APG-L Archives

Archiver > APG > 2009-04 > 1240466270


From:
Subject: Re: [APG] DNA information needed
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 01:57:50 EDT



In a message dated 4/22/2009
(mailto:) asked

>Can anyone explain how the relationship of Giles to both of these
supposed
parents could be proven solely through DNA. Science was never one of my
strong areas in school, so please answer as simply as possible..

Judy, no one can do that solely by using the Y-DNA and mtDNA tests most
often used in DNA genealogical studies. At best, these tests can (1) disprove a
possible relationship through the all-paternal or all-maternal line, or (2)
prove two or more people descend from a common ancestor at some point in
the past. While DNA results can give some indication of how far back the
common ancnestor lived, they cannot pinpoint a specific individual or generation.
However, by using related documentary evidence, a strong case can often be
built from indirect evidence that a particular individual was the common
ancestor, or that an individual was descended from a particular ancestor. The
written proof argument, required by the Genealogical Proof Standard, should
clearly explain how each element of DNA and record evidence contributed to
the conclusion reached. If the proof argument leaves you unconvinced, the
issue has not been proved.


Donn Devine, CG, CGL
Wilmington DE
Administrator, Devine and Baldwin DNA Surname Studies, J2Plus Y-Haplogroup
Project.

CG, Certified Genealogist, CGL, and Certified Genealogical Lecturer are
service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under
license by board certificants after periodic evaluation, and the board name is
registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office.


----Original Message------
Date: 4/22/2009
From: (mailto:) :
Subject: [APG] DNA information needed
To: (mailto:)

I need some help understanding DNA ancestry searches. Right now my head
is spinning. I have had several clients who worked with DNA companies. One
client was traced back to a William Lee. However, William had a number of
children and there was apparently no way of knowing which of them had been
my
client's ancestor. I was hired to trace forward from William. Another
client learned that she and another researcher had an ancestor in common,
but
did not know who (accept for the surname). I understood those.

But this client has posed a different problem. She contacted someone on
one of the message boards who had claimed James and Mary were the parents
of
Giles (bc 1822). The surnames of James and Giles is unimportant, but
Mary's maiden name was Giles. And so, although this connection has been
considered a strong possibility, no proof as been found. Both Mary and
James left
wills and neither mentioned Giles. When my client contacted the woman from
the board asking what proof she had, the poster said the information came
from GeneBase BioNet.

Can anyone explain how the relationship of Giles to both of these supposed
parents could be proven solely through DNA. Science was never one of my
strong areas in school, so please answer as simply as possible..




**************Big savings on Dell XPS Laptops and Desktops!
(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1219799634x1201361008/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fad.doubl
eclick.net%2Fclk%3B214133440%3B36002254%3Bj)

This thread: