GENEALOGY-DNA-L Archives

Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2005-12 > 1135624677


From: "Alfred A. Aburto Jr." <>
Subject: Re: [DNA] What DNA testing can and cannot tell you
Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2005 11:21:51 -0800
References: <43AFED73.8050704@worldnet.att.net>
In-Reply-To: <43AFED73.8050704@worldnet.att.net>


> James A. Honeychuck wrote:

> Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays.
>
Yes here! :-)
And best of enjoyment of the holidays to you and everyone!

> It is dawning on me that my frustration at finding no matches, no
> relatives, and no definite origins through Y-DNA testing is probably
> due to my initial lack of understanding about the purpose of the
> tests. I think I now understand correctly that Y-STR and Y-SNP
> testing are basically to determine deep ancestry and relatedness among
> living people; that is, information about way back when and about very
> recent times. And if I understand Thomas Krahn correctly, autosomal
> testing is basically for whatever you think it might mean, with no
> claim that it will reveal origins of any age.
>
The field is still maturing in many ways so the best advice, as others
have said, is to standby and watch developments in the coming months and
years.

By the way, Y-STR & Y-SNP testing works very well! When you get a match
(using sufficient and consistent types and numbers of markers ("loci"))
it is pretty solid! I know, because I was recently on jury duty in a
case where Y DNA testing was the key element. There was just no question
when you get an exact match, even if the evidence is 10 years old!

> So as for determining where your Y-line ancestors were a thousand
> years ago, no form of testing can do that, right?
>
You can get a general idea from the density of haplotypes in specific
areas. Haplotype J for example has higher densities in the Near East
countries and those surrounding the Mediterranean Sea in general. The
highest density is the Near East indicating or pointing to the "origin
of the mutation" site. With time however and the movements of more and
more peoples the patterns may blur, or maybe they just expand (?) ...
Al

> Jim
> Y-DNA J1
>
>
> ==============================
> View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find
> marriage announcements and more. Learn more:
> http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx

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