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Surnames: CATLOW
Classification: Query
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Message Board Post:
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/bigmisc/DNA.html
DNA testing for Genealogy
by
Iain Kennedy
Modern DNA testing can now be used to corroborate or expand your family tree. A number of
UK and US based companies now offer Y-chromosome tests that can prove whether people are
closely related or not and even give a strong indication of how recently their common
ancestor lived. In addition, well over a thousand projects have now been set up which
study particular UK/Ireland surnames using the tests, or particular regions of the islands
(eg Scottish Borders). It is not necessary to have a 'regional' surname, as even
occupational surnames such as Smith can benefit from DNA testing to help sort out whether
names are closely related or not.
How it works
A male participant is sent a kit containing a small brush. This is used to take a swab
sample from inside the cheek. It is then stored in preservative and sent back to the
company for lab analysis. Your result will consist of a series of numbers - these are
repeat counts from sections of your DNA called Short Tandem Repeats. The particular
combination of counts is known as your haplotype. Over time these counts will change
through a 'mutation' event during transmission from a father to a son - one marker
might change from a repeat count of 14 to 15, say. It is these mutations that cause the
DNA test results to diverge and help us trace the family tree - or distinguish who is in
the tree from who is not. Your close male relatives will have the same or near identical
haplotype and unrelated people will typically have quite different ones. Some illegitimate
births may be unveiled as such although of course they might be due to a close relative in
which case they may not be dist!
inguished by the test.
The names and order of presentation of these repeat counts are arbitrary. Having said
that, some are already known to be faster at mutating than others so it is always worth
looking at which markers two profiles differ on.
An example result might look like this, in part:
DYS393=13
DYS390=25, etc.
The name before the equals sign is the scientific name given to the STR marker and the
number after the equals sign is the repeat count. A sample set of results can be found
here.
Some companies also offer tests that both males and females can take called an mtDNA
(mitochondrial DNA) test. The use of these for genealogy is relatively unexplored so far
compared with male-only Y-DNA but is worth keeping watch on.
The Y-chromosome haplogroups were previously defined by the Y-Chromosome Consortium
although this institution now seems to have ceased to function leaving the industry
without a standard. Let's hope something comes in its place.
How many markers do you need? How accurate is it?
The more markers the merrier, although many people like to start with a low-resolution
test and then pay for an upgrade if and when they got a low-resolution match, to explore
it further. Since the individual mutations are random events, you might be
'unlucky' and have several mutations within your family tree. Studies so far
indicate that close family relatives should be identical or near identical up to 37 or 43
markers. On the other hand it has happened that two brothers may differ although this
would be very rare. At lower resolution (i.e. 10 or 12 markers), matches may turn out to
be spurious as there is insufficient differentiation. This is particularly so if you come
from the dominant haplotype group known as 'R1b' which is common in Western
European ancestry. The tests are not yet accurate enough to prove 100% the exact
generation in the family treee.
Most Recent Common Ancestor calculations
By using average marker mutation rates it is possible to compare two profiles and
back-calculate how long ago their most recent common ancestor lived. This method is
derived from anthropological science and although of some use, has a margin of error that
reduces its usefulness in individual family history studies.
New developments
Whilst its benefits to genealogy may not be immediately obvious, there is growing interest
in 'SNP' testing. Put simply, an SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) is a rarer
kind of mutation than the STR-based events that we normally test. They are the markers
that divide up the human race's DNA tree at the high level and previously have been
restricted to mutations which happen thousands of years ago. However in the early months
of 2006 some very rapid progress has been made in the discovery of new more recent SNPs
that are helping to bridge the gap from thousands down to hundreds of years. The most
exciting of these is the so-called 'Ui Neill' or 'Niall of the Nine
Hostages' marker (look for 'M222', the technical term for the test). Led by
Ethnoancestry, this drive to unearth young SNPs could be the second revolution in
genealogical DNA testing and will be of particular interest to those connected with the
Scottish and Irish clans who have deep pedigrees stemming from the ki!
ngdom of Dal Riata.
Links
Surname Projects
For an example of a large scale UK-based surname DNA project, see Clan MacGregor with over
175 members.
The Hamilton project includes 50 members with Ireland/Scotland ancestry and has an
excellent, well-presented results page.
The Kennedy DNA project in conjunction with the Kennedy One-Name Study run from Glasgow
with participants from Scotland, England and Ireland as well as Canada, Australia and the
US. Recently someone from the Chiefly line of Culzean Castle has tested which is an
exciting development for Kennedy genealogists.
Most of the surname projects features a mixture of UK/Ireland participants along with US
members, some of whom trace their ancestry back to the UK/Ireland and some whose ancestry,
whilst quite deep in cases, only traces back to the US so far. One of the most exciting
aspects of these international DNA projects is the increased possibilities for matching up
these groups by finding common DNA results between them and bridging the Atlantic gap.
Just two examples are
Wells is the largest of all currently and includes 18 UK participants amongst over 380 in
total.
Wilson has over 50 members from the UK, Ireland and US.
A complete listing of all surname DNA projects can be found at
http://worldfamilies.net
If you do not see your surname of interest on the World Families list, you may wish to
consider starting your own. Most of the testing companies have facilities to help you do
this, as does the WorldFamilies site.
UK/Ireland regional projects
Scottish Borders (Reivers)
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gallgaedhil/elliott_border_reive...
Shetlands
http://www.davidkfaux.org/shetlandislandsY-DNA.html
Testing companies
UK
www.DNAHeritage.co.uk in Dorset offer a 43 marker Y-DNA test, the most accurate mainstream
product on the market. You can purchase the second half of the markers piecemeal at $5.99
each once you have paid for the first 23. They have full support for running surname
projects. They run a publicly searchable open database (
www.ybase.org). Test fees are
discounted if you join a surname project. They also have a New York office.
www.OxfordAncestors.com based in Kidlington offer 10 marker Y-DNA tests as well as mtDNA
tests. Their products are more focused on 'deep ancestry' eg Viking descendancy
and the resolution of their main Y-DNA test is not really sufficient for genealogical
purposes except for 'negative proof' ie disproving a suspected link. Founded by
Professor Sykes, author of the book 'Seven Daughters of Eve' and an early pioneer
of scientific research of a family surname (his own, Sykes) using Y-DNA. They run a
publicly searchable database of results but data is only from their own customers
(
http://www.oxfordancestors.com/members/ and login as 'guest'). There are a number
of online forums on both Y and mt-DNA testing. Anyone who gets a match at OA will
inevitably need to pursue the match with extra testing at one of the other companies.
Worth looking at but probably not a first choice for genealogists.
US
www.RelativeGenetics.com in Salt Lake City offer a 18, 23 and 43 marker Y-DNA test along
with a mtDNA test. Test kits can be sent in from overseas.
www.familytreedna.com in Texas offer 12, 25 and 37 marker Y-DNA tests and hosting a large
and growing number of surname projects plus some regional ones. Recently they have added a
59 marker test too although this is not of practical use unless you have a lot of random
matches at the lower levels.. Test kits can be sent in from overseas. Also offer mtDNA
tests. They run a publicly searchable open database (
www.ysearch.org) which allows the
attachment of pedigrees to test profiles. Test fees are discounted if you join a surname
project. There is an online forum for the general public and another one especially for
project administrators.
Comparison
Here is a brief summary table comparing the testing companies. Please check direct with
the companies for their latest prices. Don't forget to look at their group discount
price if joining an existing surname project.
Name UK/US Y-test depth Database Forums mtDNA Group Discount
DNAHeritage UK,US 23-43* Yes No No Yes
OxfordAncestors UK 10 Yes Yes Yes Yes
FamilyTreeDNA US 12,25,37,59 Yes Yes Yes Yes
RelativeGenetics US 18,26,43 Yes No Yes No
*43 or buy 23 then order any other remaining ones individually
Databases searchable by surname or haplotype
www.ybase.org
www.ysearch.org
www.oxfordancestors.com
Other on-line resource links on DNA for genealogy
A number of new newsgroups have sprung up to support newcomers to the subject as the main
GENEALOGY-DNA list was getting too heavy on the scientific detail.
There is an excellent Yahoo DNA Newbie forum.
The International Society of Genetic Genealogy have a Yahoo forum.
Meanwhile the older GENEALOGY-DNA list is still growing strong, but is probably no longer
a first port of call if you are new to the subject:
http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/DNA/ Rootsweb DNA mailing lists. A selection of
project DNA lists. The main list is at
http://lists5.rootsweb.com/index/other/DNA/GENEALOGY-DNA.html which is a very good
moderated source although like all lists can go off-topic at times (e.g. 'deep
ancestry' topics like origins of the Celts, Vikings etc). There are web archives if
you don't want to subscribe to the email versions.
Charles Kerchner's DNA genealogy portal including his excellent genetic genealogy
glossary.
https://home.comcast.net/~whitathey/haplogroups.htm A summary of the origins of the major
haplogroups
www.cyndislist.com/dna.htm A huge list of DNA genealogy resources.
Chris Pomery has a DNA genealogy portal here but has not updated it since 2002.
The World Families Network has a portal and FAQ on the subject.
Bibliography
Papers
Bryan Sykes, Catherine Irven. Surnames and the Y Chromosome, Am. J. Hum. Genet. Vol. 66
(2000) pp. 1417-1419. [A pioneering research project into mapping surname history using
DNA. Dr. Sykes went on to found the Oxford Ancestors DNA testing company.]
Books, Introductory - generally aimed at the scientific layman
Chris Pomery. DNA and family history: How Genetic Testing can advance your genealogical
research, The National Archives, (August 2004.) pp 168. ISBN 1-903365-70-8. [Available now
at the Family Records Centre in Islington for £12.99. An excellent book on both the theory
and practise of applying DNA testing to family tree research. There is a website to
accompany the book.]
Alan Savin. DNA for Family Historians. Published privately in booklet format by the
author. 32pp. ISBN 0-9539171-0-X. [Available in electronic or printed format. On sale at
the Family Records Centre in Islington for £3.95. A rather short overview of the subject
and mostly written in 2000 with minor updates in 2002/3.]
Megan Smolenyak. Trace your Roots with DNA Rodale Press Inc in 2004. pp 256. [Reviews from
members of the DNA-GENEALOGY mailing list are positive.]
Stephen Oppenheimer. Out of Eden. Constable and Robinson (July 2004) pp 440. ISBN:
1-84119-894-3. [A good introduction to 'genetic anthropology' - the science on
which genetic genealogy is based.]
Books, Scientific
Mark Jobling, Matt Hurles, and Chris Tyler-Smith. Human Evolutionary Genetics. Garland
Science Publishing (2003) pp. 458. [This is quite technical but very useful for dipping
into as a reference. There are several preview chapters online. New Scientist/Scientific
American reader level.]
Last updated: 21 Jun 2006 - Brian Randell