Hi List members,
A genealogical watershed is arriving as we watch it. Seemingly, for a few
hundred dollars (declining almost as we watch), a Family line can be
confirmed, or disproved, by dna tests. There are, to be sure, limitations,
but what they are, and how long until they are overcome, is unclear to me.
For ex, the Johnston - Johnson study that Dick Eastman discusses in his
Gen column, see (and join) below, could apparently rule in, or out,
membership in a family tree, and for about $100-160.
There are many ramifications here, but again, where & how, or how many,
we're just beginning to comprehend. Still, I feel it is worthwhile to keep
us posted about significant genealogical developments, not to speak of all
the real - world potential benefits (and possible liabilities).
Think about this. You and a 'friend' are having a beverage in McDonalds
or a bar. Someone following you could wait til you leave, pick up your drink
containers and, through dna tests, learn a great deal about whom you both
are blood related to (including each other), and for only about $500 or
less, and in just days now, not like the months required for the OJ simpson
trial.
Another comment. I believe I see a slowing of interest in family
genealogy, primarily reflected in participation on our RootsWeb surname
Lists (I host abt 13 of them). I wonder if people aren't just, perhaps even
subconsciously, deciding 'why participate?' when I can learn so much of what
I want by just waiting until rich Aunt Mabel does a family Gen research, OR,
a decedant's estate foots the bill for all the presumptive beneficiaries to
appear for a dna test, in order to take a share from the estate. I don't
suggest this is all bad, or good, but it seems worth considering.
Barry Wetherington
- Johnson / Johnston DNA Study Announced
I have written before about a number of family societies that have
conducted or are conducting DNA studies of people with the family
name. However, the following is the first such study that I have
heard of that involves a very common name. This project should be
very interesting to watch.
We are searching for volunteers for a DNA study of early
JOHNSON / JOHNSTON immigrants to the United States from the
British Isles. We need males, who descend from males all along
the line from the colonial ancestor. The cost per test is $99
for a study of 12 DNA markers and $159 for 21 markers. All
that is required is a swab of saliva from the inside cheek,
payment for the test, and a pedigree chart showing your line
of descent. For those of you facing brick walls with your
JOHNSON / JOHNSTON ancestry, this is an opportunity to
possibly find which family you belong to. Or to rule out
which ones you don't belong with. Volunteers will be
personally notified of how their results "fit" in with the
other findings.
Johnson/Johnston DNA findings can be found at:
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~lksstarr/html/johnson.html. For
more information about the project or to volunteer, contact
the project coordinator by sending an e-mail to Suzanne
Johnston at SSJ145(a)aol.com
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Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter
A Weekly Summary of Events and
Topics of Interest to Online Genealogists
Vol. 7 No. 13 - April 1, 2002
This newsletter is sponsored by
Ancestry.com,
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