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Archiver > PACE > 2008-09 > 1220790651


From: Janders 45 <>
Subject: Re: [PACE] FTDNA Special extended
Date: Sun, 7 Sep 2008 07:30:51 -0500
References: <cad.3cfac3a6.35f43ea6@aol.com><438871.95765.qm@web81305.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
In-Reply-To: <438871.95765.qm@web81305.mail.mud.yahoo.com>


Though mtDNA is not of use in surname studies, there are some interesting applications of mtDNA analysis. In my case, my ggg-grandmother in the direct maternal line is believed by some to be half-Indian. I am always skeptical of such claims as I believe that European-Indian marriage or cohabitation was extremely rare in Colonial times, other than the cases of traders who lived amongst the Indians and took Indian wives. I had sent a DNA sample to SMGF (Sorensen Molecular Genealogical Foundation) some time ago, and I was able to find my line in their mtDNA database a few months ago. After having deduced my mtDNA genotype from the SMGF information, I concluded that my mtDNA haplotype was largely Mediteranean and had little in common with known American Indian haplotypes. Hence, I believe that the mtDNA results have disproved the theory that my ggg-gandmother was half Indian.

This conclusion is dependent upon my assumption that my ggg-grandmother's Indian parent was her mother, which would mean that I would be carrying Indian mtDNA, if the half-Indian theory were true. If she had been the product of a mating between an Indian male and a European female, then she could be carrying European mtDNA and still be half-Indian. But I think that my assumption is valid since I believe that European male/Indian woman matings were rare in those times, and Indian male/European female matings were much rarer still.

Joe Anderson
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