At 01:45 PM 07/21/2002 -0400, Trena wrote: >Perhaps I am missing something here. I have more than a passing interest in >DNA, though not normally from the genealogy angle. So what I do not >understand is how those seeking DNA testing to prove they descend from a >particular ancestor, who has been dead for 200 or more years, without >knowing his DNA, expect to actually prove it? A group of people who are >tested can prove whether or not they are from the same family/ancestor, but >if they are not following the same lines in their reseach, what happens? I >would think there would be a limit to how far back DNA research can take >you. You can only take samples from living people. Unless the plan is to >dig up our ancestors (I doubt the authorities would grant this, *just* for >general genealogy research), how else can DNA testing prove you descend from >Joe Bloggs born c1700 or whatever? If one tests the "Y" chromosome male Stone "A", with a proven descent, his "Y" chromosome will be identical, with minor mutations, to that of all his proven male Stone ancestors. Any other male (call him Stone "B") who carries that same "Y" chromosome has a common ancestor with Stone "A". From there one can draw parallels. Bill McMahon

----- Original Message ----- From: "William McMahon" <wamcm@satx.net> To: <STONE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, July 21, 2002 3:00 PM Subject: Re: [STONE] Re: STONE-D Digest V02 #43 > > If one tests the "Y" chromosome male Stone "A", with a proven descent, his "Y" > chromosome will be identical, Proven descent ... well .. that's sort of where it could all fall apart. There are far too many out there, who have no proof beyond themselves or their parent. Message boards are full of people looking for leads on who they think are/might be their grandparents. I am sure each of you have, as I have, received countless e-mails from people asking if we are related due, to having the same last name. I even had one person tell me I was looking in the wrong countries (Can., Scotland & England) for my STONE, MATHEWSON/MATHESON, WHYATT/WYATT (connected through marriage) families, as they all originated in Missouri, then proceeded to send me *my* complete family tree! Or the one who had their genealogy posted on the internet (with Rootsweb.Com), who had my great-grandparents and 2x great-grandparents (complete with maiden surnames, bmd dates etc) listed as her own. Her STONEs and mine weren't even remotely connected. So I suppose using DNA in this way will at least *lump* the related cousins together, if nothing else. Can't go and dig up great-grandad, to make sure he really was grandad's father!! Trena.