RAGSDALE-L Archives

Archiver > RAGSDALE > 2005-07 > 1122507762


From: "May" <>
Subject: Re: [RAGSDALE-L] RAGSDALE DNA
Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 18:42:42 -0500
References: <9b.642f0e16.301836ee@aol.com>


Thank you.

May
----- Original Message -----
From: <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2005 8:01 PM
Subject: Re: [RAGSDALE-L] RAGSDALE DNA


> May,
>
> It may -- or it may not.
>
> It would be a good idea to check out some of the links that were listed in
> a
> previous post regarding DNA analysis. It's not magic.
>
> The DNA test is done on the Y chromosome because it is passed down
> virtually
> unchanged between father and son. There are, however, small mutations that
> occur occassionally and those mutations are then passed from father to son
> (these
> mutations occur most often in part of the gene that are inert -- they're
> not
> causing genetic abnormalities). It's these mutations that may be able to
> help
> us to resolve "brick wall" issues for some people.
>
> There is no way to match an unknown against another unknown and get any
> meaningful results. We need to have a sample of people with documented
> pedigrees to
> match our unknown samples against. It's also possible tht we won't find
> any
> useful mutations within our bunch, and looking for answers from DNA
> testing at
> this point in time may not be helpful. We won't know until we get a
> meaningful
> sample.
>
> I can't stop anyone from running out and getting tested. It doesn't hurt
> anything, but I think you'll be disappointed. The most valuable thing that
> any of
> us can do to get this project moving on a successful track is by
> contacting
> people with well documented pedigrees and getting them involved.
>
> If anyone is going to go ahead and get tested now, please buy the 25
> marker
> kit from Ancestry that Michael bought. At the very least we should all be
> testing the same markers.
>
> Chris Ragsdale
>
>
>

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