Thought I'd see if anyone on this list would be interested in comparing DNA
to see if we're related? Of course to do so means you have to have your DNA
run by a lab, but from what I'm seeing via genealogy lists, more and more
folks are doing it, and it can help to indicate the probability of common
ancestors from hundreds of years ago. Here's what I've learned:
1. Having one's DNA run is relatively expensive [$100/$200 + dollars], but
as competition increases, prices are slowly coming down.
2. It's far from an exact science at present, but can indicate probabilities
of common ancestors of 100's of years ago [which some will feel is of little
value].
3. While reading the messages on the DNA-oriented lists often leaves me more
confused than before [some of the respondents are quite technical], I am
slowly beginning to learn at least the generic theories that are helping me
to understand when DNA is helpful for genealogy purposes, and what it can't
do. [That list is at GENEALOGY-DNA-L-request(a)rootsweb.com if you're
interested]
4. There is a plan in the works to have a genealogy database where one can
list their DNA numbers and see if anyone pops up as a likely ancestral link,
but it's just now under development---- the web page is currently just the
home page only. URL is
www.genealogydna.org for anyone interested. As I
understand it, the web site owner hopes to have the criteria established for
the database and the ability to enter one's DNA numbers within the next month
or two.
Having said all this, and while I intend to put my data into the database
when it's ready, I realize there are many who avoid such efforts, so please
understand I'm not advocating anyone do this---- just that it's in the works
and will one day be available.
Hope this is helpful to some of you, and that one day it helps establish that
we are long-lost relatives with a somewhat more recent linkage than Adam &
Eve.
With all good wishes for a genealogy-productive 2002,
Jim Carey
Washington, DC
Grandparents: CAREY / RYAN / HARRISON / MCGREGOR
Related Direct Ancestors: SULLIVAN / KILROY / TACKABERRY / MCKERCHER /
DOCKERTY / GOURLEY / DUFFIELD