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From: Carol Anne <>
Subject: Re: [TMG] DNA as the monster under the bed
Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:44:25 -0500
References: <000c01ccaeed$fc283f40$f478bdc0$@net.au><4ED570E6.9060609@gmail.com><CAJnHpXwR-a=wBgF9ZdOeu=Ai0Sb3fEjBYWVbnEccxNGFeJ20yQ@mail.gmail.com><4ED66916.7030603@sprynet.com> <4ED671F3.6050008@gmail.com><CAJnHpXztw8jnnWJE8eYgUeUSL7WeGz+MKRkHp-PMG4_8ZzEVJw@mail.gmail.com><DD74C248CB864A7893DF67CEB3E838E4@JLDesktop>
In-Reply-To: <DD74C248CB864A7893DF67CEB3E838E4@JLDesktop>


Actually the only mutations that matter with regard to the y-DNA test
are those that occurred when the particular sperm cell that fertilized
the egg was formed. Mutations that occurred in any other cells have no
effect on the y-DNA of the son. So they are rather rare each marker on
the DNA has a different probability of a mutation within a given time
period. The testing companies choose markers which mutate neither too
fast (meaning ever father and son could have a different value for
that marker) or too slowly (father's pass on the marker unchanged for
thousands of years). They choose those that will give meaningful
results within about the last 500 years.

Carol Anne



On Wed, Nov 30, 2011 at 8:56 PM, Joan Lince <> wrote:
> Carol Anne,
>        I have in the past corresponded with people involved in the Husted
> Y-DNA test. More than one person whose line I have researched, and found
> solid evidence for, has not fit in with the DNA of others shown by
> conventional research to be closely related.
>        What I wish I knew more about is how the DNA researchers come to
> their conclusions -- with what I know so far I'm not quite ready to accept
> "You don't have a good match; therefore there's a break in your line." The
> explanatory material accompanying DNA studies says a match or non-match is
> all about mutations, and I don't know enough about research into the causes
> of mutations. Are they purely random, or is it known that certain things,
> like selected diseases, physical trauma, environmental pollutants, substance
> abuse, or something else, cause them to happen? Also, if a father suffers
> something that causes a mutation, I assume it first shows up in his son. Is
> that correct?
>        If you or anybody else on this list has background on this I would
> like very much to gain some insight.
>
> Joan Lince
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [mailto:] On Behalf
> Of Carol Anne
> Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2011 8:07 PM
> To:
> Subject: Re: [TMG] DNA as the monster under the bed
>
> Hi Rick,
>
> I expected my cousin's y-DNA test results to match Mobley, but they
> matched Hampton instead. It was a complete surprise, and for a couple
> of days I was rather disgusted because of all the hours and money I
> had put into researching the Mobley line (and running into brick walls
> at every turn). But after that, I was just plain curious and
> interested! Family Finder results have proven that the first ancestor
> who might have been illegitimate was my great-grandfather, born around
> 1872. DNA has proven that it couldn't have been his son or his son's
> descendants, which means no one now living should have anything to be
> upset about. And certainly no one is going to change their surname
> because of it! I will definitely change my family tree though if I
> ever find out exactly who my ancestors are.
>
> The only known living direct line male descendant of my 2nd
> great-grandfather is an elderly gentleman who has refused to do a
> y-DNA test.
>
> It sounds like you haven't done the y-DNA test yourself to see if you
> match Van Dusen or DeForest. I think I'd want to find out in such a
> case. It depends, on whether you would find it exciting to know, or if
> you would rather not know, the truth. One book I read on the subject
> recommends that people don't take the test if they don't think they
> can handle the possibility of unexpected results.
>
> Carol Anne
>
>
>
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