across the US to map their legacy. Many of the strongest genetic connections we observed were to participants in Kentucky, mirroring a documented migration of their descendants, who moved from Maryland to Kentucky in the late 1700s and early 1800s. 🗺️🚶♀️ [4/9]
Next, we designed a brand-new IRB-approved protocol that would allow us to study individual-level IBD connections to 23andMe research participants for the very first time. 🔬🔓 [5/9]
