I have decided to join the genealogy groove and form The Lapensee DNA Group. A big thanks to my brother for providing the first sample to this pilot project. Let us get right to the nuts and bolts of this concept. What is DNA and genealogy? All humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, including a pair of sex chromosomes, known as X and Y. Males have both an X- and a Y-chromosome (with the Y-chromosome inherited from the father) while females have two X-chromosomes (one X-chromosome inherited from each parent.) Genetic Genealogy is interested in heritage markers or the area of the chromosome which reveals family relatedness.¹
Because the Y-chromosome is passed essentially unchanged from father-to-son, it provides genetic genealogists with a powerful tool for tracing a paternal lineage. Specific portions of the Y-chromosome are analyzed and compared against other participants' Y results to determine the relatedness between the two participants.²
A daughter inherits two X-chromosomes, one from her mother and the other is from her father's mother (paternal grandmother). Boys (XY) always receive their single X chromosome from their mother while girls (XX) receive an X from their mother and an X from their father. As far as X chromosomes go, what separates boys from girls is not only that girls have two X chromosomes but that only girls have an X chromosome from their father (a paternal X).
Since both parents contribute X-chromosomes to their daughters, a different source of DNA must be used to trace the maternal line. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is inherited by both male and female children exclusively from their mothers and provides insight into one's maternal lineage.³
Membership
is free, but the DNA kit is not.
Anyone
in the family can join the group for discussions, even without a test.
Men can
take both the paternal and maternal DNA test.
Women
can only take a maternal DNA test.
A woman
can ask her brother, father, grandfather, uncle, or cousin (son of a paternal
uncle) to take the paternal DNA test. These results will allow her to fully
trace her paternal lineage.
Our
family belongs to haplogroup R1b, The Artisans, who first arrived in Europe
from west Asia about 35,000- 40,000 years ago at the dawning of the Aurignacian
culture. This cultural was remarkable for its subtle yet significant technological
progress, like the shift from random flint collection to the use of a single
stone core to shape flint tools as needed. Aurignacian decorative beads
and jewelry could also be the first sign we have of the uniquely human quality
of self-awareness and adornment. Additionally, some anthropologists believe
that the Aurignacian culture was the first to paint. Either way, the people
of this time period left behind fascinating cave paintings in France, Spain
and Portugal.
Other experts believe that the Perigordian culture was prevalent at the
time when the Artisans first arrived in Europe. This culture distinguished
itself with different technological advances, such as denticulate tools
with saw-tooth notches for cutting meat or wood and for smoothing and polishing.
There are several known subgroups of R1b. We're not yet able to tell you
which (if any) of these subpopulations you match to, so we'll tell you a
little about a few of them. Population genetics is a rapidly advancing field,
and new data may allow us to match your DNA to a specific subgroup in the
future. We'll notify you by email if more advanced results become available.
One subgroup of the Artisans, R1b3 (sometimes called R1b1c) is associated
with the Cro-Magnons. Based on archaeological excavations, particularly
in France, it's believed that the Cro-Magnons wove clothes, built huts and
painted.
The Ice Age may have played a role in the dispersion of the Artisans. At
the peak of the Ice Age a European ice shelf extended as far as southern
Ireland, mid England and northern Germany, completely covering Scandinavia.
Most of continental Europe was tundra and the land only supported trees
as far south as southern France, northern Italy and areas north of the Balkans
and across the Black Sea. Thus, the Artisans most likely moved south of
the tree line for their resources, making permanent homes where their descendants
remained even when the ice shelf receded. Others returned north once resources
were again available.
This
map shows the likely migration pathways of our ancient ancestors, The Artisans
(haplogroup R1b). Your ancestors may have been responsible for the first
cave paintings, and probably lived in present-day England, France, Spain
or Portugal. To use your test results to build your family tree, visit dna.ancestry.com
and learn about other participants with genetic profiles similar to your
own.
About 70% of individuals currently residing in southern England are members
of the Artisans. Other members can be found at high rates in the modern
day populations of Spain, Portugal, France, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
Based on this observation and other archaeological and historical information,
it is likely that your ancient ancestors also populated these areas. The
Artisans include a genetic group known as the Atlantic Modal Haplotype (AMH),
which features greatly among the Irish and Welsh populations.
Some researchers believe that the genes associated with the AMH moved with
the early Celtic migrations. Although ancient ancestral Celts were a diverse
group and varied in many ways, certain mythologies are consistent throughout
most Celtic traditions, despite geographic or tribal boundaries. More than
300 Celtic deities have been described, many of which are reflected in classic
Roman counterparts. The god Lugh (or Lugus) may have played an important
role among those deities. Folklore and storytelling has infused Lugh's character
with magic and fantasy, given him credit for thunder and lightening, and
placed his stage in the sky.
The widespread acceptance of Lugh in Celtic culture is supported by the
use of his name as the root of city names. Lyon, the present day city in
south-eastern France was called Lugdunum in Roman times. The city of Leiden
in south Holland may also have its roots in the name of the god.
R1b1c4 and R1b1c6 are very specific Artisan subsections found primarily
in Basque populations, but also in Catalan, Spanish, French, British and
German populations.
A unique modern day population, the Basque people self-identify as a discrete
ethnic group in north-central Spain and south-western France. Early Basque
culture was basically democratic and their pre-Christian religion was formed
around a superior female goddess, Mari. A rich mythology of Basque creatures
and characters includes imps, giants, dragons, soothsayers and other nature-based
deities. Traditional Basque cuisine was dictated by the mountains and sea
surrounding Basque country. Lamb, fish and beans are typical ingredients
of a Basque meal. The language associated with the Basque people is euskara,
which linguists believe exists in a family by itself, and is not related
to English or other western European languages. Members of the Artisans
can be found at high rates in South America. Populations geneticists ascribe
this finding to the movement of peoples from Iberia to South America over
the last 500 years.³