GENEALOGY-DNA-L Archives

Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2007-08 > 1187550091


From: <>
Subject: Re: [DNA] new VP at DAR?
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2007 15:01:31 -0400
References: <20755895.1187533995182.JavaMail.root@elwamui-chisos.atl.sa.earthlink.net>
In-Reply-To: <20755895.1187533995182.JavaMail.root@elwamui-chisos.atl.sa.earthlink.net>


Bob,

I agree that you cannot prove a connection to a specific person with DNA, but
you can rule out a person with DNA.

I can see where DNA tests could (or ought to) routinely become part of a DAR or
other lineage society application to prove you are not *not* related. In other
words, to prove you do not have an NPE in your lineage. I have two cases in my
projects, right now, of a person with a solid paper connection to their
progenitor, but a DNA mis-match to other descendants of that progenitor.

I think lineage societies have a vested interest in not getting involved with
DNA test evidence because it could threaten the validity of current members. If
DNA proves a long-accepted line of descent from a patriot contains an NPE,
should the members using that line be allowed to remain members? I doubt the
societies want to touch that one with a ten-foot pole. But what about admitting
future members on a line you know full well does not biologically descend from
the patriot?

Diana

> -----Original Message-----
> From: On Behalf Of Bob McLaren
> Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2007 10:33 AM
> To:
> Subject: Re: [DNA] new VP at DAR?
>
> Sharon,
>
> Even if you have a straight male lineage to the woman
> applying for DAR membership, there still is a problem. I
> have cases in my project where two brothers share the same
> 67-marker haplotype. One brother was at Kings Mountain and
> the other, as far as I know, was not involved in any activity
> that would qualify his descendants for DAR.
>
> Anyone testing and matching this haplotype would not know
> which brother she descended from without other information.
> And that other information needs to be suffient to establish
> which brother is her ancestor. So, the DNA is not needed to
> establish relationship. Of course, DNA can show that you are
> not genetically related to the patriot.
>
> DNA testing has to go far beyond 67 markers and the current
> crop of SNPs before it MAY be useful for lineage societies.
> At present, DNA testing will not allow you to determine if
> you are descended from a PARTICULAR person, just that you are related.
>
> Yours aye,
>
> Bob McLaren
> Chairman, Genealogy Committee, Clan MacLaren Society of North America
> Administrator, Clan MacLaren Surname DNA Project (Worldwide)
> Administrator, Lindo Surname DNA Project (Worldwide)
> Member, Association of Professional Genealogists
>
> -----Original Message-----
> >From: Sharon Bryant <>
> >Sent: Aug 19, 2007 7:36 AM
> >To:
> >Subject: Re: [DNA] new VP at DAR?
> >
> >Forgive me if I'm being particularly dense this morning, but ...
> >
> >How can Y-DNA or mtDNA be useful to establishing a lineage
> to a RW Patriot?
> >
> >In order to get to a Patriot a woman's lineage may start
> with her father
> >(gen 2), go to his mother(gen 3), to her mother (gen 4),
> then to her father
> >(gen 5), etc.
> >
> >I just don't understand what the big deal is! It still boils
> down to good
> >solid traditional genealogy research. Remember - DNA testing
> will tell you
> >very little other than you share a common ancestor with
> another person.
> >
>
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