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From:
Subject: Re: [TMG] OT - Why Do Genealogy
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2004 11:10:08 EST


I have to admit not being an expert on gentics etc but I have read enough
about the subject to know something even if I don't completely understand it
all. I know for example that the Sallie Hemings family recently provided evidence
for the master slave relationship between Thomas Jefferson and Sallie by
doing a DNA study which established a DNA link to a Jefferson male. At a recent
National Genealogy meeting a paper was presented on the subject. The proof is
overwhelming and the only question left is whether Thomas Jefferson or a nephew,
I believe it was, contributed the Jefferson DNA. Thus a modern male carried a
set of DNA markers passed down to him through perhaps six or seven
generations. One of the things known about DNA is that most of the DNA strings are
unused. I read an article the other day proposing that these wasted DNA sets are
left over in modern humans from ancestors of tens of thousands of years ago.
This whole field is a complicated subject and I don't want to burden this list
with a lengthy discussion of such. However, it does seem to be quite clear that
we do receive genetic material from our ancestors.One other comment- I was not
ignorant of the milkman syndrome when I wrote my little blurb. I just ignored
it as anyone who does anything with genealogy must do. My mother always used
to say " it is a wise child who knows his own father". Think how wise one
would have to be to know his sixth great grandfather. The whole presumption of
genealogy is, given no evidence to the contrary, that all children are the
product of their community accepted parents. Throw out that assumption and the whole
study of your family and it's history goes down the drain- Dale

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