Thanks for the info. Once again, I am amazed at what you can find out on this website. Such wonderful teachers. Thank you for sharing your expertise. Lindy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kith-n-Kin" <Kith-n-Kin@cox.net> To: <varoots@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 12:15 PM Subject: Re: [VAROOTS] DNA for Julie >I have had a bit of trouble explaining this to others without getting into > the science and then watching their eyes glaze over. So, I came up with > this > (using the KISS method): > > mtDNA goes self (male or female), mother, mother's mother, mother's > mother's > mother. . . > > yDNA goes self (male only), father, father's father, father's father's > father. . . > > followed by some version of this: > > For patronymic [name follows father's name], patrolinial ["lineage" > follows > the male line] societies, which takes in a great number of European origin > families, the surname is used for yDNA as it is assumed that the surname > would have been passed down along with the yDNA. With the exception of > adoptions and 'dangerous liaisons', that is probably pretty much true. > > The same can't be said for the mtDNA, because of the different origin of > the > DNA, and because of the faceless and nameless females in legal records. > However, mtDNA is very good for tracking general human geographic origins. > > (If you want some mental exercise, beginning with yourself, follow your > mother's female line back as far as you can. Not too easy, huh? Did you > run > out later than 1800? No surprise! It is interesting that when you ask > someone about their mother's line, they usually begin talking about her > father, not about her mother!) > > In a society where matronymic "bynames" occur, it may be more possible. > For > examples, in some of the Scandinavian countries, Spanish and Hispanic > cultures and some Native American tribes the mother's name, surname, or > clan > is incorporated in the child's name. > > Personally, I think it is good for females to have, and have male > relatives > have, DNA tested, both y and mt. When you look at some of the results to > date, you find that there's more hash out there than you would have > guessed. > > Of course, this is 'just' biological inheritance we are talking about > here, > not social/cultural. It is *not* "family history" but "genetic history." > > Pat (in Tucson) > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > VAROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >