“Using DNA is one of the newest and latest tools of tracing your genealogy, and it’s remarkable,” said Wells, who represented Family Tree DNA.”You can see if they migrated, you can find out more about your great-aunt and maybe she acted strangely, but that was because she had a baby die at childbirth … you just never know what secrets the past will reveal,” Wells said.

We all know that because of paper trails for genealogical lines usually stopping in the late 1700s or early 1800s, because of spelling changes and fires in courthouses or libraries… it is hard to find relatives. But DNA helps discover previously unknown kinships, identify errors in paper form and as a result makes research easier.

How does it work? After obtaining samples and finding a reliable testing company, it takes between almost a month and a half to get the results, it means a string of numbers that you’ll have to read and compare. Some group of administrator also exist to help you analyze results.

However, it’s worth shedding light on some shortcomings:

-First it does not replace paper documentation since it does not name common ancestors, it is more a tool to prove lineage. Several companies, like Family Tree DNA, can assist you to confirm your family tree or allow you to determine whether two people are related if you give them DNA of someone.

- It’s less reffective for females to use DNA than for males because thanks to Y-DNA, we can determine paternal and maternal lines, whereas for females it is just maternal.

Indeed, on the one hand his great grandfather was Ali Kemal, Minister of the Interior in the government of Damat Ferid Pasha, Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire. On the other hand, his great, grandmother was the illegitimate daughter of Prince Paul von Rothenburg. The latter is linked to the Royal British Family as the great, great Grandson of George II but also to the Swedish and Dutch royals and the Romanoffs.

Therefore, we can easily understand Boris when he described himself as a “one-man melting point”

For those who want to know more, the Mayor’s royal antecedents are revealed in an episode of the BBC documentary Who do You Think You Are? screened on 20 August.

Actually I am French and Algerian. Although i have always lived in Paris, i feel both: French AND Algerian. My parents used to live in North Africa and some family members still live there. Fortunately, there is Kindo to keep in touch -

I am a 22 year-old business student, with a strong passion for technology and entrepreneurship.
I like discovering new things,new ways of thinking, new cultures… That is why i learn Chinese (my fifth language) and I am involved in an association that helps people learn about Chinese culture.
I am also the founder and organiser of a theatrical Improvisation Student association and I like it !

I hope to see you around! Feel free to send me emails to sophiane@kindo.com