Dear folks -
I hope you all agree that the DNA project is a huge success, producing
fascinating new results almost every week!
The following section will be added to my next Report on the DNA project (and
included whenever I send anyone a copy from now on).
25-marker Signatures
FTDNA offer to report on 25 markers. This can either be done when a sample
is first submitted, by paying $169 (instead of $99 for a 12-marker report),
or in the form of an upgrade at a later date, costing $90. They charge an
extra dollar or two for shipping the kit.
The advantages of 25-marker tests are twofold. First, they are able to
identify much more effectively the closeness of relationships. For instance,
at present we know that a large proportion of our participants share a common
ancestor in the middle ages in Cheshire, but we are unable to group them into
branches of the family. With 25-markers to consider it would be possible to
allocate them to a number of groups of individuals who share, or nearly
share, identical results for all 25 markers. Second, with 25 markers it is
possible to estimate the number of generations to the most recent common
ancestor considerably better. For instance it is calculated that two
individuals with identical 10-marker results have a common ancestor who lived
about 15 generations ago, plus or minus a very wide margin of error. For two
individuals with identical 25-marker results the corresponding estimate is 7
generations.
It is to be hoped that many participants will be prepared to pay for
25-marker tests, either when they first join the project or subsequently.
Unfortunately all those whose sample was analysed by Oxford Ancestors will
have to start again from scratch with FTDNA, paying $169.
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I would like to appeal to the following to upgrade to 25 markers, or have a
25-marker FTDNA test carried out
To sort the NC and VA participants into groups, or show they are all
descended from one immigrant, and, when 25-marker tests are available from
some UK particpants, to show from which UK branch the immigrant came:
Chris or Chuck (assuming same immigrant)
James E (merely an upgrade needed)
Rayond Bell
Richard J
Scott
Thor's 3rd cousin
Ditto for other USA participants
Jerry
Leo
Mayo-Sligo
Fred (merely an upgrade needed)
Other participants, to find links between UK branches and assist the USA guys
above:
One of Cecil, James, John or Michael Carding (Matlock branch)
Peter 'ON (Tipperary)
Mike or Roger (Penshurst)
Ernest (Winsford)
Peter L (Randle)
Peter W (Halifax)
Tony (Bendigo)
I realise this will involve a lot of expense. I suggest that the cost is
shared where possible. For instance, Cecil, James, John and Michael Carding
(Matlock branch) might like to share the cost of having an FTDNA 25-marker
test carried out by one of them (about £33 each). - what about it, guys? I
am writing separately to various Tipperary branch members to see if they will
share the cost of a new test for Peter O'N.
Comments, please!
Arthur