Hi John, Think of it this way. For each of your "genetic distances" you're between 250 and 500 generations away from a common ancestor with that person. A generation is about 25 years. So for each genetic distance you're off, it means you don't share a common ancestor for 6,250 years. The participant in your group with the same last name who's off 11 markers of 25 is not related to you for a long, long time. It points to a "non-paternal event" meaning an adoption or perhaps an infidelity. You and this person, therefore, are not sharing a common ancestor for about 68,750 years. Humans journeyed from Africa into the Middle East about 75,000 years ago. Those who went towards the East, into the steppes and Asia, developed into the Q haplotype. Therefore, those of Aboriginal descent will likely have some form of Q haplotype. The Indians of North America all share this. I've looked briefly for DNA tests of Aboriginals, but not yet found any. If you do, I'd bet dollars to donuts they are in the Q haplogroup. One point regarding the genetic distance and the years to a MRCA, most recent common ancestor... My project is strong evidence that the genetic markers that are known to mutate more quickly are, in fact, mutating at an astonishing rate of about once every 200 years. Not generations... years!! So take that into account as your examine which markers you differ on with this participant. It sounds like, in this case for you, it won't make that much difference. Best, Steve -----Original Message----- From: Shankland(Train) [mailto:Shankland@bellsouth.net] Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 4:46 PM To: SCOT-DNA-L@rootsweb.com Subject: RE: [SCOT-DNA] Deep DNA I guess I am missing something. I understand the genetic concept of a DNA Adam but I don't understand how it relates to the test we are taking.

Hi Steve By "each of your genetic distances" do you mean each single step mutation between one person and another? If so then 250-500 generations sounds like a lot? In any case it depends how many markers you are watching. One change in one particular marker is very unlikely on any particular generation, but one change in 37 markers is not so strange. Two brothers can be different. Regards Andrew -----Original Message----- From: Steve St. Clair [mailto:steve@planetcentral.com] Sent: Thursday, 6 April 2006 11:11 PM To: SCOT-DNA-L@rootsweb.com Subject: RE: [SCOT-DNA] Deep DNA Hi John, Think of it this way. For each of your "genetic distances" you're between 250 and 500 generations away from a common ancestor with that person.