The Wells Surname DNA Study is looking for men who are willing to do a 46
marker Y-chromosome genealogy DNA test. We have many lineages who the males
either have not survived or they are unwilling to do a simply saliva (no
blood) test to help show a direct surname line.
The genealogy 46 marker Y-chromosome test requires no blood or needles. The
test may be as simple as swishing a liquid in your mouth and then spitting
into a test tube or rubbing a Q-tip on the inside of your cheek.
To give you a little DNA info ... the 46 Y-chromosome markers are passed
'almost unaltered' from father to son. Since the 46 markers can match
perfectly for several generations, the genealogy DNA test WILL NOT PROVE if
you are the biological father of a child. That requires a much larger and
comprehensive test. It also WILL NOT show any propensity for a specific
disease. No man should be concerned about doing a genealogy Y-chromosome
test and it will help provide invaluable proof that his ancestral line is
the same or different from others.
A test is very important to some Wells lines where two individuals who
tested that believe they are descended from the same person ... but the DNA
is different. It is probably a simple matter like two men with the same
given name being born in the same general area in the same year ... for
example two "John Wells" born the same year and same county. Two different
genealogy lines just happen to pick the 1st John who is not related to the
2nd John (biologically). When we have conflicting DNA results, it is
important to have a second test say from the 'brother of John' or an 'uncle
of John' ... the third test will usually confirm which is the correct DNA
for that family. The 2nd John's family will need to work down in their
ancestral line and find descendant from a 'brother or uncle' and then
determine if that DNA matches.
When DNA does not match it could mean a lot of different things: adoption,
step-child who took step-father's surname, foundling taken in, orphan train
children who's biological surnames were not known ... very seldom are they
actually 'the milkman' or birth of a child to an unmarried Wells woman.
Your help is important to help unravel the conflicting DNA results and
ensure a correct lineage is preserved.
Are you part of the "few good men" we need?
If you are willing to do a Wells genealogy DNA test, contact Orin Wells,
administrator of the study
http://www.wells.org. He can ensure you get a
discount on
dna.ancestry.com testing ... but you can get tested at any lab
as long as it has at least 46 Y-chromosome markers so the results can be
compared with the over 670 men who have already tested. Orin will assign the
DNA family you belong to and give you a unique ID number. Your lineage
should be provided to me so I can add your lineage to the database and get
you connected with other researchers who are researching the same DNA
family.
Please consider helping ... We NEED a 'few good Wells men'!!
Bonita Hillmer
ladybonita(a)usa.com