DNA study opens book on our roots, scientists say

SCIENTISTS have developed a genetic test that reveals how diverse a person's ancestors were.

Research conducted by Edinburgh University has shown that a person's DNA creates an archive of where they come from.

The study has found that it is possible to determine whether a person's ancestors came from small, isolated communities, or from large populations.

It is also possible to detect whether a person's ancestors were related - for example, whether they come from a community where marriage between cousins is commonplace.

The team says the findings could help to identify those communities where low genetic diversity could increase the risk of genetic illnesses, such as cystic fibrosis.

Dr Jim Wilson, Royal Society Research Fellow at Edinburgh University, said: "It's like an archive being written in genetic code, so that we can understand the way our populations have developed."