Hi ...
OPPS BAD MATH!
each place tested is called a marker and has a marker name some are called
DYS and given a number. ok lets use DYS447. now your person's test has a
result of DYS447 14 and the person you are comparing to has a DYS447 15,
that would be one step difference from each other. Now lets say the first
man has DYS447 15 and DYS 390 12 and DYS391 10 and person number two has
DYS447 16 and DYS 390 10 and DYS391 9... DYS447 comparison would be one step
difference between the two, DYS 390 would be a two step difference, DYS391 a
one step difference, this equals a 4 step difference. no chance they are
related in the time frame of the use of surnames
DYS447 15 / DYS447 16 =1 step
DYS 390 12 / DYS 390 10 = 2 step
DYS391 10 / DYS391 9 = 1 step
nope it was good math... but it does not matter if the step difference is a
plus or a minus... it is just different.
Now some markers have more then one area tested in this case I'm not really
sure except for the DYS464 marker, although it is marked a,b,c,d, those are
not set areas so no matter where the match is it is stiil a match ..
example a=16, b=17, c=18, d=15 itr is still a match if a=15, b=18, c=17,
d=16, but if any are different then that difference is measured as in a=16,
b=17, c= 18, d=15 a miutation of one step would be a=17, b=16, c=15, d=19...
you have 17, 16, 15 but the 18 is 19 so a one step difference.. The others
might matter you'll have to ask..I do!
Nelda
Nelda's websites - Please visit
http://freepages.folklore.rootsweb.com/~bonsteinandgilpin/
Gilpin DNA Project member