Genetic Geneology

Responding to an offer from FTDNA (Family Tree DNA), I sent off a DNA sample scraped from the insides of my cheeks in order to find out about my yDNA, my genetic heritage from the male line. I didn't know, at the time, that the basic check was for twelve markers, nor that hundreds of people had the same results on those same twelve markers.A few of the matches share my surname, Henderson. My haplotype is r1b1c, very common to western Europe and the British Isles. Many people around the world are accidental matches just because there are so many of us.

Because I had so many matches, I was invited to refine the search, to add more markers. So far I haven't had any matches or even near matches on more than the basic twelve markers. But I was prompted to do some reading and learned that in addition to my yDNA test for my paternal line I can have my samples tested for my maternal line, my mtDNA or mitochondrial DNA.

I have also learned that I could have all of my DNA tests done free by Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation if I provide four generations of paternal and maternal genealogy for their study. Free is good. Immediate results not guaranteed: they will take several months to over a year before they publish your results in their database.

And I've discovered ISOGG (International Society of Genetic Genealogists), who have a useful Web site and several discussion groups and forums, a good source of information. I've signed up for their beginners discussion group, which seems advanced enough for me.

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