This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Author: rorycain1
Surnames:
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.cain/3299.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx
Message Board Post:
You can research your father's line using Y-DNA but you need a male Cain descendant
because only males carry the Y chromosome. The female line is easier as mitochondrial DNA
is used, and both males & females carry mtDNA. That traces your mother, her mother,
etc. Together, Y-DNA and mtDNA give you the two outside edges of your family tree- the
direct male line & the direct female line.
Now Family Tree DNA offer another product, autosomal DNA. This can cover the other family
lines in between, but doesn't reach back as far as Y-DNA or myDNA. Say about 6th
cousin, unless you have a particularly long pedigree covering all family lines.
A Native American probably sits within a traceable timeframe and would show up on
autosomal DNA. I understand that part of the product is a match of your autosomes with
Europe, Africa, the Americas, etc.
Important Note:
The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply
to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.