SNPs - the latest results: St Clair DNA Study

Many folk are well aware of how 37 or 67 Y-DNA marker tests can be used to identify matches within a genealogical time frame, but there is an increasing and welcome interest in 'deep ancestry'.

The history of the human Y-DNA tree is defined at each branch by an SNP (a single-nucleotide polymorphism), a change to a single nucleotide in a DNA sequence. These events are rare but when they do happen, every descendant of the individual in which the event occurred will carry the mutation to the next generation.

Steve St Clair has posted a very helpful video of recent developments in his project which can be viewed here St. Clair DNA Study

I would also recommend a visit to the St. Clair DNA Study website where there are interviews with Bennett Greenspan, Terry Barton and  Richard White

James Naughtie's DNA

My six-week hell when I thought I might be English

James Naughtie political commentator and presenter of the 'Today' programme on BBC Radio 4 recently had his Y-DNA tested to discover his deep ancestral roots. He was found to be S142+ which is haplogroup I1d and indicative of possible Angle descent.

The light hearted account about his anxious wait for the results can be read  here and the Radio 4 programme listened to at James Naughties DNA

DNA Heritage database and Ybase transferred to Family Tree DNA

Significant news today with the transfer of the DNA Heritage database and customers to Family Tree DNA. This will now bring several Scottish surname projects under the wing of FTDNA such as the original Lindsay DNA Project.

Below is part of the message from Alastair Greenshields, principal of DNA Heritage:

April 2011   
Dear Customers,

Today we have signed an agreement with Family Tree DNA to transfer the DNA Heritage database, and also the Ybase domain, site and database.  In a few weeks time, the DNA Heritage domain will also be transferred.

Customers within the DNA Heritage database will be able to opt-in to be uploaded into the FTDNA database.  Family Tree DNA will organize this opt-in process.  New orders can then later be taken through Family Tree DNA.  Project Funds for Surname Projects will remain intact in the transfer.

In recent months sales have lowered which impacts the rate at which we can cover the costs of the lab process.  With no immediate rise in sales, this became unsustainable so we started the process of finding a suitable company that could a) absorb the customer database and b) continue testing at the same markers.  The number of companies that are able to do this is limited but we hope that our past customers will be happy with the transfer.

Because of the income from the sale of assets, testing will resume at our current labs and we shall complete all those in process, and also for those that have pre-paid.

See this link for more information:
http://www.familytreedna.com/landing/dna-heritage.aspx

The Gene Code - new series from the BBC

A new series is currently showing on BBC 4 on Monday evenings (also available on BBC iPlayer, but not accessible outside the UK).

Programme 1 - The Book of Life
Dr Adam Rutherford takes the viewer on a rollercoaster ride as he explores the consequences of one of the biggest scientific projects of all time - the decoding of the entire human genome in 2000. Adam discovers that every human carries the entire story of life on earth hidden in his or her DNA and sees how we are all linked directly to the origins of life and to the first creatures with backbones. He also investigates the implications of the fact that for much of its existence, the human race was an endangered species.

Programme 2 - Unlocking the Code
How we are coming to understand the very process by which our DNA makes each of us unique.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b010j64w

Family Tree DNA announce launch of new Y-DNA 111 marker test

This test is primarily for those who have close matches at 67 markers and are seeking to tighten the calculation to Most Recent Common Ancestor by testing an additional 44 markers.

The new test is available as an upgrade for customers with existing Y-DNA67 results and also as a standalone test for individuals looking to prove a close relationship on the direct paternal line:
Y Refine 67 to 111 (Upgrade)    $101
Y-DNA111    $339

Order via your Family Tree DNA homepage > Order Test & Upgrades > Order Standard Tests or if you are a new customer via this link order FTDNA test

The additional markers being tested are listed on this page - Family Tree DNA STR markers

Scotland's DNA: Who do you think you are? - Part 4

The Scotman newpaper continue their series of articles based on Alastair Moffat's radio programme, The Scots: A Genetic Journey.

The latest article can be found here Scotland's DNA: Who do you think you are? - Part 4

Here is a snapshot of particular interest to me personally. It concerns the MacLeods and a new marker called S68 (also known as L165). This was discovered by Dr Jim Wilson and is bringing fresh insight into the origins of Clan MacLeod.

Clan MacLeod is a fascinating case study. From a sample of the DNA of 45 Macleod Y chromosomes almost half, 47 per cent, clearly show social selection at work in that they descend from one individual. If this statistic is projected amongst the total number of MacLeods, it means that almost 10,000 men alive today are descended from this man. Among the remaining 53 per cent, researchers have found only nine other lineages present, showing that MacLeod men married women who were unfailingly faithful to them.

Nevertheless, the MacLeods do not carry the M17 marker group. Theirs is a recently discovered sub-group labelled S68. It is found in Lewis, Harris and Skye, core Macleod territory, but also in Orkney, Shetland and Norway, with a few examples in Sweden. Despite extensive screening, S68 is very specifically located, showing up only once in the east of Scotland and once in England. This is a classic pattern for a Viking marker in Britain, but one much rarer than M17. MacLeods determinedly claim descent from a common name father, a Norse aristocrat called Ljot, a relative of Olaf, King of Man. They are probably right to continue to claim that – science for once supporting tradition.

Follow this link for analysis of the results from the MacLeod DNA Project and other pages which highlight the deep ancestral relationship to several other surnames.

A new project specifically looking at S68/L165 can be found at R-L165 (S68) Project This marker has also been found in a group of MacDonalds from the Northern Highlands and a group of Bealls (Bells) from Fife. Testing is currently being carried out on a Buie from Jura and a MacNeil.

The MacNeil's of Barra (Group b. orange coloured ) are genetically related by STR matches with the group of MacDonald's mentioned above and who are positive for this marker. Testing is required to confim that these MacNeils also carry this marker, but STR results do suggest that they will also be positive.

The Scots: A Genetic Journey

The second episode of the new six part radio programme to compliment Alasdair Moffat's new book is still available (for another two days) on BBC Scotland iPlayer. Here's the blurb from the BBC:

In the second programme of the series, historian Alistair Moffat explores the history of the Scottish people, and where we all come from, in the light of new evidence from DNA science. It turns out that much of the history of population movement is written inside of us, in our genes.

Leaving East Barns in East Lothian, where you can still see traces of the land mass which once joined Scotland to the rest of Europe, Alistair tramps up Cairnpapple Hill near Linlithgow in the company of historical geneticist Jim Wilson, to discover the prehistoric traces of Scotland's first farmers, whose names are lost but whose DNA has survived to this day inside the bodies of modern Scots.

Further information on episodes one and two can be found here:

The Scots: A Genetic Journey - Episode one 

The Scots: A Genetic Journey - Episode two 

The Scots: A Genetic Journey : Episode 3

Alistair Moffat discovers how our history is influenced by the geography of Scotland. 

To be broadcast on Wednesday 2 March at 3.30pm BBC Radio Scotland. It is then available for seven days on BBC iPlayer.