k, and all,
My husband has also done the Wells DNA project, since he is a 'Wells',
(but his Carter cousin did this Carter project for us). The way the
Wells group explained it is first of all, you should go for the 25 marker
test because that can bring 2 matching lines to more current generations.
But, even doing the 25 marker test, if you are more than 2 markers off of
each other, that can still be 10-12 or possibly more generations back.
That could be several hundred years apart. I understood that the 12
marker test matches could still be 16 or more generations back. Am I
wrong??? Anyone else have any information???
Thanks, Kathy Wells.
----- Original Message -----
From: "kcallan738" <kcallan738(a)earthlink.net>
To: <CARTER-DNA-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Monday, April 12, 2004 3:31 PM
Subject: [CARTER-DNA] DNA
Okay, maybe I hit the panic button too soon. What we do know about
DNA
is:
1. It is accepted in a court of law to prove guilt/innocence (I've tried
to contact a crime lab to find out how many markers are required in a
court of law--if anybody knows the answer to this please post it);
2. From what I have read, even a perfect match still allows for a
significant genetic distance (on the 12 marker if I read it correctly-if
not, someone please correct me);
3. It was not uncommon in the 1800's for a 'name change'...some people
just packed up and even left families behind, created a new identity and
it is possible to get hits on these (several instances of this in
another family line);
4. There is also the possiblity of former slave owners and
offspring....that has also occurred in another family line;
and
It could be that the 12 marker just isn't enough for absolute
comparison...which is why we will be upgrading to the 25 marker test.
Now, if the people with different surnames have a complete match at that
point against those of us who have documented historical records of
their Carter's, then I would have to assume any of the variables of 3
and 4 listed above are possible or that as Vickie had suggested, at one
time people did not have surnames...ergo someone could be a relative but
chose a different surname.
As if genealogy wasn't difficult enough!
For those that went, as we did, with the 12 marker test, I recommend
that you expand to the 25 marker test. The information I got from Vickie
shows that it is slightly less in cost than the original test you
submitted.
The gentleman that had an exact match with my surname who's last name is
Price has a 25 marker test and I will be curious to see what happens
when ours upgrades in comparison.
k
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