"Tracing Our Roots" Newsletter Archive (A monthly genealogy newsletter written by the late Brenda Kellow, dec'd, for the Plano Star Courier newspaper. We've included all the ones we could recover.)
Would you like to take the common question asked by most family historians, “Where do I come from?” to a new realm? Dedicated genealogists probably answer this question with a rousing “Yes!” It is now possible to use your DNA to identify genes proving a direct relationship to people living in Europe in prehistoric times?
The mitochondrial DNA passed down from seven women whose maternal clan populated over 95% of modern Europeans. In turn, these seven clans are connected to 27 other clans that populate the rest of the world according to Byron Sykes, professor of genetics at the Institute of Molecular Medicine at Oxford University in England and author of the popular book, “The Seven Daughters of Eve.”
Sykes decoded the DNA of remains frozen during the Ice Age in Northern Italy through maternal lines of Europeans living today. He enlarged the study from this initial examination to cover a much broader investigation of Europeans. His genetic research narrowed the search to the DNA makeup of seven primeval women he calls clan mothers whom he identifies as the “seven daughters of Eve.” Sykes named these seven DNA clusters or clan mothers from a time period ranging between 4,500 and 10,000 years: Ursula; Zenia; Helena; Velda; Tara; Katrine and Jasmine after the clusters he found after adopting Antonio Torroni’s alphabetic classification system. Sykes identifies a clan mother as a female who is the mother of at least two females. Her daughters would pass along the mitochondrial DNA from mother to daughter, time after time.
It isn’t surprising that there are only seven females identified for European descendants. In genealogy, we constantly find what I refer to as ‘genealogy cousins,’ or others who connect somewhere down the line to direct bloodlines.
Using Sykes’ advanced and somewhat difficult method of defining a mitochondrial link, from clan mother through direct bloodline to a 21st century female is called the MatriLine or “X-Line, and tracing the male line is called the Y-Line. Tracing a DNA match of both the MatriLine and Y-Line is only possible through males. The reason is that females carry only an X chromosome while men carry both an X from their mother and a Y from their father. Sykes explains in the book his difficult research technique through discussions of the ABO blood group; demic diffusion; mutation; cells and cell division; chromosomes; nucleus; recombination; and words like archaeological and climatic records; and human habitation.
After discussing his research methods he then embarks on the reasons for his DNA collection project, all of which sound worthwhile to an avid researcher like myself. After all, I began my search wanting to know my origins. This project gives me a chance to answer this question at a level never before dreamed of previously.
The procedure for collecting DNA for the “Seven Daughters” project involves swabbing a Q-tip looking collection stick ten times over the inside of each cheek, sealing it in its case, and mailing it and a $200 plus check to the Oxford research team. This sounded easy and painless to me, so I did it. So did over 18 members of Genealogy Friends. The results were promised in about six weeks. My husband’s Y-line result was the first to be returned. We found it educational and informative. We can’t wait until his X-Line and Viking DNA tests arrive. My X-Line results should arrive sometime this week.
To read more on the Oxford DNA project, please visit their website at www.oxfordancestors.com/daughters.html. Purchase the book online or your local bookstore for $15.95.
To hear about the topics including DNA, genealogy and genetics in person, attend the free lecture at the Harrington Library this Saturday, from 9:30 until noon. Leo Boca explains the scientific approach to ancient genealogy. He will also share the results of his recently received DNA testing results determining the “tribe” to which he belongs. His lecture provides insight into the background of specific DNA types and about the “tree of mankind” as presented in the referenced book.
On September 21, those participating in the project who have received their testing results will share them with those attending the Genealogy Friends Free Saturday Morning Seminar, 9:30 until noon. Wonder how many of the participants will share a common ancient ancestor?
Brenda Kellow, dec'd, Certified Genealogist and Certified Genealogical Instructor, had a Bachelor’s Degree in history and taught genealogy courses at the local Community College and computer genealogy at the University.
