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Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2008-01 > 1199890503


From:
Subject: Re: [DNA] DNA- changes by age or circumstances
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 09:55:03 EST


In a message dated 1/4/2008 6:15:52 PM Pacific Standard Time,
writes:

> Hi All, have some queries or thoughts.
> Reading the volumes of info passing this list, I noted some time ago
> there was a comment made on change of DNA with age. I am over 60 and had
> my DNA test for 67 markers, applied for mtDNA and will shortly receive
> my SNP's. (FTDNA).
> Q1 What changes would I expect to see if I had my DNA done earlier say
> at the age of 13yrs, ie 50 yrs ago.


None. Some of the cheek cells in your sample could theoretically have a
mutation, but any mutations would occur at different points in different cells, and
it's doubtful they could be detected in a big pool of cells.

The comments you read about age were probably about whether a son would be
more likely to differ from his father as a function of the father's age. Not
many father/son studies have been reported, and they aren't consistent. So far it
seems as if any effect must be rather weak, if it exists at all.

> I served in Vietnam, now 40yrs ago, and had been subjected to
> defoliants such as Agent Orange etc, to cite a few.
> Q2 Could a circumstance such as this show up any changes and if so
> where. PS there are no known defects in my family and they happen to be
> all females ( end of the line for me I suppose).

When we talk about mutagenic agents, we're generally referring to things that
actually damage the DNA molecule. Mutations in STRs aren't a result of damage
-- they're simply a lack of absolute perfection in the DNA copying enzymes,
which sometimes lose track of how many repeats they've already copied.

Ann Turner




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