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NNTP-Posting-Date: Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:15:20 -0600
From: Bob Melson <amia9...@mypacks.net>
Subject: Re: DNA
Newsgroups: alt.genealogy
Reply-To: amia9...@mypacks.net
Date: Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:15:20 -0700
References: <2009120515405916807-chezelwig1@comcastnet>
Organization: Dept. of Paleocomputing, Whatsamatta U.
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On Saturday 05 December 2009 14:40, Chez (chezelw...@comcast.net) opined:

> My wife and I are seriously considering haveing our DNA tested. As a
> preface, I'd just like to say we are not trying to match surnames, but
> are interested in general ethic testing.
> 
> "Since Y-chromosome DNA is found only within the all-male patrilineal
> line and mtDNA only provides matches to the all-female matrilineal
> line, DNA testing is only applicable to lines going back through two of
> our eight greatgrandparents - our father's paternal grandfather and our
> mother's maternal grandmother. If you want to use DNA to determine
> ancestry through any of your other six great-grandparents you will need
> to convince an aunt, uncle, or cousin who descends directly from that
> ancestor through an all-male or all-female line to provide a DNA
> sample. Additionally, since women don't carry the Y-chromosome, their
> paternal male line can only be traced through the DNA of a father or
> brother."
> 
> We are puzzled about the idea of her needing to have her father (no
> brothers) tested. I am aware of chromosomes and the differences between
> the genders. It is my my impression - confirmed - that that each
> chomosome has genetic material from both mother and father. We do not
> inherit one complete chromosome from each parent. They mix during a
> process called meiosis.
> 
> The reason behind the reason is this: If we want her father tested (my
> parents are dead) it is right that we pay for it. If her father is
> tested, then her mother will want to be tested - if we pay for one,
> then it would be hard to not pay for two - especially if the third
> person is my mother-in-law. We can manage paying for me and one other,
> but not me and two others.
> 
> Please explain why she can't get a reasonably complete test just from
> herself. How much of the testing companies saying that she needs her
> father tested is salesmanship?
> 
> If I sound grumpy it is because I'm confused.
> 
> Thanks

I'm by no means an expert and am very much a skeptic when it comes
to "molecular" or "genetic" genealogy.  For an excellent set of articles
on DNA testing, you should go to http://www.smgf.org , the website of the
Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation.  I won't try to answer your
question because I think Sorenson does a much better job of explanation
than I'm capable of.

Snowy Ol' Bob

-- 
Robert G. Melson | Rio Grande MicroSolutions | El Paso, Texas
-----
A government big enough to give you everything you want is big
enough to take away everything you have.  Thomas Jefferson