GENEALOGY-DNA-L Archives

Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2005-12 > 1134573546


From: Robert Stafford <>
Subject: Re: [DNA] Anxious to get started
Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2005 07:19:06 -0800 (PST)
In-Reply-To: <019d01c60017$b2124f30$0202a8c0@HOUSE>


Good advice. This is the approach we have used in our project. In fact, our project co-ordinator's subscription to this list was probably one of the shortest. Yet, she has run an extremely successful project with many genealogically significant conclusions. She hasn't shown any interest, to me at least, in haplogroups, TMRCA or database matches with other surnames.

We haven't had any participants (all traditional genealogists) who even remotely cared about their haplogroup (but, to each his own). I tell them to ignore the TMRCA calculations, unless they are really interested in going into depth. A superficial knowledge can lead to erroneous conclusions.

They are, however, all very anxious to see the genealogical conclusions in the report. The descendancy charts with the mutations noted are the most enlightening. Several said that they never really understood what we were doing until they saw them. I started preparing the color-coded ones that are found on many sites. They seem to be the thing that most genealogists look for.

Bob



Bob Stafford


GKBopp <> wrote:
As a beginner, you also don't need to fret over the constant arguments over
mutation rates, time to most recent common ancestor, how many years should a
generation be, haplogroup discourse/disputes, etc. etc. etc. Use the match
guidelines at FTDNA and don't get too carried away by matches with other
surname variations (esp. if common haplotypes are involved). You want to
focus on getting participants and ancestry information to begin building
your Y-DNA database - there will be time later for bells and whistles. You
can tell your people that you are new at this, learning more, and don't have
all the answers right now but that you will find out and report back as you
learn more.


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