DNA

DNA is proving to be an interesting and challenging addition to the Genealogy repertoire. I have undertaken two DNA tests. Firstly, a number of years ago a test which looked at my deep ancestry roots and more recently an Ancestry DNA test which looks at my more recent DNA makeup and racial etc mix enabling matches with relatives over about 10 generations.

The First test findings:-

mtDNA Haplogroup U

My predicted mtDNA haplogroup is U. Population studies to date have found that mtDNA Haplogroup U is found in the highest concentration in Saami and is common in Europe.

The woman who founded mtDNA Haplogroup U is believed to have been born approximately 55,000 years ago in the Near East. Today, descendants of mtDNA Haplogroup U are found in Europe, the Middle East and South Asia (India). Many of the known subclades of mtDNA Haplogroup U have more distinct geographical distributions. Notable historical figures who belonged to mtDNA haplogroup U include the Cheddar Man (skeleton excavated from the Cheddar Gorge) and female bodies found from the Oseberg ship remains.

Y-DNA Haplogroup R1b

My predicted Y-DNA haplogroup is R1b (medium prediction strength). Population studies to date have found that Y-DNA Haplogroup R1b is found in the highest concentration in Ireland South.

The defining mutation for individuals who belong to Y-DNA Haplogroup R1b is a positive test for SNP marker M343. The man who founded Y-DNA Haplogroup R1b was born approximately 15,000 to 20,000 years ago prior to the end of the last Ice Age in southern Europe, Iberia or West Asia. Today, Y-DNA Haplogroup R1b is a dominant paternal family group of Western Europe.

Members of Y-DNA Haplogroup R1b are believed to be descendants of Cro-Magnon people, the first modern humans to enter Europe. Cro-Magnons lived from about 20,000 to 45,000 years ago in the Upper Palaeolithic period of the Pleistocene.

Cro-Magnons were anatomically modern, differing from their modern day descendants in Europe by their slightly more robust physiology. Cro-Magnons buried their dead intentionally, and likely had a knowledge of ritual, by burying their dead with necklaces and tools. Surviving Cro-Magnon artifacts include huts, cave paintings, carvings and antler-tipped spears. It is believed that the Cro-Magnon came into contact with the Neanderthals, who inhabited Europe and is thought to have caused the extinction of the Neanderthals. There is also recent fossil and DNA evidence that the Cro-Magnon people may have interbred with the Neanderthals.

When the ice sheets retracted at the end of the ice age, descendents of the R1b lineage migrated throughout western Europe. Today, Y-DNA Haplogroup R1b is found predominantly in western Europe, including England, Ireland, and parts of Spain and Portugal. It is especially concentrated in the west of Ireland where it can approach 100% of the population.

This Y-DNA Haplogroup contains the well known Atlantic Modal STR Haplotype (AMH). AMH is the most frequently occurring haplotype amongst human males with an Atlantic European ancestry. It is also the haplotype of Niall of the Nine Hostages, an Irish King in the Dark Ages who is the common ancestor of many people of Irish patrilineal descent.

The Ancestry test

My Ancestry test to some extent confirms my deep roots in the UK.

My Ethnicity estimate is 99% European being sub-divided as 85% Great Britain, 8% Scandinavian. I have trace regions of Ireland 3%, Iberian Peninsular 2% and Eastern Europe 1%. Finally a 1% trace in the Caucusus region of West Asia.

My Great Britain element is well above the average for the British population.

Ancestry is already proving useful in discovering links and confirming family lines. I would welcome contact with any family member who has undertaken a DNA test.