My Experience. with DNA for Genealogy WALTER DOWLING WOOD JULY 23, 2015

Transcription

1 My Experience 1 with DNA for Genealogy WALTER DOWLING WOOD JULY 23, 2015

2 Our Family history is in our DNA! 2 We all have DNA. It s the genetic code that tells your body how to build you. You inherit half of your DNA from each parent: 50% from Mom and 50% from Dad, though exactly which DNA gets passed down is random. Because your parents inherited their DNA in the same way from their parents, your DNA is made up of pieces of DNA passed down from your ancestors going back generations.

3 Why Test Your DNA? 3 To find people you are related to by comparing your DNA profile to others that have taken the same DNA test. You can then compare their family trees to yours to gain more information about your shared family history. To reveal your unique ethnic origins by comparing your DNA profile to distinct genetic profiles gathered from different regions around the world. In this way we can determine where your ancestors may have lived. To get the results you desire, you need to choose the correct DNA test.

4 DNA Testing Companies 4 There are three companies that perform genealogy DNA testing. 23 and Me Ancestry.com DNA Family Tree DNA A link to each is at the end of this presentation.

5 DNA Testing Companies 5 Ancestry and Family Tree DNA provide the ability to attach a family tree to your results. I am not sure about 23 and Me. Family Tree DNA provides moderated surname groups for Y-DNA testing and also provides an easy way to contact those you match. Ancestry.com DNA is the newest company to enter this market but they probably have the easiest way to connect since most already have a tree on their service. (Only Family Tree DNA offers all three tests mentioned above.)

6 Types of DNA Testing 6 There are mainly three types of test available to the genetic genealogist: 1. Y-DNA* to trace unbroken paternal lines back many generations. Only males can be tested. 2. Mitochondrial DNA* (mtdna) to trace unbroken maternal lines back many generations. Both sexes can be tested. 3. Autosomal DNA (atdna) or Family Finder to learn about your ancestry/ethnicity and to find potential genetic cousins on either side of your family. Both sexes can be tested. * Y-DNA and mtdna testing are only offered by Family Tree DNA. All three companies offer atdna / Family Finder testing.

7 Y-DNA Testing 7 This is a genealogical DNA test used to explore a man's paternal or direct father's-line ancestry. The Y chromosome, like the paternal surname, passes down virtually unchanged from father to son to grandson. Every now and then occasional mistakes (or mutations) in the genetic copying process occur, and these can be used to estimate the time frame in which the two individuals share a most recent common ancestor. A woman CANNOT take this test but she can test her father, grandfather or brother to help determine her male lineage. Family Tree DNA charges $169 for this testing.

8 Mitochondrial DNA Testing 8 Mitochondria are fascinating structures that create energy to run the cell. Although most DNA is packaged in chromosomes, within their nucleus mitochondria also have a small amount of their own DNA. This genetic material is known as mitochondrial DNA or mtdna. mtdna gets passed from a mother to all of her children - male and female alike. However, only her daughters can pass it on to her grandchildren. It cannot be inherited from her sons.

9 Mitochondrial DNA Testing (cont.) 9 mtdna traces a person's matrilineal or mother sline ancestry using the DNA in his or her mitochondria. It is passed down by the mother unchanged, to all children so if a perfect match is found to another person's mtdna test results, one may find a common ancestor. However, because mtdna mutations are very rare, the match will not necessarily be within a genealogical time frame. Family Tree DNA charges $199 for this testing.

10 Autosomal DNA Testing 10 This is a term used in genetic genealogy to describe DNA which is inherited from the autosomal chromosomes. An autosome is any of the numbered chromosomes, as opposed to the sex chromosomes. This can provide you with matches to genetic cousins and also ethnicity percentages. This test generally costs about $99 but sales are common. Autosomal tests are also offered by the National Geographic Society s Genographic Project (Geno 2.0) and those results may be migrated into your Family Tree DNA account.

11 Autosomal DNA Testing (cont.) 11 For autosomal DNA testing, where possible you should always test the oldest generations first - your parents, grandparents (if you are lucky), aunts and uncles. A two-parent/child trio provides the best results because by testing yourself as well as your parents you will be able to determine which segments have been inherited from which parent. You will also be able to rule out coincidental matches. If you only have one parent available for testing then you should test you and your parent. You should also test your siblings because they will inherit part of your parents' DNA that you don't carry. Your uncles and aunts will inherit part of your grandparents' DNA that your parents don't have.

12 Walter Dowling Wood Y-DNA Testing 12 I have DNA tests from three different people. Y-DNA on myself Y-DNA on a second cousin from my maternal grandmother s MCDANIEL line Family Finder on my father-in-law James BARFIELD (He is my daughters grandfather.) All testing was done by Family Tree DNA.

13 Walter Dowling Wood Y-DNA Testing 13 I choose to run Y-DNA37 on myself because I already knew four (or more) generations of ancestors and wanted to discover information on my oldest WOOD ancestor.

14 Walter Dowling Wood Y-DNA Testing 14 This is my Family Tree DNA home page with links to my tests.

15 Walter Dowling Wood Y-DNA Testing 15 These are my actual DNA test results. This data is what is used to match to others that have taken the same test.

16 Walter Dowling Wood Y-DNA Testing 16 These are my Y-DNA matches. Note that not all have the WOOD Surname!

17 Father-in-Law s Family Finder DNA 17 Family Finder was chosen for this study because a family legend said Jim BARFIELD s grandmother was a Sioux Indian and we wanted to prove or disprove this. The test did not confirm it. However, testing did identify a 2 nd or 3 rd cousin who was able to fill in a missing ancestor and that helped advance our research. At some point we may want to run Y-DNA because his 2 nd great grandfather is a dead end as there are two Wm. BARFIELD families with similar children s names and ages.

18 Father-in-Law s Family Finder DNA 18 These are top 6 matches on the first page (of 133) that were obtained through this testing. Ms. Carver, the third one down, is Jim s cousin.

19 Father-in-Law Family Finder DNA 19 This cousin provided a family tree and photo of Melinda E OWENS, Jim s 3 rd greatgrandmother, and my daughters 5 th greatgrandmother.

20 References and Me Ancestry.com DNA Family Tree DNA Lisa Louise Cooke s Genealogy Gems How to Get Started Using DNA for Genealogy and Family History* 3 Genetic Genealogy Misconceptions and Answers to Your DNA Questions* * These videos were shown (with permission) during this presentation

21 References 21 International Society of Genetic Genealogy Legal Genealogist Blog (The Sunday issue covers DNA) Who Do You Think You Are Autosomal DNA - a step-by-step approach to analysing your atdna matches (Maurice Gleeson)