WILSON-L Archives

Archiver > WILSON > 2002-03 > 1017507980


From: "Steven J. Zuraff" <>
Subject: [WILSON-L] genetic genealogy
Date: Sat, 30 Mar 2002 09:06:30 -0800


A group of us have put together a Wilson surname project for DNA analysis.
We are trying to locate individuals who trace their Wilson lineage back to
one of the many Wilson families living in Pennsylvania and in the Shenandoah
Valley of Virginia during the colonial period. Specifically we are looking
for males whose surname is still Wilson. This is because what is analyzed is
the Y-chromosome, which is passed from father to son down through the
generations. Testing laboratories measure a number of specific locations
(called markers) on the Y-chromosome. The combination of values measured at
those locations is, theoretically, unique to that lineage. Thus, for
example, a male Wilson living today would have the same Y-chromosome as did
his great great great great great grandfather back in 1760. By testing the
present-day Wilson's Y-chromosome, we know what his ancestor's Y-chromosome
was. Our goal is to compare the Y-chromosomes of male descendants from
various Wilson lines. If the lines are closely related, then their
Y-chromosome signatures will be identical or nearly so, whereas unrelated
Wilson lines should show differences at several locations when compared.
This may aid in connecting Wilson lines where the genealogical paper trail
does not exist.
It would appear that most of the Wilsons who settled in the "back" areas of
Pennsylvania and Virginia in the 1700s were Scotch-Irish. It could be that
all Scotch-Irish Wilsons are so closely related to some common ancestor back
in Europe that their individual signatures may not show significant
variation. Without first creating a database of Wilson Y-chromosomes to
compare, we simply can't be sure what to expect. So we need participants. Be
advised, however, that participants are responsible for paying for their own
tests. The advantage of being part of a surname project is that we get a
group discount. Our current participants have obtained contributions from
their close relatives who are also
interested in the results. That way the cost is spread around.
I have deliberately avoided listing the names of testing laboratories or
prices of the test so that this message will not be construed as
advertising. Details can be e-mailed privately.



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