DNA GENEALOGY
Introduction
DNA Genealogy is the use of
human DNA to assist one in tracing one’s ancestors. One can use human DNA to
trace one’s male ancestors or one’s female ancestors but different methods are used
for each. Most genealogists prefer to trace their ancestors through the male
line because of a same or similar (variant) surname. The DNA method for tracing one’s male
ancestors requires getting a sample of one’s DNA, sending it away to a
laboratory which creates a DNA profile of the individual which can then be
compared to other DNA samples for similarities.
An explanation of how this method works for males is as follows:
The total world population
has been divided into Haplogroups (HG) by geneticists through genetic sampling.
Each Haplogroup is uniquely defined by very specific distinct ‘markers’ (SNPs)
on the genes of members of the Haplogroup. (These distinct Haplogroups are
given names based upon their unique SNPs, e.g. R1b)
All males of all Haplogroups
have a Y chromosome which indicates that they are male. (All females of all
Haplogroups have only X chromosomes.)
Male Y chromosomes are always
passed genetically from father to son along with about 50% of the rest of his
genes.
On the male Y chromosome at a
number of different loci (locations) are DYSs (repetition patterns). These
patterns change slowly over time. Some of them change more quickly than others.
But in any event, if a sufficient number of these DYSs match on the Y
chromosome of the same members of a Haplogroup Group then the individuals are
related through their fathers. The more matches - the closer the relationship.
Click
here to see an illustration of a Y-Chromsome/Rb1 Haplogroup/Haplotype
comparison chart for some male HERON. The ‘ID #’ entries highlighted in various
colours represent HERONs who are related in varying degrees, depending on how
many ‘markers’ they have that are in close agreement. To find out more about
the individual represented by an ID number, click on the cell labelled ‘ID #’
on that page. (Most of this HERON data used in my example was extracted from
‘Jim Elliott’s Border Reivers’ website with his permission.)
USING
DNA FOR GENEALOGY RESEARCH
If you are male and have a HERON or HERON
variant surname (e.g. HERRON, HARON, HERRIN, etc) and wish to use Genetic
DNA to assist you in the search for your HERON relatives and ancestors, I
strongly recommend that you choose a reliable company with which to have your
DNA tested and have access to a large HERON DNA database with which to compare
your DNA profile. Without access to a large HERON DNA database for
comparison purposes, your DNA profile is useless! I therefore recommend
that as many HERONs as possible have their DNA tested through Jim Elliott's 'Elliott (And
Border Reivers) DNA Project' site because many HERONs were 'Border Reivers'
and Jim is including as many HERONs as possible in his study. Jim uses FTDNA to have DNA testing done for his
project and he has assured me that he will share all HERON DNA data that he
gets with all of us. To register through Jim Elliott's website go here.
IMPORTANT: When you have your DNA tested for genealogy
purposes, it is also imperative that you have at least a 25 'marker' test done
as the more 'markers' you include in your testing, the further back you will be
able to trace a common ancestor with someone else. To compare the dependability
of including different number of 'markers' in your DNA profile go here (12), here (37) and here (67). I
personally recommend having at least the 37 marker test done.
To find more
information on the subject DNA GENEALOGY visit the following website: