(NOTE: THE FOLLOWING IS SENT TO PARTICIPANTS OF THE FAMIILYTREEDNA TEST) The results represent your actual allele positions for 12 locations on the Y chromosome, and are listed on your Certificate.  These alleles can be directly compared with other lab results.

These results can be compared to individuals to see how closely or distantly you may have shared that common ancestor.  The rate of mutational change is estimated to be approximately 1 change per 500 generations for these loci; however that estimate is currently the subject of scholarly debate.  We have noticed during the past 18 months that some of these markers seem to vary faster for some individuals and even families.  We expect that in the months to come we will be able to provide mutation rates on a per location basis rather than the current general estimate provided by specialists in this area. Plan on re-visiting our web site for information pertaining to this evolving statistic.  Since your test used 12 different loci, it is reasonable to expect a change to occur every 40 or so generations; however, these changes happen randomly and therefore can actually happen at any time. 

Specifically for genealogists, if you match another person exactly you have a 99.9% likelihood of sharing a common ancestor with that person.  This individual is described scientifically as the Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA).  Population geneticists then apply a term known as the Most Likely Estimate (MLE) of when your T (time to the) MRCA would have lived, however, that is an estimate and in each individual case the actual generation could be nearer or further from the person tested.  For the purposes of scientific discussion, our population geneticist feels that 25 years best expresses a typical generation prior to the Dark Ages and 25 to 30 years per generation for the period thereafter.

        |Understanding your 12 markers|

Since we are all related to one another if we go back far enough in time, it is important to only consider very close matches when we are using DNA to resolve genealogical questions.  We have supplied you with both a graph and a chart to help you better understand the information given.

The Graph: In each case a common ancestor is shared between two individuals.  In the case of 12/12 (a perfect match) the common ancestor is considerably more recent.  For that reason, many people who share a surname will share a perfect match.  Many surnames are much older than a few hundred years and two people may share a surname but only match 11/12 or even 10/12. In these cases, as the graph shows, the MLE of when their MRCA lived could be much further back in time.  Translation: you are related but probably much more distantly.  Please remember that due to the general scientific estimate of the change rate of the various locations of the Y chromosome this is not a precise science. 

Because these mutations rates may vary between families we provide a conservative estimate. While this may not be as satisfying it tends to error on the side of producing false negatives rather then the opposite.  The science of DNA and genealogy is quite new and has been adapted from Anthropology where the MRCA is allowed to be more ‘flexible’.

You are probably focusing on ‘when’ the MRCA actually lived.  We have provided a table on the next page to help you better understand this scientific issue.  The table, along with additional information available at our web site tells you, with statistical likelihood, the generation when your MRCA would have lived.  For example if two people matched exactly, there is a 50% probability that the MRCA was no longer than 14.5 generations ago and a 90% probability that the MRCA was no longer than 48 generation ago.

In the future, we hope to be able to bring forth examples of individuals related to famous persons in history so that researchers will be able to compare themselves.  At that time we will begin to list those historical figures and their alleles on our web site for your comparison.

Bruce Walsh, Ph.D., noted population geneticist from the University of Arizona provides us with this information.  An expert on population genetics and statistical applications and co-author of one of the leading texts in this area, Dr. Walsh sits on the Family Tree DNA advisory board.  His calculations are the basis for most discussions on the subject of DNA and the Time to the MRCA for genealogy today.  A more extensive list of calculations is available on our web site, as are additional graphs for your benefit.

        |Understanding your 12 markers|

It would be most useful to start by defining some terms. 

Point Mutation a change in a single base pair.

STR (Short Tandem Repeat) A region of repetitive DNA with short units of repetition (2 to 6 basis).

TMRCA this term used by population geneticists indicates the Time to the Most Recent Common Ancestor shared with another person.

Locus (plural-loci) a specific spot in the genome. A variable locus will have several possible alleles.

Gene the functional and physical unit of heredity passed from parent to offspring

Y-DNA non-recombining DNA determines whether a child will be a male or female.  Y-DNA passes from father to son almost unaltered for long periods of time.

Chromosomes are bundles of tightly coiled DNA. Humans have 23 paired chromosomes (22 pairs of autosomes and a single pair of sex chromosomes). A single chromosome of each pair is passed from each parent to child

Modal comes from the statistical term Mode, which means the value at which an absolute or maximum occurs in the frequency distribution of the variate.

Genotype the actual alleles present in an individual.

Haplotype is a genotype of genetically linked loci that are inherited in a block as a single unit.

Modal Haplotype (MH) Definition: any person who exactly matches the alleles found to be most common (Modal) among the descendants of a person. A person who matches 11 alleles while being 1 allele off in only 1 locus will be considered to be in the haplogroup, rather than in the family haplotype.

        |Understanding your 12 markers|

On your certificate, we have listed 12 of the loci that are utilized by the University of Arizona to determine the degree of relatedness, in both genealogical and anthropological terms, of diverse populations.  Michael Hammer, Ph.D., who sits on the Family Tree DNA Advisory Board, oversees this work as the director of the Genomic Analysis & Technology Core (GATC) facility.  Dr. Hammer also has appointment to the Department of Anthropology and the Department of Ecology.  He co-authored the first paper showing that present day ‘Cohanim’ are descended from a single male ancestor and is the discoverer of the YAP marker on the Y-chromosome commonly used in population studies today.

Resolution:  Your Family Tree DNA test examined 12 specific locations on your Y chromosome.  More genetic markers allow us to determine your TMCRA with tighter accuracy and greater specificity as found in the Table on page 2. A greater number of Loci do not increase the chance that you are related to someone. Scientists will tell you that if we go back far enough we are all related however the greater number of markers dramatically reduces your projected TMRCA with another person…the essence of most genealogical pursuits.

Our newest feature is our database of Recent Ethnic Origins.  This is a collaborative project between Family Tree DNA and the University of Arizona.  The REO database, accessible from our web sites main page requires a sample code (listed on your certificate), and a privacy code that was emailed to you in the last few days—also at the bottom of this page.  If you have misplaced your privacy code you may email info@familytreedna.com to obtain your personal code.  This code should not be shared with others, and the code will allow you to order additional tests, or refinements, under your name and using your DNA, from our web site. (NOTE: THIS FEATURE DESCRIBED IS FOR PARTICIPANTS IN THE DNA PROJECT ONLY.)

Once you have your results you may also want to match your results to a European Forensic database located at http://ystr.charite.de  

We have plans to continue to offer new innovative ways to trace your families’ anthro-genealogy in the future so it would be prudent to return to the web site from time to time to see what new and innovative opportunities exist for you.  While there remember to search for your surname in our Surnames Database Library to see how the Library continues to grow.