Tom Robinson, an American, has long wondered about his family tree. However, he never thought that his ancestors would trace back to the vast steppes of Mongolia.
 |
| Tom Robinson. (Photo: AP) |
This accountant from Florida knew that his great-grandfather came to America from England, but beyond that was a “blank space.” Therefore, he turned to bioarchaeologists to test his DNA, hoping to shed light on his origins.
Robinson was genuinely surprised by the results he received. According to a British geneticist and the lead researcher, Robinson appears to be a direct descendant of Genghis Khan, the Mongolian conqueror who once ruled over a vast territory in Asia and Europe during the 13th century.
At 48 years old, Robinson stated that he was astonished to receive a phone call from Oxford Ancestors regarding his distinguished ancestor.
“Not only was he a conqueror, but he was also a great administrator. Their system of governance was quite sophisticated,” he said.
Founded in 2001 by geneticist Bryan Sykes from the University of Oxford, Oxford Ancestors has been conducting DNA tests for individuals from around the world who wish to learn about their ancient origins.
Sykes believes that DNA can be used to map the common ancestry of humanity. In 1994, he extracted DNA from a 5,000-year-old frozen corpse in the Tyrolean Alps and announced that a woman living in England today is a direct descendant of this man.
Sykes’ 2001 book “The Seven Daughters of Eve” claims that 95% of modern Europeans are descendants of seven tribal matriarchs named Ursula, Xenia, Helena, Velda, Tara, Katrine, and Jasmine, who lived between 10,000 to 45,000 years ago.
T. An
