I have recently found out that an inherited physical deformity from my husband's side of the family comes through his Wood/Woods line. Several family members have it and it isn't any kind of a problem- just a family characteristic that might lead us to clues to our Wood background. Maybe we'll get lucky and this little deformity might prove to be useful in breaking down our brick wall. The deformity is called congenital pectus carinatum. Basically those who have it; have the appearance of having a sunken-in chest. The medical description is below- but basically if it runs in your family you know it. If you've been on this list for a while you know I'm researching a Wood orphan. I'd like to find his siblings who were divided up at birth when the parents died of the flu. The siblings could have been sent anywhere in America. My orphan was sent to Missouri- possibly on an orphan train from MN, NY, or WI. Maybe you are searching an orphaned Wood child- mid 1800's? I think the parents died 1880. Do you have this physical characteristic in your Wood/Woods family? If you do; I'd like to hear from you. Other physical characteristics on my Wood/Woods line appear to be that at least in late 1800's the men were rather short- about 5 1/2 ft. tall and usually went bald in mid to late life. Does this match any of your family characteristics? congenital pectus carinatum (present at birth) The descriptive term for an abnormal formation of the rib cage where the distance from the breastbone (sternum) to the backbone (vertebrae) is decreased, resulting in a caved-in or sunken chest appearance If you don't have this characteristic and you are curious I'll just tell you that it causes no medical problems and the only time anyone notices it in our family members is if they happen to have their shirt off (swimming or something). Mostly the boys in my husband's family have it although a couple of the women have it.

In the Woods line, there is also http://www.alpha1.org I was diagnoised in 89 with this and am a lifetime smoker, this in inherrited emphysems. And it is a killer, took the life of my mom and her 3 sibblings, my father died from the liver cancer and his father also. It is a common as cystic fibrosis. I encourage you all to check the web site another site http://www.alphaone.org http://www.alpha2alpha.org God bless Lynda Lindsey Woods in copich county MS from 1830 through today. At 01:54 AM 12/30/2000 -0800, Lequia wrote: >I have recently found out that an inherited physical deformity from my husband's side of the family comes through his Wood/Woods line. Several family members have it and it isn't any kind of a problem- just a family characteristic that might lead us to clues to our Wood background. Maybe we'll get lucky and this little deformity might prove to be useful in breaking down our brick wall. The deformity is called congenital pectus carinatum. Basically those who have it; have the appearance of having a sunken-in chest. The medical description is below- but basically if it runs in your family you know it. > >If you've been on this list for a while you know I'm researching a Wood orphan. I'd like to find his siblings who were divided up at birth when the parents died of the flu. The siblings could have been sent anywhere in America. My orphan was sent to Missouri- possibly on an orphan train from MN, NY, or WI. Maybe you are searching an orphaned Wood child- mid 1800's? I think the parents died 1880. Do you have this physical characteristic in your Wood/Woods family? If you do; I'd like to hear from you. > >Other physical characteristics on my Wood/Woods line appear to be that at least in late 1800's the men were rather short- about 5 1/2 ft. tall and usually went bald in mid to late life. Does this match any of your family characteristics? > > >congenital pectus carinatum (present at birth) > >The descriptive term for an abnormal formation of the rib cage where the distance from the breastbone (sternum) to the backbone (vertebrae) is decreased, resulting in a caved-in or sunken chest appearance > >If you don't have this characteristic and you are curious I'll just tell you that it causes no medical problems and the only time anyone notices it in our family members is if they happen to have their shirt off (swimming or something). Mostly the boys in my husband's family have it although a couple of the women have it. > > My Family Tree must have been used for firewood!!

Thanks to Sheri for bringing up an interesting research tool. I can't say we have evidence of this particular trait in my Woods line. (Although enough of my male Woods do enough chest-pounding that they may have simulated it! <grin>) I'll throw out my own request along these lines: if anyone has found the genetic condition albinism in their Woods lines -- particularly the Woods in North Carolina -- please contact me. This is an inherited (autosomal recessive) condition, and both parents must carry the gene for it to manifest. (In spite of my mother's protests that she "had nothing to do with it".) In my generation, there are two of us with oculocutaneous albinism (paternal WOODS, maternal MORTON), and two known in my father's generation (sibling first cousins of my father -- paternal WOODS, maternal TAYLOR). I suspect that there is some ocular albinism in one of my niece's children, but can't say for sure yet. This condition sometimes isn't as easily spotted as the one Sheri is describing, so I've included a excerpt from the NOAH website (www.albinism.org) below. However, if you have a relative who had unusually pale skin, hair, eyes, poor vision or unusual susceptibility to skin cancer, this might be the reason. ------- Genetics of Albinism: For nearly all types of albinism both parents must carry an albinism gene to have a child with albinism. Because the body has two sets of genes person may have normal pigmentation but carry the albinism gene. If a person has one gene for normal pigmentation and one gene for albinism, he or she will have enough genetic information to make normal pigment. The albinism gene is "recessive"_it does not result in albinism unless a person has two copies of the gene for albinism and no copy of the gene that makes normal pigment. When both parents carry the gene, and neither parent has albinism, there is a one in four chance at each pregnancy that the baby will be born with albinism. This type of inheritance is called autosomal recessive inheritance. (The most common type of ocular albinism follows a different pattern of inheritance. The NOAH Information Bulletin "Ocular Albinism" has more information.) Each parent of a child with oculocutaneous albinism must carry the gene. Both the father and the mother must carry the gene for albinism. For couples who have not had a child with albinism, there is no simple test to determine whether a person carries a gene for albinism. Researchers have analyzed DNA of people with albinism and found the changes that cause albinism, but these changes are not always in exactly the same place, even for a given type of albinism. Therefore the tests for the gene may be inconclusive.... Vision Rehabilitation: Eye conditions common in albinism include Nystagmus, irregular rapid movement of the eyes back and forth. Strabismus, muscle imbalance of the eyes ("crossed eyes" or "lazy eye") Sensitivity to bright light and glare. People with albinism may be either far-sighted or near-sighted, and often have astigmatism (distortion of a viewed image). These eye problems result from abnormal development of the eye because of lack of pigment. The retina, the surface inside the eye that receives light, does not develop normally before birth and in infancy. The nerve signals from the retina to the brain do not follow the usual nerve routes. The iris, the colored area in the center of the eye, does not have enough pigment to screen out stray light coming into the eye. (Light normally enters the eye only through the pupil, the dark opening in the center of the iris, but in albinism light can pass through the iris as well.).... Medical Problems: In the United States, people with albinism live normal life spans and have the same types of general medical problems as the rest of the population. The lives of people with Hernansky-Pudlak syndrome can be shortened by lung disease or other problems. In tropical countries, those who do not use skin protection may develop life-threatening skin cancers. If they use appropriate skin protection, such as sunscreen lotions rated 20 or higher, and opaque clothing, people with albinism can enjoy outdoor activities even in summer.