In effort to finally track down those Ferguson roots, we are doing an additional (less comprehensive) test through Family Tree DNA to join the Ferguson DNA project. The test is a 37 marker DNA test that is a male specific test. Results identify the ethnic and geographic origin of the paternal line. It includes a balanced panel of thirty-seven Y-chromosome Short Tandem Repeat, STR, markers. This is the recommended test to trace the paternal ancestry of males for genealogy purposes. The additional markers refine the predicted time period in which two individuals are related and eliminate unrelated matches. A perfect match at thirty-seven markers indicates the two individuals share common ancestry in recent times. A haplogroup is determined and backed by our SNP Assurance Program. When another person shows identical results within our database, if both parties have signed the Family Tree DNA Release Form, then we will inform them of the match. The customer will also receive a certificate and report describing the testing process and the meaning of thirty-seven marker matches.
The Ferguson DNA project sounds like it will be a good resource. I have joined their mailing list to share our Ferguson "legends" and the details of our search. There are 215 members of the projects who have DNA results, I would think that at least a few of them would potentially have a common direct ancestor. If not, we would at least eliminate those lines apart of the project. Based on some preliminary information and guesswork, we may have found a line whose ancestry we do share! Next entry I will share the history of our search with Ferguson and the potential matches we may have found.
Part two of the History of DNA
Last post I revealed the results of the maternal DNA haplogroup and it's history. This week the results of the paternal DNA.
Haplogroup: I2b1 a subgroup of I2
Haplogroup I2 is most abundant in eastern Europe and on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, where it is found in 40% of the male population. Like its brother haplogroup, I1, I2 expanded northward at the end of the Ice Age about 12,000 to 14,000 years ago. But unlike I1, which expanded from the Iberian peninsula into northwestern Europe, I2 radiated outward from the Balkans into the eastern half of the continent.
Again these results make sense because the Paternal side contains German, English and Scottish roots.
Next entry: What do these results really mean? And........other features of 23 and me.
Haplogroup: I2b1 a subgroup of I2
Haplogroup: I2, a subgroup of I
Age: 28,000 years
Region: Eastern and Southern Europe
Populations: Balkans, Sardinians
Highlight: I2 is more common in southern Europe than I1.
Age: 28,000 years
Region: Eastern and Southern Europe
Populations: Balkans, Sardinians
Highlight: I2 is more common in southern Europe than I1.
Haplogroup I2 is most abundant in eastern Europe and on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, where it is found in 40% of the male population. Like its brother haplogroup, I1, I2 expanded northward at the end of the Ice Age about 12,000 to 14,000 years ago. But unlike I1, which expanded from the Iberian peninsula into northwestern Europe, I2 radiated outward from the Balkans into the eastern half of the continent.
IntroductionI is found almost exclusively in Europe, where about 20% of men have Y-chromosomes belonging to the haplogroup. It began spreading about 30,000 to 45,000 years among some of the first Homo sapiens to inhabit Europe.
The haplogroup's two main branches, I1 and I2, divided about 28,000 years ago. Archaeological evidence indicates it was a time of rapid change in Europe, as a new culture known as the Gravettian moved westward across the continent. The Grevettian people introduced new stone tool technology, as well as novel art forms typified by the distinctive fertility symbols known as "Venus" figurines.
Not long after haplogroup I arrived in Europe, the advancing Ice Age limited most of the continent's inhabitants to its southern fringes. Only Iberia, the Italian peninsula and the Balkans were mild enough to support substantial numbers of humans. As a result, the distribution of the haplogroup's branches today reflects the migrations that took place as the glaciers began retreating about 12,000 to 15,000 years ago.
Doggerland: A Real-Life AtlantisOne of the places that was repopulated as the Ice Age waned no longer exists. During the Ice Age and for some time afterward, lower sea levels exposed much of the area that is now covered by the North Sea. Known as "Doggerland," it must have been occupied by men bearing haplogroup I, because today that haplogroup is abundant in all of the countries surrounding the North Sea.
As the meltwaters of the retreating Ice Age glaciers caused sea levels to rise, the low-lying forests and wetlands of Doggerland gradually became inundated. Doggerland's inhabitants retreated to the higher ground that is now the North Sea coast.
Today the I2b1 branch of I2 is common in the Netherlands and Germany. Like I1, which is most common in Denmark and Sweden, it was probably found among the men who inhabited Doggerland. The presence of I2b1 in Sweden, particularly the northern province of Vasterbotten, is likely due to the more recent arrival of German and Dutch immigrants during the 17th century.
The Balkan BranchHaplogroup I2a is concentrated in eastern Europe and western Russia, reaching levels of 40% in Bosnia and 30% in Croatia. It arose about 11,000 years ago in the Balkans, prior to the arrival of agriculture. Soon after I2a arose, farmers from the Near East and Anatolia brought their techniques to the Balkans, where the local men - who often bore haplogroup I2a - took up the practice.
A branch of I2a, I2a2, is also commonly found in the Balkans. It is a much younger haplogroup, having arisen about 7,800 years ago at a time when the climate was relatively warm compared to the millennia before and after. Like I2a, hunter-gatherers bearing I2a2 began adopting the farming practices of men arriving from the east.
In the Spittoon...
The Balkan branch of haplogroup I2 is linked to the spread of agriculture in southeastern Europe. Learn more at the Spittoon.
Hidden in the PyreneesThe origins of the I2a1 branch of haplogroup I have been unclear for some time. Scientists now believe it originated high in the Pyrenees, the string of mountains that separates Spain from France. It may have arisen during the peak of the Ice Age about 21,000 years ago, when small groups of people retreated deep into the mountains to survive the harsh climate. About 12,000 years ago, as temperatures warmed and glaciers retreated, men bearing I2a1 expanded into Spain, France, and nearby Mediterranean Islands. Today I2a1 exists at moderate levels in its ancestral homeland, reaching about 8% among the people of the Pyrenees. It reaches extremely high levels on the island of Sardinia, where 40% of men bear the haplogroup.
The haplogroup's two main branches, I1 and I2, divided about 28,000 years ago. Archaeological evidence indicates it was a time of rapid change in Europe, as a new culture known as the Gravettian moved westward across the continent. The Grevettian people introduced new stone tool technology, as well as novel art forms typified by the distinctive fertility symbols known as "Venus" figurines.
Not long after haplogroup I arrived in Europe, the advancing Ice Age limited most of the continent's inhabitants to its southern fringes. Only Iberia, the Italian peninsula and the Balkans were mild enough to support substantial numbers of humans. As a result, the distribution of the haplogroup's branches today reflects the migrations that took place as the glaciers began retreating about 12,000 to 15,000 years ago.
Doggerland: A Real-Life AtlantisOne of the places that was repopulated as the Ice Age waned no longer exists. During the Ice Age and for some time afterward, lower sea levels exposed much of the area that is now covered by the North Sea. Known as "Doggerland," it must have been occupied by men bearing haplogroup I, because today that haplogroup is abundant in all of the countries surrounding the North Sea.
As the meltwaters of the retreating Ice Age glaciers caused sea levels to rise, the low-lying forests and wetlands of Doggerland gradually became inundated. Doggerland's inhabitants retreated to the higher ground that is now the North Sea coast.
Today the I2b1 branch of I2 is common in the Netherlands and Germany. Like I1, which is most common in Denmark and Sweden, it was probably found among the men who inhabited Doggerland. The presence of I2b1 in Sweden, particularly the northern province of Vasterbotten, is likely due to the more recent arrival of German and Dutch immigrants during the 17th century.
The Balkan BranchHaplogroup I2a is concentrated in eastern Europe and western Russia, reaching levels of 40% in Bosnia and 30% in Croatia. It arose about 11,000 years ago in the Balkans, prior to the arrival of agriculture. Soon after I2a arose, farmers from the Near East and Anatolia brought their techniques to the Balkans, where the local men - who often bore haplogroup I2a - took up the practice.
A branch of I2a, I2a2, is also commonly found in the Balkans. It is a much younger haplogroup, having arisen about 7,800 years ago at a time when the climate was relatively warm compared to the millennia before and after. Like I2a, hunter-gatherers bearing I2a2 began adopting the farming practices of men arriving from the east.
In the Spittoon...
The Balkan branch of haplogroup I2 is linked to the spread of agriculture in southeastern Europe. Learn more at the Spittoon.
Hidden in the PyreneesThe origins of the I2a1 branch of haplogroup I have been unclear for some time. Scientists now believe it originated high in the Pyrenees, the string of mountains that separates Spain from France. It may have arisen during the peak of the Ice Age about 21,000 years ago, when small groups of people retreated deep into the mountains to survive the harsh climate. About 12,000 years ago, as temperatures warmed and glaciers retreated, men bearing I2a1 expanded into Spain, France, and nearby Mediterranean Islands. Today I2a1 exists at moderate levels in its ancestral homeland, reaching about 8% among the people of the Pyrenees. It reaches extremely high levels on the island of Sardinia, where 40% of men bear the haplogroup.
Again these results make sense because the Paternal side contains German, English and Scottish roots.
Next entry: What do these results really mean? And........other features of 23 and me.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
History in your DNA?
Recently after hitting a road block in our Ferguson research, we decided to explore the genealogy of DNA. I searched out several companies and decided on 23 and me. You can visit it here.
There were a few things I liked about it over the other company Family Tree DNA. And now there are things I dislike about it once are results are here!.
One thing that I liked about 23 and me was their website. I know this is not an indication on how accurate our results will be, but I did appreciate the flash cartoons explaining how the DNA can tell a story of our ancient ancestry. (Part of the reason why I named my blog Modern Ancestry was because this is such a new technology telling such an old story). There are also several "movies" about pre-history and human evolution that really help understand what your results mean.
We had my Dad tested because testing is limited for females. Males will give the entire picture of the history of your DNA because males have an X and a Y chromosomes. 23 and me also tests mitochondrial DNA to determine more information from the maternal side. I liked the amount of DNA that was tested as well, which was far superior to most DNA companies who only look at a small sample to make generalizations. Another feature is their Relative Finder which tells you the likelihood of being related to other people who have been tested. It also gives a percentage break down of your ancestry in the following categories: European, African, and Asian.
Now for the results!
First our ancestry break down was no surprise: 100% European.
The Maternal line results which we've always been told is 100% Norwegian was assigned a Haploggroup. The Haplogroup is a group of similar haplotypes that share a common ancestor with a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) mutation. That probably doesn't make sense to most, so here is an explaination.
https://www.23andme.com/gen101/snps/#
Maternal Line Haplogroup: H3c
Basic info about this group
There were a few things I liked about it over the other company Family Tree DNA. And now there are things I dislike about it once are results are here!.
One thing that I liked about 23 and me was their website. I know this is not an indication on how accurate our results will be, but I did appreciate the flash cartoons explaining how the DNA can tell a story of our ancient ancestry. (Part of the reason why I named my blog Modern Ancestry was because this is such a new technology telling such an old story). There are also several "movies" about pre-history and human evolution that really help understand what your results mean.
We had my Dad tested because testing is limited for females. Males will give the entire picture of the history of your DNA because males have an X and a Y chromosomes. 23 and me also tests mitochondrial DNA to determine more information from the maternal side. I liked the amount of DNA that was tested as well, which was far superior to most DNA companies who only look at a small sample to make generalizations. Another feature is their Relative Finder which tells you the likelihood of being related to other people who have been tested. It also gives a percentage break down of your ancestry in the following categories: European, African, and Asian.
Now for the results!
First our ancestry break down was no surprise: 100% European.
The Maternal line results which we've always been told is 100% Norwegian was assigned a Haploggroup. The Haplogroup is a group of similar haplotypes that share a common ancestor with a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) mutation. That probably doesn't make sense to most, so here is an explaination.
https://www.23andme.com/gen101/snps/#
Maternal Line Haplogroup: H3c
Basic info about this group
Haplogroup: H3, a subgroup of H
Age: greater than 15,000 years
Region: Europe
Populations: Spanish (Galician), Basques
Highlight: H3 was involved in the resettlement of northern Europe after the Ice Age.
Haplogroup H, the parent of H3, originated in the Near East and then expanded throughout Europe toward the end of the Ice Age. H3 likely branched off the rest of H in Iberia and expanded across most of western Europe after the glaciers receded. Today, H3 is distributed across much of Europe and is rare elsewhere.
Age: greater than 15,000 years
Region: Europe
Populations: Spanish (Galician), Basques
Highlight: H3 was involved in the resettlement of northern Europe after the Ice Age.
Haplogroup H, the parent of H3, originated in the Near East and then expanded throughout Europe toward the end of the Ice Age. H3 likely branched off the rest of H in Iberia and expanded across most of western Europe after the glaciers receded. Today, H3 is distributed across much of Europe and is rare elsewhere.
IntroductionHaplogroup H dominates in western Europe, where about half the population carries one of its many forms. Although its origins are unclear, the haplogroup rose to prominence during the Ice Age, when much of Europe was blanketed by glaciers and its population squeezed into a handful of ice-free refuges in Iberia, Italy, the Balkans and the Caucasus.
Several branches of haplogroup H arose during that time, and after the glaciers receded most of them played a prominent role in the repopulation of the continent. With the subsequent spread of agriculture and the rise of organized military campaigns, the haplogroup achieved an even wider distribution. It is now found throughout Europe and at lower levels in Asia, reaching as far south as Arabia and eastward to the western fringes of Siberia.
The Origin of H3The H3 haplogroup arose during the Ice Age in northern Iberia, one of the only hospitable regions of Europe at a time when most of the continent was covered either by barren tundra or a mile-thick layer of ice. After Europe's climate started to warm about 11,000 years ago, people rapidly migrated northward into the formerly frozen landscape.
Haplogroup H3 followed two paths, one up the Atlantic seaboard to present-day France and the British Isles and another along the Mediterranean into Italy and Sardinia, then across the Alps into what is now Hungary.
Archaeologists have been able to track those migrations through the expansion of the Magdalenian culture, which left behind weapons specialized for the hunting of reindeer, bison and other big game and created magnificent cave paintings like the famous ones in Altamira, Spain and Lascaux, France.
H3 TodayHaplogroup H3 is now found throughout western Europe thanks to the dramatic northward migrations at the end of the Ice Age and more gradual diffusion since then. It is most common in and around northern Spain, reaching levels of 14% among the Basques and 8% among the Galicians of extreme northwestern Iberia. Outside Iberia, H3 is present in many parts of western Europe, though at much lower levels. For example, H3 is present in Sweden in more than 4% of the general population.
Outside of Europe, however, H3 is extremely rare. It reaches levels of about 2% among the Berbers of Morocco, due to the migration of Spanish women across the Gibraltar Strait since the Ice Age. A few individuals with H3 mitochondrial DNA have also been found in the Caucasus region of southwest Asia.
So as you can see this matches up well to what we do know about our ancestry. It's likely most of our ancestors were from the Scandanavian area. And what we have found is that most lines can be traced backed to the 1500's in Norway.
Stay tuned for Paternal Ancestory results next entry!
Several branches of haplogroup H arose during that time, and after the glaciers receded most of them played a prominent role in the repopulation of the continent. With the subsequent spread of agriculture and the rise of organized military campaigns, the haplogroup achieved an even wider distribution. It is now found throughout Europe and at lower levels in Asia, reaching as far south as Arabia and eastward to the western fringes of Siberia.
The Origin of H3The H3 haplogroup arose during the Ice Age in northern Iberia, one of the only hospitable regions of Europe at a time when most of the continent was covered either by barren tundra or a mile-thick layer of ice. After Europe's climate started to warm about 11,000 years ago, people rapidly migrated northward into the formerly frozen landscape.
Haplogroup H3 followed two paths, one up the Atlantic seaboard to present-day France and the British Isles and another along the Mediterranean into Italy and Sardinia, then across the Alps into what is now Hungary.
Archaeologists have been able to track those migrations through the expansion of the Magdalenian culture, which left behind weapons specialized for the hunting of reindeer, bison and other big game and created magnificent cave paintings like the famous ones in Altamira, Spain and Lascaux, France.
H3 TodayHaplogroup H3 is now found throughout western Europe thanks to the dramatic northward migrations at the end of the Ice Age and more gradual diffusion since then. It is most common in and around northern Spain, reaching levels of 14% among the Basques and 8% among the Galicians of extreme northwestern Iberia. Outside Iberia, H3 is present in many parts of western Europe, though at much lower levels. For example, H3 is present in Sweden in more than 4% of the general population.
Outside of Europe, however, H3 is extremely rare. It reaches levels of about 2% among the Berbers of Morocco, due to the migration of Spanish women across the Gibraltar Strait since the Ice Age. A few individuals with H3 mitochondrial DNA have also been found in the Caucasus region of southwest Asia.
So as you can see this matches up well to what we do know about our ancestry. It's likely most of our ancestors were from the Scandanavian area. And what we have found is that most lines can be traced backed to the 1500's in Norway.
Stay tuned for Paternal Ancestory results next entry!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
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