Genetic Testing and Sporting Allegiances
The World Cup, which happens to be the world's biggest sporting event, is underway in Brazil.
Which raises an interesting question, would supporters change their allegiance if they took a DNA genetic test and found out that their family ancestry comes from different or additional countries? Most fans decide to cheer for a particular team based on a number of factors: where they live, where they were born, their countries of citizenship and who their friends and family support.
For many people, the same country fits each of those categories.
Others may have a primary country and a secondary one representing known ancestral connections or other ties such as having studied abroad there or having a close friend who lives in or is from another country.
Whether you are a loyal sports fan, a seasoned athlete or the occasional spectator, we have all seen and attended sporting events where you can spot the sporting fanatic.
But with big sporting events like The World Cup, it tends to bring out the supporter in all of us.
People who wouldn't normally participate in or watch sports suddenly find themselves cheering for a country or sport they know little about.
There are also the countries that didn't qualify for The World Cup.
Not having a team in Brazil doesn't mean fans have to miss out, with many cheering on other adopted countries for a host of reasons.
So, what would happen if an English person found out that their genetic makeup included markers of 35 percent German, 25 percent French and Italian 12 percent.
Would this be enough to change an individuals' sporting allegiance? Some may find the results interesting, but it wouldn't not change their allegiance.
Others would immediately start supporting Germany, while some may simply adopt all three of these nations in addition to their own.
Everyone likes to be part of a winning side.
There is something to be said for the positive vibes that result from feeling like part of a community and finding out more about an individual's ancestry lineage provides a perfect opportunity to adapt and learn more.
This could even involve travel to these places to experience the culture, what it is like in these societies and imagining what it was like for ancestors' generations before them.
Would you change your sporting allegiance after a genetic linage test and discovering new heritage you didn't know you had? You may find there are still a few surprises in your ancestry, which even your parents or Grand-parents didn't know about.
Which raises an interesting question, would supporters change their allegiance if they took a DNA genetic test and found out that their family ancestry comes from different or additional countries? Most fans decide to cheer for a particular team based on a number of factors: where they live, where they were born, their countries of citizenship and who their friends and family support.
For many people, the same country fits each of those categories.
Others may have a primary country and a secondary one representing known ancestral connections or other ties such as having studied abroad there or having a close friend who lives in or is from another country.
Whether you are a loyal sports fan, a seasoned athlete or the occasional spectator, we have all seen and attended sporting events where you can spot the sporting fanatic.
But with big sporting events like The World Cup, it tends to bring out the supporter in all of us.
People who wouldn't normally participate in or watch sports suddenly find themselves cheering for a country or sport they know little about.
There are also the countries that didn't qualify for The World Cup.
Not having a team in Brazil doesn't mean fans have to miss out, with many cheering on other adopted countries for a host of reasons.
So, what would happen if an English person found out that their genetic makeup included markers of 35 percent German, 25 percent French and Italian 12 percent.
Would this be enough to change an individuals' sporting allegiance? Some may find the results interesting, but it wouldn't not change their allegiance.
Others would immediately start supporting Germany, while some may simply adopt all three of these nations in addition to their own.
Everyone likes to be part of a winning side.
There is something to be said for the positive vibes that result from feeling like part of a community and finding out more about an individual's ancestry lineage provides a perfect opportunity to adapt and learn more.
This could even involve travel to these places to experience the culture, what it is like in these societies and imagining what it was like for ancestors' generations before them.
Would you change your sporting allegiance after a genetic linage test and discovering new heritage you didn't know you had? You may find there are still a few surprises in your ancestry, which even your parents or Grand-parents didn't know about.
