DNA Research

DNA Research and Information

Paternal and maternal lineages via DNA testing

The two most common types of genetic genealogy tests are Y-DNA (paternal line) and mtDNA (maternal line) genealogical DNA tests. Note that Y chromosome and Y-DNA are used interchangeably. These tests involve the comparison of certain sequences of the DNA of pairs of individuals in order to estimate the probability that they share a common ancestor in a genealogical time frame and, through the use of a Bayesian model published by Bruce Walsh, to estimate the number of generations separating the two individuals from their most recent common ancestor or "mrca". Y-DNA testing involves short tandem repeat (STR) and, sometimes, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) testing of the Y-chromosome. The Y-chromosome is present only in males and reveals information on the strict paternal line. These tests can provide insight into the recent (via STRs) and ancient (via SNPs) genetic ancestry. A Y-chromosome STR test will reveal a haplotype, which should be similar among all male descendants of a male ancestor. SNP tests are used to assign people to a paternal haplogroup, which defines a much larger genetic population. mtDNA testing involves sequencing or testing the HVR-1 region, HVR-2 region or both. An mtDNA test may also include the additional SNPs needed to assign people to a maternal haplogroup—or even include the complete mtDNA.Either Y-DNA or mtDNA test results can be compared to the results of others via private or public DNA databases.

Finally, Y-DNA and mtDNA tests each only trace a single lineage (one's father's father's father's etc. lineage or one's mother's mother's mother's etc. lineage). At 10 generations back, an individual has up to 1024 unique ancestors (fewer if ancestor cousins interbred) and a Y-DNA or mtDNA test is only studying one of those ancestors, as well as their descendants and siblings (same sexed siblings for Y-DNA or all siblings for mtDNA).

YDNA Results:

Haplogroup R1ba2

So what does this mean? Well in a 67 marker test, matching another person 67 out of 67 would be perfect. In other words, the more matching numbers, the more closely related. A distance is when a number does not match, meaning if all of the numbers matched but DYS576 was 18 for one person, and 19 for another they would be listed as a 67 distance 1.The odds of being related are directly tied to the number of matches and distance.

Now keep in mind that a generation is typically around 25 years. So at 25 generations you are at about 450 years back. To put that in perspective, surnames in England weren't adapted until around the late 1400 early 1500 hundreds.

Enough already, tell us what you found!

Ok, here's the sccop. We are not closely related to the Koontz (and other derivatives) lines that have been tested here in the US. Our closest match is the Carr/Kerr/Abernathy lines with the closest being a 37 distance 2 relation to Carr. Meaning a 99% chance of being from the same parent at 20 generations. All of these lines are from Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Not Germany. So what happened? How did we become a Koontz? These are questions I'll be working on. As more people have their DNA tested, the easier the research will be. While I am getting a very quck education, and have a good understanding of the subject, I know that I'm not verse enough to talk deeply on this. Please email me or call me with your questions, it'll help me learn as I find out the answers to your questions.

Links:

Understanding Markers

Migration Map

Family Tree DNA