DNA and Family History

From the files of Stephen M. Lawson



DNA analysis is rapidly becoming an exciting and important aid to genealogical research. Note that, thus far, DNA research is only an aid to family history. A complete match of Y-DNA between two males, for example, only indicates that it is highly probable that they have a common ancestor in the patrilineal line - it does not identify the common ancestor, nor does it indicate the specific number of generations back in time that the ancestor lived.

However, that said, DNA analysis can aid in several ways. First, if two persons with identical DNA have traced their ancestry by paper trail to a common ancestor, the DNA results supports the lineages. Second, if these same two persons have DNA that does not match (by multiple markers), it indicates that there is a break in the supposed lineage of one (or both) of the lines (perhaps there was a previously unrevealed adoption). Third, and perhaps most exciting, is that a common DNA between two persons who did not know of a common ancestor gives significant clues for further research to locate the common ancestor.

There are two kinds of DNA analysis of interest in family history: Y-DNA follows the male line only, and mt-DNA (Mitochondrial DNA) follows the female line only. A son has the Y-DNA and mt-DNA of his parents, but a daughter only has the mt-DNA of her mother. The male passes on the Y-DNA only to sons; the female passes on the mt-DNA to both sons and daughters.

DNA genetics is a complex field. There are a number of web sites that provide extensive information, such as the DNA 101 section at FamilyTreeDNA.com . The New England Ancestors (now American Ancestors) magazine of the New England Historic Genealogical Society has had a very informative column "Genetics & Genealogy" since the Fall 2002 issue (Vol. 3, No. 4) - 16 case studies through 2005.


Family Tree DNA Certificates for Stephen M. Lawson

  
Y-DNA analysis upgraded from 25 loci to 37 loci July 24, 2008 with these additions:
Loci 26-37 460 GATA H4 YCA IIa YCA IIb 456 607 576 570 CDYa CDYb 442 438
Alleles 10 10 19 21 14 13 16 18 35 36 12 10


Y-DNA Projects related to surnames of Kinnexions families.

Lawson surname Y-DNA lines Chart (PDF format)
Site Compiler: 14 22 14 10 13 14 11 14 11 12 11 28 15 08 09 08 11 22 17 20 28 14 14 15 15
10 10 19 21 14 13 16 18 35 36 12 10
Haplogroup using Haplogroup Predictor 1.20: I1a
Y-Search User ID of compiler: SBTBH

Freeman surname Y-DNA lines Charts Introduction
2c and 3c2r: 13 24 14 11 12 14 12 12 11 13 13 29 18 09 10 11 11 26 15 19 29 15 15 17 17
Haplogroup using Haplogroup Predictor 1.20: R1b
Most Recent Common Ancestor is compiler's great grandfather on maternal Freeman line.
Most Recent Common Ancestor is compiler's 4-great grandfather on paternal Freeman line.
Y-Search User ID of 2nd cousin: 4JEKF

Johnson surname Y-DNA lines Chart (PDF format)
4c1r: 13 22 14 10 13 15 11 16 11 12 11 28 15 08 09 08 11 22 16 20 29 12 14 15 17
11 10 19 21 15 14 16 20 35 36 12 10
Haplogroup using Haplogroup Predictor 1.20: I1a
Most Recent Common Ancestor is compiler's 4-great grandfather on maternal Freeman line.



Mitochondrial-DNA related to surnames of Kinnexions families.

mtDNA Haplogroup - H6a1b
HVR1: 16362C 16482G
HVR2: 152C 239C 263G 309.1C 309.2C 315.1C
CR: 750G 1438G 3915A 4727G 4769G 8860G 10589A 11255C 15326G

Known matrilineal line of Site Compiler:

Sabra (birth surname not known) HOLCOMB
Harriet (HOLCOMB) ANDREWS
Melvina E. (ANDREWS) MOREY
Minnie Elsie (MOREY) FREEMAN
Iva Melvina (FREEMAN) LAWSON
Stephen Martin LAWSON



Haplogroup Descriptions from FamilyTree DNA
I - The I, I1, and I1a lineages are nearly completely restricted to northwestern Europe. These would most likely have been common within Viking populations. One lineage of this group extends down into central Europe.

R1b - Haplogroup R1b is the most common haplogroup in European populations. It is believed to have expanded throughout Europe as humans re-colonized after the last glacial maximum 10-12 thousand years ago. This lineage is also the haplogroup containing the Atlantic modal haplotype.

H6a1b - Mitochondrial haplogroup H is a predominantly European haplogroup that participated in a population expansion beginning approximately 20,000 years ago. Today, about 40% of all mitochondrial lineages in Europe are classified as haplogroup H. It is rather uniformly distributed throughout Europe suggesting a major role in the peopling of Europe, and descendant lineages of the original haplogroup H appear in the Near East as a result of migration. H6 is an older branch of haplogroup H. Its age is estimated at around 40,000 years. Studies suggest that this haplogroup is Middle Eastern or Central Asian in origin. It is also found at very low frequencies in Europe. H6a has similar distribution to its parent branch H6.


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Modified: 3/30/10