CLOUD Surname DNA Project

Genetic Genealogy A Report on The CLOUD DNA Project. 1.Our Data Examined 2.Intro to Genetic Genealogy & DNA Genealogical DNA and its Components 4.Examining & Interpreting DNA Data 5.Drawing for Door Prize

DNA in Genealogy (Genetic Genealogy) What is it? –A new & exciting field of science. –An adjunct to traditional genealogy (not stand-alone proof). What can it do? –Help break down ancestral brick walls. –Verify lineages. –Validate documentation. –Show who you’re NOT related to (eliminate unnecessary time and money following ‘unrelated’ leads.) –Indicate a common ancestor with another person. –Predict a range of time when the common ancestor lived.

DNA in Genealogy (Genetic Genealogy) What can it NOT do? –Can’t identify any specific ancestor. –Can’t give a name or tell “who”. –Only traces 1 ancestor per generation. 1 generation back – 2 parents, only 1 traced 6 generations back – 64 5 th great grandparents, 1 traced 10 generations ago – th great grandparents, 1 traced –Won’t show ethnicity of any but the line being traced (see above). (e.g. Native American)

Graphic provided by Family Tree DNA Y-DNAmtDNA Pedigree traced by DNA

Graphic provided by Family Tree DNA Y-DNAmtDNA Not traced. Other Lines Traced in Other Surname Projects.

Graphic provided by Family Tree DNA Y-DNAmtDNA Special tests available – autosomal DNA.

Intro to DNA

Functions of DNA 1.Determine our physical makeup – autosomal or coding DNA * recombinant – i.e. comes from both parents 2.Determine our sex – Y chromosome – non-coding (“junk DNA”) * Y is from father only – (non-recombinant) 3.Provide power for the cell – mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) – non-coding * mtDNA from mother only – (non-recombinant)

DNA Signatures

1.Determine our physical makeup - autosomal or coding DNA Unique to a person – forensics, paternity 2.Determine our sex - Y chromosome – non-coding (“junk DNA”) Unique to a GROUP – paternal line 3.Provide power for the cell - mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) – non-coding Unique to a GROUP – maternal line

Cell Structure Mitochondria Nucleus 23 pairs of Chromosomes 22 of the 23 pair are “coding” or autosomal – both parents contribute to them. The 23 rd pair are non-coding. They are the sex genes – the X and Y chromosomes. X X =X Y =

1 pair sex chromosomes 22 pairs Autosomes Graphic provided by Family Tree DNA Nuclear DNA

DNA Used for Genealogy

1.mtDNA – passed from a mother to her children. –Changes too slowly to be useful for recent relationships. –Woman’s surname changes, so maternal line is more difficult to trace. 2.Y-DNA – passed from a father to his son. –Changes often enough to be used for recent relationships. –Father’s surname passed through generations, making paternal line easier to trace.

Parts of Y-DNA used. 1.SNP – Single Nucleotide Polymorphism –Occurs very rarely – ~10,000 generations. –Identifies worldwide groups of people (ethnicity). 2.STR – Short Tandem Repeat –Change more quickly – ~ generations. –Can identify recent family groups.

Recap: Types of DNA used for identification: –autosomal DNA – not used in genealogy. Only recent ancestry – parents, grandparents. (paternity testing, forensics, etc.) –mtDNA – traces maternal line. –Y-DNA – traces paternal line. DNA components used. –SNP – traces deep ancestry. –STR – traces recent ancestry.

mtDNA – traces maternal line. Y-DNA – traces paternal line. SNP – traces deep ancestry. STR – traces recent ancestry.

Next: We will examine the DNA data.

DNA chromosome pair helix Intermission