I sit here and read and try to figure out what DNA testing really does. I'm beginning to formulate a theory that for much more than four or five generations back it really isn't worth much at this time. If you want to know if your father is really your father it's accurate. Maybe for a couple more generation back. Back much further it kind of become hit and miss. Especially for the most common group, r1b1*. As time goes on and more and more get tested this could/will change. [ but probably not before I'm dust in the bottom of a hole. ] Comment???? -- "A good moral character is the first essential in a man." George Washington

Y-DNA STR testing is useful at every level within genealogical time (20-24 generations, the period of surname adoption), now. We don't have to wait until we're dust to use it, and it's not at all "hit and miss." It only gets dicey when you try to go back beyond genealogical time, which, as a genealogist, I have no interest in doing. The testing is most effective when both the haplotype and the surname are rare, such as with my Haplogroup J2a4b CARRICOs, whose nearest matches in other surnames are only 5/12, 17/25, and 21/37. At the other extreme are common haplotypes in common surnames, such as R1b1b2-WAMH in SMITH, THOMPSON, DAVIS, etc. In these cases, it's imperative that everyone test to at least 67 and be deep SNP tested. I've yet to run into a case where sufficient testing didn't resolve the issues of relationship. Diana -----Original Message----- From: y-dna-projects-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:y-dna-projects-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Billie Walsh Sent: Saturday, July 24, 2010 9:05 AM To: y-dna-projects@rootsweb.com Subject: [Y-DNA-projects] DNA I sit here and read and try to figure out what DNA testing really does. I'm beginning to formulate a theory that for much more than four or five generations back it really isn't worth much at this time. If you want to know if your father is really your father it's accurate. Maybe for a couple more generation back. Back much further it kind of become hit and miss. Especially for the most common group, r1b1*. As time goes on and more and more get tested this could/will change. [ but probably not before I'm dust in the bottom of a hole. ] Comment????