Surname DNA project
This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2009) |
Part of a series on |
Genetic genealogy |
---|
Concepts |
Related topics |
|
A surname DNA project is a genetic genealogy project which uses genealogical DNA tests to trace male lineage.
In most cultures, there are few or no
Because
When two males share a surname, a test of their Y-chromosome markers will determine either that they are not related, or that they are related. If they are related, the number of markers tested and the number of matches at those markers determines the range of generations until their most recent common ancestor (MRCA). If the two tests match on 37 markers, there is a 90% probability that the MRCA was less than five generations ago and a 95% probability that the MRCA was less than eight generations ago.[2]
Markers
A Y-DNA test ranges from 10 to 111 markers on the Y chromosome. Most surname projects suggest at least 25 markers. Test results tell how many repeats a given subject has at a particular marker; the variations of repeats are known as alleles. For example, at DYS455, the results will normally show 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 repeats.[3] The specific test results for a given individual are referred to as a haplotype. When a surname project has enough participants' test results, it can group similar test results together and determine a modal haplotype for each such group of similar test results.
Testing companies
Surname projects are now being hosted by testing companies. Some labs even store the submitted samples for a number of years, enabling additional tests to be performed as they become available. By far the largest collection of Y-DNA test results is maintained by Family Tree DNA, including many surname projects that make direct use of those results.
Haplogroups
The Y chromosome has been studied intensely and variations have been divided into
See also
- One-name study
- Extinction of surnames
References
- ISBN 0-393-02018-5.
Sykes discusses the difficulty in genealogically tracing a maternal lineage, due to the lack of matrilineal surnames (or matrinames)
- ^ "Interpreting Genetic Distance Within Surname Projects". FamilyTreeDNA. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
- ^ "Marker details for DYS455". Y-Chromosome Marker Details (Y-STR database). Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
Further reading
- Pomery, Chris (January–March 2010). "Finding Out What We're About: Changes in the field of DNA testing" (PDF). Journal of One-Name Studies: 20–21. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
- Carpenter, John R. (dated May 17, 2017). "DNA Testing – What you need to know first" (PDF). Retrieved August 5, 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)