Hi Susan, that's a wonderful overview of DNA testing that you gave -- the pros and the cons. Speaking personally, the best part has been discovery of information we had no way of knowing before, such as where my father's most distant ancestors came from as well as our female line. It's also an opportunity to contribute to science by banking your DNA for future generations. I think we should make Susan our official DNA expert! Merry Christmas to all, Linda Merle ----- Original Message ----- From: "Susan Hedeen" <chantillycarpets@earthlink.net> To: scotch-irish@rootsweb.com Cc: scotch-irish-request@rootsweb.com, AnnL7777@aol.com Sent: Friday, December 23, 2011 10:36:47 AM Subject: Re: [S-I] DNA sale Hi, List, first Merry Christmas Regarding the question, like Linda I've a bit of experience with both the DNA and the Lists. I think I'm more of a fan than Linda may be, but I also might be considered one of her nut cases hahaha. It all depends on perspective. DNA results will not make a lineage -- let's start there, but will it help in sorting out your lineage? Maybe -- Maybe Not. If you test the Y using a cell donation from one of your closely related males of the surname and others from your surname have also tested and they have an intact genealogy which is verified back to the time and place of your genealogy hole, then the results could be indeed helpful. This is everyone's dream. For some it has happened exactly this way. For a variety of reasons, however, this is not always the case. You will show matches -- some identical and or very close depending on the number of panels purchased, and depending on the projects some of those may also be with-in your surname. Whether or not your matches, however, have intact genealogies is another matter. Most descendants of immigrants into the Colonies out of Ireland who have not been able to establish their genealogies across the pond are not unique. The same obstacles we face, the Irish, Scot-Irish, and Scots also face. But this isn't to say that you might not get lucky. So is that advise not to test? Absolutely not. There is a whole host of information which results from DNA which is interesting and enlightening particularly since there is such a large data base of results which is increasing daily. With the Y, learning what the haplogroup of the linear paternal dna is may open up an entire world of new inquiry. Although one from Ireland would be suspected to be from one of the R1b groups, there are several of those which reflect different cultures and migrations; yet R1b clades and sub-clades is not a given. Other haplogroups with their sub-clades are found among Irish descendants as well. It really is dependent upon your goals and expectations whether or not DNA inquiry is worth it to you. For me every bit of it has been worth it despite not being able to fill in my specific over the pond holes, and for most who I speak with on the various lists agree with that sentiment; keep in mind, however, participation on the lists is an exercise of interest...so it would go to follow. If you go into it with an open mind and open expectations and devote the time and thought processes in learning about this tool, willing to participate in the lists of interest just as you have participated in this one, you may well find it as rich and rewarding as you have your traditional genealogical inquiries. You may also experience some of the frustrations which are prevalent in traditional genealogy as well. Susan

I found that with the Y testing there are a lot of "Brick Walls" that I do not need to waste my time on. There is a VERY large Abernathy family that I had been trying to connect to for years, but I had done the DNA thing, I found that there is NO way that I could be connected to this large group. Thanks, David C Abernathy Email disclaimers ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- This message represents the official view of the voices in my head. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.SchmeckAbernathy.com == All outgoing and incoming mail is scanned by F-Prot Antivirus  == -----Original Message----- From: scotch-irish-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:scotch-irish-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of lmerle@comcast.net Sent: Friday, December 23, 2011 8:25 AM To: scotch-irish@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [S-I] DNA sale Hi Susan, that's a wonderful overview of DNA testing that you gave -- the pros and the cons. Speaking personally, the best part has been discovery of information we had no way of knowing before, such as where my father's most distant ancestors came from as well as our female line. It's also an opportunity to contribute to science by banking your DNA for future generations. I think we should make Susan our official DNA expert! Merry Christmas to all, Linda Merle ----- Original Message ----- From: "Susan Hedeen" <chantillycarpets@earthlink.net> To: scotch-irish@rootsweb.com Cc: scotch-irish-request@rootsweb.com, AnnL7777@aol.com Sent: Friday, December 23, 2011 10:36:47 AM Subject: Re: [S-I] DNA sale Hi, List, first Merry Christmas Regarding the question, like Linda I've a bit of experience with both the DNA and the Lists. I think I'm more of a fan than Linda may be, but I also might be considered one of her nut cases hahaha. It all depends on perspective. DNA results will not make a lineage -- let's start there, but will it help in sorting out your lineage? Maybe -- Maybe Not. If you test the Y using a cell donation from one of your closely related males of the surname and others from your surname have also tested and they have an intact genealogy which is verified back to the time and place of your genealogy hole, then the results could be indeed helpful. This is everyone's dream. For some it has happened exactly this way. For a variety of reasons, however, this is not always the case. You will show matches -- some identical and or very close depending on the number of panels purchased, and depending on the projects some of those may also be with-in your surname. Whether or not your matches, however, have intact genealogies is another matter. Most descendants of immigrants into the Colonies out of Ireland who have not been able to establish their genealogies across the pond are not unique. The same obstacles we face, the Irish, Scot-Irish, and Scots also face. But this isn't to say that you might not get lucky. So is that advise not to test? Absolutely not. There is a whole host of information which results from DNA which is interesting and enlightening particularly since there is such a large data base of results which is increasing daily. With the Y, learning what the haplogroup of the linear paternal dna is may open up an entire world of new inquiry. Although one from Ireland would be suspected to be from one of the R1b groups, there are several of those which reflect different cultures and migrations; yet R1b clades and sub-clades is not a given. Other haplogroups with their sub-clades are found among Irish descendants as well. It really is dependent upon your goals and expectations whether or not DNA inquiry is worth it to you. For me every bit of it has been worth it despite not being able to fill in my specific over the pond holes, and for most who I speak with on the various lists agree with that sentiment; keep in mind, however, participation on the lists is an exercise of interest...so it would go to follow. If you go into it with an open mind and open expectations and devote the time and thought processes in learning about this tool, willing to participate in the lists of interest just as you have participated in this one, you may well find it as rich and rewarding as you have your traditional genealogical inquiries. You may also experience some of the frustrations which are prevalent in traditional genealogy as well. Susan ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SCOTCH-IRISH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message