For those who aren't already experts in understanding genetic genealogy. A great list from Attorney Judy G. Russell and the International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG) (who is also an excellent speaker): Some recommended blogs to keep up with the fast-changing world of genetic genealogy. http://www.legalgenealogist.com/blog/2013/07/14/the-bloggers/ The bloggers Posted on July 14, 2013 by Judy G. Russell The must-read blogs of genetic genealogy Nobody alive knows everything. Certainly not everything about a subject where the underlying science is developing as fast as in the field of genetics. And particularly not everything about a subject where the underlying science is developing as fast as in the field of genetics and its application to what we do in genealogy. It’s an almost every-day occurrence these days that something new is learned about how genes are passed from generation to generation and how those markers can — or can’t — be used to help us identify relationships and document our family trees. And nobody — no one single person — can possibly keep up with it all. Which is a very long way of saying that you, Dear Reader, aren’t getting the whole story with a once-a-week blog post from yours truly, The Legal Genealogist, who, as that moniker may suggest, isn’t a geneticist anyway. Fortunately, our genealogical community is blessed with a fair number of folks who know their stuff in this area and whose work is readily available, free, in their blogs. So here, in strictly alphabetical order, are the bloggers I think write the most active and up-to-date must-read blogs of genetic genealogy, and I recommend them to you: Blaine Bettinger, The Genetic Genealogist Blaine Bettinger has a Ph.D. in biochemistry with a concentration in genetics and a law degree. When he’s not handling patent law questions for the law firm where he works, he’s chasing genetic genealogy questions for his blog. Main author of the free guide I Have The Results of My Genetic Genealogy Test, Now What?, he has been blogging as The Genetic Genealogist since 2007. Rebekah Canada, Haplogroup Rebekah Canada says she fell in love with genealogy when she was seven, combining “many bags of pogan ginger cookies” with “the women of Colonial New England.” In the years since then, she has become the go-to person for genetic genealogy projects and her current interests include minority population heritage, personal genomics education, and project administration best practices. She’s worked with the Genographic Project and with Family Tree DNA particularly clarifying the frequently asked questions, and launched Haplogroup in May of this year. Roberta Estes, DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy Roberta Estes is both a scientist and, in her own words, “an obsessed genealogist.” She manages a number of DNA-related volunteer projects, including the Lost Colony DNA research projects and regional Cumberland Gap Yline and mitochondrial DNA projects, co-administers several Native American and African DNA projects and serves in an advisory capacity for the Melungeon project and other groups. An expert in Native American heritage, she began writing DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy in 2012, celebrating the blog’s first anniversary just a few days ago. Debbie Cruwys Kennett, Cruwys News Debbie Cruwys Kennett is the lone international entry to the field, writing from England with the strength of years of experience managing her own Cruwys Surname Project and working with the Guild of One Name Studies. She is the author of two books, Social Networking: A Guide to Genealogy in the Twenty-First Century, published in 2011, and The Surnames Handbook, published in 2012, both by The History Press. She’s been writing Cruwys News since 2007. CeCe Moore, Your Genetic Genealogist Last but far from least is CeCe Moore, an independent professional genetic genealogist whose focus is on autosomal DNA testing. She’s the Southern California regional coordinator for the International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG), moderator for the ISOGG DNA Newbie List, administrator of several DNA projects, and administrator of or advisor to numerous adoption-related DNA groups. She began the Your Genetic Genealogist in 2010. And one more… One other I’d recommend that’s not exactly for mainstream genealogists, but then you can see why The Legal Genealogist would have to add this one, is the Genomics Law Report, written by the law firm of Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson of Charlotte, North Carolina. It’s good. Really. So go on. Add these to your blog-reader program or service. It’s the only way to even try to keep up with all that’s going on in genetic genealogy. Because nobody — no one single person — knows everything. Not even The Legal Genealogist

This list hasn't had much discussion on it for a while, and in particular there hasn't been anything said about the "Family Finder" test that looks for segments of DNA that people share with each other. One thing that distinguishes this test from others (such as mtDNA and Y-DNA tests) is that it can detect relationships that exist from various parts of a person's family tree (i.e., not just the direct female or direct male ancestral lines). The Family History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador now has a webpage that summarises the types of DNA test that are available: http://www.fhsnl.ca/?page_id=579 There are also some useful links for genetic genealogy at the bottom of each page on the FHSNL website. - David.

FYI: The Northern Pen in St Anthony has published an article about DNA results in Iceland that suggest that there might have been interaction between the Norse and north american natives a thousand years ago: http://www.northernpen.ca/News/2011-01-31/article-2185036/The-Icelandic-riddle/1 For what it's worth, there is a mtDNA project for Nfld and Labrador (a link to which can be found at http://www.fhsnl.ca ) No examples of the particular mtDNA profile found in Iceland have yet been found here though. - David.

Researching Ryall/Royal/Royle in Newfoundland, England, Ireland. Looking for information and willing to exchange same. Cheers Don

Hello listers, I've sent my DNA in for maternal family (Whiffen, Hynes, Webber) and got my cousin to do paternal (Whiffen). My brother took care of paternal on Murray. I've been getting some Murray responses more from here in US but not much on Whiffen. One guy who connected there with 25 markers won't reply. I'm just wondering if anyone else is hearing much from the Newfoundland side? Thanks! Researching: Whiffen/Bollard and Hynes; Murray/Tucker and Hawco (First 4 from Placentia Bay, last two Conception Bay).

My Eustace line, from James Eustace and Grace Cox of Torbay m 1770, has done DNA through Ron Eustice in Minneapolis and we have a match to a living Eustace living in Dublin who's family has been in Louth for generations. Are there any Eustace males still in NL.that have been tested? Pat, in Michigan

Hello Denny. Most of your questions, about what the origins of particular traits might be, are beyond my knowledge. Except that those which might be based on genetics are most likely to be from what is called "autosomal DNA" (which is a combination from both Mum and Dad) and is therefore difficult to track through past generations (because you can't tell from your own DNA alone which parent you might have inherited the different bits of autosomal DNA from). I can say a few words about another type of DNA that we have, called mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA for short). I'm not really aware of any physical traits that depend on it. We each inherit mtDNA only from our mothers, so it is easy to trace our mtDNA back through the generations (just look at your direct maternal lineage). The genetic signatures for mtDNA can typically be associated with one of about two dozen groups, which in turn tend to correspond to ancient geographical origins. For example, the H group is mostly associated with European origins, L with Africa, and A,B,C,D with both Asia and the Americas (as in native americans). There are other groups too, but this sample gives a quick overview. If you have your mtDNA tested, then your group would tell you something about the distant origins of your direct maternal line. There are various ways available to join the Nfld & Labrador mtDNA Project, the website for which is at: http://www.familytreedna.com/public/NfldLab-mtDNA/ The costs involved depend on which route you take, and on how detailed of a test you opt to take, but in general it costs about $100 US for the basic entry-level test. I should mention that there are also Y-chromosome tests that men can take. Y-DNA is passed only from father to son, so each man's Y group gives an indication of the distant origins of his direct paternal line. Personally, I'm more interested in relying on Y-DNA genetic signatures to establish genealogical ties than I am on knowing the one bit of information that the Y group would reveal (in my case, being in the "R1b" group confirmed that my paternal line is European, whereas the various markers in my particular Y-DNA genetic signature are helping me to determine which other Pike clans I'm related to). Still, your questions seem to be more focussed on the ancient origins, for which the mtDNA and Y-DNA tests can help answer questions about the distant origins of one's *direct* maternal and paternal lines, respectively. I hope that this helps. - David. From: "Bess Gillett" <bessgillett@hotmail.com> To: NFLD-LAB-DNA@rootsweb.com Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2007 02:15:31 +0000 Subject: [NL-DNA] Native Genetics Hi, on the 'web' it has a site dealing with 'do you think you have Native connections. 3 of those mentioned were bent small fingers, pointing inwards, toes, large big toes, the rest appear to have only one joint, but if you look closely there are actually two, but could be thought as being one, then double eyelids. Is this information correct, I don't remember the 4th, but I do have the aforementioned 3. Plus with some family members going back to Nfld. in the 1700s, I have completely straight hair, but one patch, the size of a baseball on the back of my head is a complete frizz, my l/2 Chinese granddaughter also has this friss in the same place. Going with the time frame with my Nfld. Hollett family in Adam's Cove, and the fact that I have found in Nlfd. will, the mention of freeing slaves, could this also be a genetic marker? When I mentioned frizz, this is a baseball sized complete 'African' frizz, Is there a possibility of a distant Hollett or Gillett having Negro connections. I did see a reference to a family from England who moved to Nfld., in the Twillingate area, their mother was supposed of African descent, and the sons moved to Nfld. because of the fact that marriages between Negroes and English were not aknowleged, and I believe our Notre Dame ancestory may have married into that family. Any info that you may have concerning the native connection and perhaps Negro genetic markers would be appreciated. Sincerely, Denise. p.s. I have notice your 'take a test'site, but with our reitrement funds, I would like to know the cost, and what really could be found out. My brother could pass for Indian in a minute, dark skinned, piercing big brown eyes and black hair, so there are some genetics working there as our mother is of Norway/Sweden heritage. Help! we have Gillett mentally disfuctional people here in BC. Please edit this e-mail as you see fit. Sincerely, Denny

Hi, on the 'web' it has a site dealing with 'do you think you have Native connections. 3 of those mentioned were bent small fingers, pointing inwards, toes, large big toes, the rest appear to have only one joint, but if you look closely there are actually two, but could be thought as being one, then double eyelids. Is this information correct, I don't remember the 4th, but I do have the aforementioned 3. Plus with some family members going back to Nfld. in the 1700s, I have completely straight hair, but one patch, the size of a baseball on the back of my head is a complete frizz, my l/2 Chinese granddaughter also has this friss in the same place. Going with the time frame with my Nfld. Hollett family in Adam's Cove, and the fact that I have found in Nlfd. will, the mention of freeing slaves, could this also be a genetic marker? When I mentioned frizz, this is a baseball sized complete 'African' frizz, Is there a possibility of a distant Hollett or Gillett having Negro connections. I did see a reference to a family from England who moved to Nfld., in the Twillingate area, their mother was supposed of African descent, and the sons moved to Nfld. because of the fact that marriages between Negroes and English were not aknowleged, and I believe our Notre Dame ancestory may have married into that family. Any info that you may have concerning the native connection and perhaps Negro genetic markers would be appreciated. Sincerely, Denise. p.s. I have notice your 'take a test'site, but with our reitrement funds, I would like to know the cost, and what really could be found out. My brother could pass for Indian in a minute, dark skinned, piercing big brown eyes and black hair, so there are some genetics working there as our mother is of Norway/Sweden heritage. Help! we have Gillett mentally disfuctional people here in BC. Please edit this e-mail as you see fit. Sincerely, Denny _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live Hotmail. Now with better security, storage and features. www.newhotmail.ca?icid=WLHMENCA149

Hi, my Gillett uncle had one son age 50 who died from water on the brain. His younger brother had two children who also never left the hospital, they had the same problem. The younger brother was told that this was a genetic problem, came down through the father's side of the family and could skip many generations. The paternal info fits: James Gillett of Exploits b.c. 1830s, son James Gillett of Exploits>St. Johns, son James Gillott (Gillett) of Vancouver, son Eugene Moulton Gillott born Los Angeles, it was Eugene's two sons who were affected. So, I'm guessing that I can't pass long this gene being female, but my brother could, he has no children. Thank you, Denise _________________________________________________________________ New Windows Live Hotmail is here. Upgrade for free and get a better look. www.newhotmail.ca?icid=WLHMENCA150

Hi Carolyn. Given what you describe, I'm going to guess that you've tested your mtDNA with FamilyTreeDNA, and that you are looking at the "mtDNA Ancestral Origins" page for your results. This page displays where other clients of FamilyTreeDNA that your mtDNA matches have said about where they think their maternal ancestral origins are. An entry such as "United Kingdom (2128) 263" on this page really says that 2128 people have stated "United Kingdom" as their maternal place of origin, and that 263 of these people match with you. Several members of mtDNA haplogroup H have a very common genetic signature (such as having only the single mutation 16519C), meaning that they have lots of matches, most of which involve a connection from well before the genealogical time frame of the past few hundred years. You might consider refining your results from just the HVR1 mutations to both HVR1+HVR2, as this will usually help to narrow things down a bit. Beyond that, you might also consider searching for matches that have something else in common, such as shared geography... one of the reasons that Sara-Lee and I established the Nfld & Labrador mtDNA Project is so that it might be possible to hone in on just those matches that also have Nfld/Labrador history. The project's website is at: http://www.familytreedna.com/public/NfldLab-mtDNA - David. On Fri, 27 Apr 2007, Carolyn wrote: > Hello, hello, just got my DNA test results back.... My test results are > back and I think I need a college course to understand it! I am > researching my mom: Mary J. Whiffen,, her mom/Bridget Hynes and her > mom/Hannah Webber from Placentia Bay Area of NL (originally from > England, Ireland and ?) I think! It's going to take a lot of looking > to understand results. I added up Country and counts that match with > score of 20 and over...looks like count of 731/UK; Germany/406; > Ireland/352 and Swedish countries/249, if this makes any sense. > Germany and Swedish countries were a surprize. I am of couse like many > - mostly H from 20,000 yrs ago, 40% of maternal lines from Europe. > > Note I found: Over the span of generations people and borders tend to > move, so a person's nationality or ethnicity becomes subjective. For > example, testers may enter Germany for ancestral origin, because the > land of their ancestors is Germany today, but the land could have been > held by Denmark for many centuries./ > / > All advice;/help will be appreciated./ > / > Carolyn Murray >

Hello, hello, just got my DNA test results back.... My test results are back and I think I need a college course to understand it! I am researching my mom: Mary J. Whiffen,, her mom/Bridget Hynes and her mom/Hannah Webber from Placentia Bay Area of NL (originally from England, Ireland and ?) I think! It's going to take a lot of looking to understand results. I added up Country and counts that match with score of 20 and over...looks like count of 731/UK; Germany/406; Ireland/352 and Swedish countries/249, if this makes any sense. Germany and Swedish countries were a surprize. I am of couse like many - mostly H from 20,000 yrs ago, 40% of maternal lines from Europe. Note I found: Over the span of generations people and borders tend to move, so a person's nationality or ethnicity becomes subjective. For example, testers may enter Germany for ancestral origin, because the land of their ancestors is Germany today, but the land could have been held by Denmark for many centuries./ / All advice;/help will be appreciated./ / Carolyn Murray

I too got results for my DNA (Corbett, Chapel's Cove and before that Ireland). Well, one place said mostly Class Q which is really rare. So I had new tests done by the brother by FamilyTreemaker which has a central registry. The first 12 markers came back R1B1C1 which is mostly United Kingdom including Ireland and some Europe. So I sent more money and awaiting 37 markers. The test is only as good as those others taking it. Who knows how it will turn out. Judy Judy Corbett Barker St Petersburg, Florida and Holyrood, Newfoundland, Canada Researching Newfoundland, New Jersey, Ireland, Channel Island of Jersey My website is _http://members.aol.com/judyb3753/index.html_ (http://members.aol.com/judyb3753/index.html) ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

Greetings. Let me welcome everybody to the NFLD-LAB-DNA mailing list. This list was created in part to serve as a mailing list for the Newfoundland and Labrador mtDNA Project, but more than that, it is a place where discussion about genetic genealogy with a focus on Newfoundland and Labrador is welcome and encouraged. The Newfoundland and Labrador mtDNA Project uses mitochondrial DNA. Everybody (both men and women) have mtDNA, but only women can pass it on to their children. As a result, mtDNA genetic signatures are shared by people who share a direct maternal ancestress. The primary goals of the Newfoundland and Labrador mtDNA Project include using mtDNA as a tool to assist with genealogy in Nfld and Labrador, as well as gaining a better understanding of the early women of our province and the family relationships between them. We also seek to identify mtDNA signatures for the native peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador. The website for the project is: http://www.familytreedna.com/public/NfldLab-mtDNA The project's volunteer coordinators are myself and Sara-Lee Beller. - David.