[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Researching Beyond the Family Tree

[Greg Mason]

Lorne and List members:

I have been involved in a DNA research project on my paternal line  
for the last two-three years.  I can report that using y chromosome  
DNA research, I was able to break through a dead end barrier that has  
existed in my research for 50 years.  However, let me be very clear,  
DNA research is not a panacea - it is a very good tool, but it should  
be used in conjunction with other established research methods that  
we all have been using for years. It really helps to confirm  
circumstantial paper record evidence; it also is meaningful when you  
can compare your results with others who have a positive defined  
paper trail.  On the other end of the spectrum, in what I will term  
"looking for a needle in a haystack," it may be helpful to place your  
research into a family grouping, but it may not give you direct  
descendent evidence. Charles Kerchner has published a pretty slick  
piece that helps explain what I mean here:   http://www.kerchner.com/ 
zip+four-analogy.htm
(By the way, Charles has a very good site with lots of articles and  
information for the beginner.)

And, as with other scientific fields of study, the user need to  
devote considerable time to learn about the subject of DNA.  There is  
no simple and easy path to success, at least I haven't found one  
yet.  The results you receive from the testing laboratory, when  
inserted into the statistical model, will give you a range that you  
then have to interpret within the confines of your other research.   
For example, you might find that by matching 37 out of 37 markers  
with another person, you have a 90% confidence interval that you  
share a common ancestor within the last 7 generation.  So, based on  
these results, one must combine the DNA and the other research to see  
if it solves your problem.

Although I have had my  mitochondrial DNA tested, I have not had any  
success in using it productively yet.  And, that is because I am not  
working with other researchers who are in the same maternal line.   
I'm in the "needle in a haystack" research activity.

Now, as to companies:  We have been using FamilyTreeDNA as our  
company for our Mason Family Project.  I have been very pleased with  
their prices, results, timeliness, and willingness to help you.    
(Their web site leaves a lot to be desired in the navigation arena  
however.)  They are associated with a testing lab at the University  
of Arizona, which I believe also is the group supporting the National  
Geographic world-wide geographic project.  I have not used any other  
companies, so I cannot vouch for nor compare them with FTDNA

All in all, DNA can be a very useful tool to help solve problems and  
challenges beyond the era of paper trail evidence. And, I believe  
that most SGGEE members are in this category once you get back to the  
late 1790s.
Greg Mason







On Mar 4, 2006, at 5:13 AM, Lorne Bohn wrote:

> Greetings.
>
> Many of us have been able to research individual family  back only  
> so far and are curious as to what area those decendants came from.   
> I have been reading an article in the July 11/2005 issue of Time  
> Magazine (pg. 32) which featured a report on using DNA to determine  
> (aparently quite accurately) where families come from.
>
> There are a number of companies which will do this research for  
> you.  Prices seem to range from around $95 to about $399 depending  
> on the information and region.   Searches can be done on  
> mitocondrial DNA (mother's side), Y-DNA (father's side) and  
> autosomal which looks for genetic markers on all chromosomes and  
> determines a location.  Web sites are listed below.
>
> There are also some DNA databanks that one can access for free to  
> contact other individuals who have the same DNA.  This opens a very  
> interesting opportunity to combine research with other individuals  
> to fill in family trees.
>
> http://www.ysearch.org/
> http://www.ybase.org/
>
> Interesting stuff!  I thought I'd pass it along and I would  
> appreciate it if anyone would let me know if they have had any  
> experience in this area or if they know more about it?  Please  
> cantact lbohn at shaw.ca
>
> Best regards to the group,
>
> Lorne Bohn
> (Canada)
>
>
> http://www.dnaprint.com/welcome/productsandservices/index2.php
>
> http://www.familytreedna.com/
>
> https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/
>
> http://www.relativegenetics.com/relativegenetics/index.jsp
>
>
>
>
> You can forget what people say.
> You can forgive what people do
> but you NEVER forget how people make you feel.
>
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