GENEALOGY-DNA-L Archives

Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2006-01 > 1137206765


From: "LouDean" <>
Subject: RE: [DNA] New to this
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 21:46:05 -0500
In-Reply-To: <005d01c6189c$f59734d0$6500a8c0@D2PPN211>


Thank you, David, for your response and for these links you sent. I really
appreciate the help, and look forward to reading these articles.

-----Original Message-----
From: David Weston [mailto:]
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2006 6:56 PM
To:
Subject: Re: [DNA] New to this


Mike/ Lou and any other "Newbie" wondering if your money was well spent,

First, it was but only if you do something with it. And, please don't let
the technical and scientific discussions on a specialty list like this scare
you off. All "newbie's" should be welcome here since we all have something
to learn from one another regardless of education, experience or background.
You're right about the "newbie's" list. The people who might be able to
answer your questions are likely not reading it.

Your "haplotype" or genetic profile is your personal signature and not
unique. By itself your profile won't tell you anything about your recent
ancestry (roughly within last 50 generations or 1000 years). Most people
with whom you share a common paternal (YDNA) or maternal (mtDNA) ancestor
will have the same or very similiar profile. Only by comparing your profile
with others, whether through the various surname or geographic projects, and
public databases will your investment be worth it. The closer your profiles
match another persons profile the more closely (in theory) you are related.
The more markers in your profile you have to compare the better able you
will able to tell if you are related.

For the National Geographic version on understanding what your DNA profile
tells you about your ancient ancestry have a look the Genographic Project
website. This is perhaps the most fascinating aspect of what your profile
will tell when considered alone. I found the graphic presentations and maps
most useful.

https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/index.html

When you here the term "Haplogroup" think branches of the genetic family
tree. Their section on Genetic Markers under the "Atlas of the the Human
Journey" (https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/atlas.html) offers
the following description of mtDNA Haplogroup H:

"About one-half of all Europeans are haplogroup H, which is also common in
North Africa and the Middle East. Even on the edges of its vast
distribution range, in northern India and central Asia, it is seen in 5 to
10 percent of those tested. Further subdivisions of this haplogroup define
even more restricted geographic distributions. The first mtDNA to be fully
sequenced belonged to a European individual of haplogroup H."

The focus of the Genographic Project is mapping very ancient human
migrations 10,000s of the of years ago. Studying our genealogy over the
period from 1,000-10,000 (or so) years ago is often referred to as "Deep"
ancestry. Ken Nordveldt referred to the "Last Glacial Maximum" (LGM). That
would be the height of the last age when the ice covering Europe reached its
furthest self around 10-15,000 years ago. At that time there were pockets
of human populations in various "refuges" or islands of land between the sea
and ice. The most significant refuge perhaps was on the Iberian peninsula
(modern Spain and Portugal). As the ice melted the humans who lived in
Iberian refuge followed it north settling much of European. The branch of
the YDNA genetic tree referred to as Haplogroup R1b, which appears in
something like 70% of western Europeans, is believed to come from this
region.

By profession, I specialize somewhat in translating technical language into
something the typical traditional genealogists such as yourself will
understand. Please feel free to contact me off-list anytime with your
questions.

Cheers, David Weston.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
THURLOW DNA Project
http://www.familytreedna.com/public/thurlow/

THURLOW One Name Study (GOONS No. 3248)
http://www.geocities.com/thurlowons/default.htm

----- Original Message -----
From: "LouDean" <>
To: <>
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2006 6:49 PM
Subject: RE: [DNA] New to this


>I agree. I recently took the mtDNA test, but the results didn't mean much
> to me, and now I wonder why I did it! I just want to know what it means
> that I am Haplogroup H2 with a mutation at 16519C. I understand that this
> is European, but Europe is a big place! When I asked for more explanation
> I
> was referred to a VERY technical discussion of all the "Haplogroups." I'm
> not a scientist, just an English teacher, but I'm not stupid. However, I
> really had no idea what that article was talking about. I sure didn't
> learn
> anything about what my results mean.
>
> I was on this list about a year ago after reading that book "The Seven
> Daughters of Eve," which I know is elementary for most of you folks :),
> but
> I loved it! I decided to come back here to see if I could learn anything,
> but I haven't seen anything about Haplogroup H (except one question that
> wasn't answered). I think you all have gone way beyond that now! :)
> Which
> is all good!
>
> Perhaps someone can direct me to the Newbies list? But then...who will
> answer the questions on such a list? Well, if I were 18 again and going
> off
> to college, I'd have to get into something in this field, as I find it
> fascinating. But since I'm not, I just want to know what it means to be
> Haplogroup H with a mutation at 16519C.
>
> I was planning to pay for my brother to take the Y-DNA test...but now I'm
> wondering if I will just pay more money and be in the same boat.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Chopin [mailto:]
> Sent: Friday, January 13, 2006 4:54 PM
> To:
> Subject: [DNA] New to this
>
>
> Hi everybody
>
>
>
> I'm new to this DNA lark having spent the past 30+ years researching my
> genealogy I was given a family tree DNA plus kit for Christmas - my
> results
> are through but try as I may - I just can't work out what it all means -
> does anyone know what I should be looking for? What to do next?
>
>
>
> Any help (simplified) would be greatly appreciated.
>
>
>
> PS I think that there would be a greater response from the public if
> things
> were greatly simplified after all we just want to explore the past not
> become genetic scientist.
>
>
>
> Regards
>
>
>
> Mike
>
>
>
>
>
> Mike Chopin
>
>
>
> Technical Author
>
>
>
>
>
> ==============================
> Census images 1901, 1891, 1881 and 1871, plus so much more.
> Ancestry.com's United Kingdom & Ireland Collection. Learn more:
> http://www.ancestry.com/s13968/rd.ashx
>
>
>
> ==============================
> Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the
> areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months.
> Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx
>
>
> ______________________________________________
> This email has been scanned by Netintelligence
> http://www.netintelligence.com/email
>



==============================
Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the
last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more:
http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx


This thread: