Why do I have a DNA trace of 1% from Afghanistan?

1. 49

   Fermanaghposted 8 years ago

   Why do I have a DNA trace of 1% from Afghanistan?
   
   My four grandparents came to America in the 1800s. Being Irish has been my pride . My DNA results were 97% Irish, 2% the UK and 1% trace from the Middle East.
   My half sister (we had the same father) had a DNA of 98% Irish, 1% UK and 1% trace Iberian Peninsula.
   Why are we different?

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2. 74

   Aime Fposted 8 years ago

   Because that's how DNA works!
   
   That's still a very high percentage of Irish.  I can trace 4 great-grandparents and their ancestors back to Ireland and I'm still only 47% Irish.  Your DNA is passed down from generation to generation, that of course includes the generations that you probably don't know much about going back several hundred years.
   
   Since your half sister only shares half of your DNA it makes sense that you're not exactly the same.  Even if she was your full sister she still could have a different ethnicity makeup than you, as there's no exact formula for who gets what.  My mom had a DNA test done shortly after I did and she only got 20% Irish, even though the 4 great-grandparents I traced to Ireland were her grandparents.  It's really just a random mix!  I also have a small percentage of North African that I have no idea where it comes from.  I think it's kinda cool. 

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3. 0

   savvydatingposted 8 years ago

   This simply indicates massive migration or a massive conquest in the region from which our ancestors came. It's normal.
   
   Read this on the Irish:
   https://www.theguardian.com/science/201 … a-confirms
   
   I believe I have 3 or 4% DNA from the Middle East due to the Moors having invaded Spain way back when.

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4. 56

   peter565posted 8 years ago

   Because there is not such thing call a person who is of "pure race" within the Euro Asia continent. Only native Americans and Central and Southern African, might have pure race people (and that most likely is still minority), Everybody is the Euro Asia continent, have trace of DNA from Arabs, India, Asia, Latino, white or African, it is just a matter of how much

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5. 83

   Dean Traylorposted 8 years ago

   Here's a possibility of that trace, and the answer may be through linguistics. Most of the European, Persian, and punjab dialects, are part of a large language called the Indo-European language (Arabic is not part of it). Basically what happened in prehistory was that people from India and Afghanistan  (since it's part of the   sub continent).  Migrated to Europe and intermingled with  European tribes. Some didn't -- which may account for the Roma people (aka Gypsy).

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