Honoring Our Ancestors
Have You Already Been DNA Tested?
by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak

A few months ago, I was interviewed as part of an "expert panel" on the future of genealogy. Not surprisingly, I spouted off about my confidence in the ever-growing role of genetic genealogy, which I like to condense to 'genetealogy.'

Eye-Opener
When the article came out, I received a bit of an education. Others had remarked that genetealogy wouldn't be much of a factor until the databases of genetic data were as large as those of genealogical data -- until the entries numbered in the millions as they do at Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org and so forth.

It was only then that I realized for the first time that many -- and possibly most -- genealogists are unaware of an important, fundamental aspect of genetealogy. While it's true that genetic databases are measured in the thousands rather than millions, each person whose results are included is representing tens or hundreds of relatives by proxy. In other words, the DNA databases are far beefier than their absolute numbers would seem to indicate.

A Little Background
This might be a good time to back up a bit for a quick refresher. For those who are new to genetealogy, it helps to know that Y-DNA testing is by far the most popular. Only men have a Y-chromosome and it's passed intact from father to son down through the generations. It travels through the centuries and worms its way through our family trees essentially the same way that surnames do, and that's why surname projects are such a popular application.

Simply put, Y-DNA and surnames go hand-in-hand. Because of this, when one man gets tested, he represents a number of others sporting the same surname. His father, brothers, paternal uncles, and paternal cousins (both living and back in time through the generations) all share the same Y-DNA.

For instance, being female, I don't have Y-DNA, so when I wanted to test the Smolenyak family I was born into, I asked my father. But I could have also turned to one of my brothers, my father's brother, or a male Smolenyak cousin. Similarly, when I wanted to get my maternal grandmother's maiden name (Reynolds) represented in a Reynolds surname project, I sought out a male Reynolds cousin -- in this case, a first cousin once removed -- to take the test.

One Y-DNA Test Goes a Long Way
I was curious about the ripple effect of a single DNA sample, so as an experiment, I counted how many people in my family tree were represented by proxy by my father's test. The result? 62. Of these, 32 are alive. Of course, that figure will grow over time as I continue my research and identify other Smolenyaks -- and as fresh sprouts are added to the branches of our family tree!

On the day I wrote this article, the largest testing company's website indicated that their database contained 47,857 Y-DNA records. If my father is typical, then 47,857 x 62 people have been tested by proxy -- about 2,967,134 people by just one company.

How typical is my father's 62? I have no idea. His family strikes me as fairly average size-wise, but even if we were to assume that his family is three times the average, this one company's database would still hold genetic clues for about a million people. And if his figure is on the low side, who knows how many millions have already been tested-by-cousin and simply don't know it?

Where to Dig?
So how do you find out if you're one of the many whose distant cousin has already swabbed his cheek for your benefit? That's the tricky part. Ideally, in the future, genetic and genealogical databases will merge so that you'll be informed of DNA representation when you search on an ancestor's name in a conventional genealogy database, such as Ancestry World Tree.

Current DNA surname project managers might want to consider using the Post-it feature to add notes to relevant, existing family trees at Ancestry.com to inform others that a genetic project is underway and explain where to go for more information. Doing so could serve as a bit of a bridge for the time being. It's also possible to add a comment when uploading your own trees, although the only examples I can find at present are ones dealing with mtDNA, which focuses primarily on maternal lines.

But for now, if you want to find out if there's already a project on one or more surnames of interest to you, you'll have to do a little surfing as I explained in an earlier article.

To be thorough, you'll want to explore several DNA testing company sites and one or more of the online public access databases. Also, since the time I wrote this previous article, it's now become possible to search by surname at the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation site. Results come with pedigrees attached, so you can browse them for your ancestors -- a powerful option.

And the old standby -- googling a combination of 'DNA' and 'genealogy' and the surname of interest -- will frequently pop up a website dedicated to the relevant project. You might also want to try substituting a location or ethnic group for the surname, as there are more and more such projects. Louis Loccisano's Calabria DNA Project and Doug Miller's French-Canadian/Acadian/Metis/Cajun Heritage DNA Project are a couple of interesting examples (and if you have any roots in Osturna, Slovakia, be sure to contact me to join my village study!).

Already Tested?
What if your surfing reveals that you're one of the lucky ones who have already been tested by proxy? Perhaps you've discovered that other descendants of your direct line great-great-great-grandfather have already participated in a project centered on your surname. If so, congratulations! Now what? You'll definitely want to communicate with the project's manager, and if the contact information is provided, that cousin of yours who was thoughtful enough to get tested. But if you want to learn still more, scribble down that pile of numbers that represents your DNA results and stay tuned for my next article on online resources for further analysis. That also goes for those of you who have just been tested yourselves and aren't sure what to do next!

P.S. On Orphan Heirlooms
In addition to the orphan heirloom rescues I write about in this column, I'll be sharing still more rescues in an Ancestry Magazine column, so I'm on the lookout for more strays. If you have any you'd like to submit, please use the form on my website to do so.

Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak, co-author (with Ann Turner) of Trace Your Roots with DNA: Using Genetic Tests to Explore Your Family Tree (as well as In Search of Our Ancestors, Honoring Our Ancestors and They Came to America), can be contacted through www.genetealogy.com and www.honoringourancestors.com.

Upcoming Events Where Megan Will Be Speaking

• Haddon Heights Historical Society
  (January 17, 2006, Haddon Heights, NJ)
• Brooklyn Public Library
  (January 21, 2006, Brooklyn, NY)
• Charlotte County Genealogical Society
  (March 11, 2006, Port Charlotte, FL)
• Treasure Coast Genealogical Society
  (March 18, 2006, Ft. Pierce, FL)
• Camden County Historical Society
  (March 22, 2006, New Jersey)
• Haddonfield Historical Society
  (March 29, 2006, Tavistock, NJ)
• Genealogy Federation of Long Island
  (April 8, 2006, Stony Brook, NY)
• Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Philadelphia
  (April 10, 2006, Elkins Park, PA)
• Virginia Genealogical Society
  (April 22, 2006, Location TBD)

Details and links to upcoming events.

Copyright 2005, MyFamily.com.

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Ancestry Quick Tip
Reflective Shields
Dianne Maloney

In addition to Harry Short's photography tip in the 1 December edition, I have one that a friend passed on to me and, with his permission, here it is.

Ian Donaldson says:
Here is another tip that I use when shadows are a problem.

I use a reflective sun shield to shine light up dark areas. It is just a matter of having an assistant shine the light where it is needed. The light is soft and gentle and does not wash out the picture like a flash photo can do. The sun shield is one of those aluminum looking ones that are designed to be placed on the dash of your car to reflect the suns rays away from the interior. They are cheap, effective, light-weight and can be folded into a very small package for easy carrying.

I saw a professional photographer at a wedding using a very expensive reflector. When I went back to my car it suddenly dawned on me that I could use the reflector that I had on the dash. They work well and are so cheap that I have a number of them. I have also used aluminum foil as a reflector and that also makes a nice soft light that does not wash out details. Once you use one you will find a hundred uses for it. I still use a fill in flash if necessary, and the best bit about digital photography is that if you are not happy with the snap, just delete it and do it again until you are happy with the result.

Thanks to Dianne and Ian for today's Quick Tip! If you have a tip you would like to share with researchers, you can send it to: ADNeditor@ancestry.com.

Quick Tips may be reprinted, with credit to the submitter, in other Ancestry publications, so if you do not want your tip included in a publication other than the Ancestry Daily News and Ancestry Weekly Digest, please state so clearly in your message.

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Clipping of the Day
Sheriff's Sales
Alton Telegraph and Democratic Review (Alton, Illinois), 08 December 1848, page 2:

We observe that a change in the present mode of giving notice of the sales which Sheriffs are required to make, of property taken in execution, is suggested in several of our exchange papers. The suggestion appears to us not unworthy the serious attention of our next General Assembly. If it is right and proper to sell the goods of a debtor for the purpose of satisfying the lawful demands of his creditor, both justice and humanity require that the property thus applied should not be sacrificed, but that, on the contrary, it should command its fair value--not only in order that the debt for which it has been taken may be fully discharged, but also that the overplus, should there be any, may be returned to the former owner. This object, however, cannot be effected, unless those who are likely to become purchasers be advised of the time and place of sale; and that such information cannot be given by merely sticking up, at three different places in a county, an equal number of notices--which may or may not be seen by half a dozen persons--is very clear. The result frequently is, that the sales are poorly attended, and that the property offered either goes for a mere trifle, or is not sold at all for want of bidders; while the debt for which it was taken remains unpaid, and is perhaps increased by costs and charges, to double the original amount.

If, instead of the almost useless method of giving notice of sales by the Sheriff, the practice adopted in many other States of advertising them in the newspaper having the most extensive circulation in the county in which the property lies should be followed in Illinois, we think that the object intended would be attained with much greater certainty, as well as more consistently with the ends of justice; which should be, to give the creditor what is justly due to him, with all practicable expedition, and at the same time with the least possibly injury to the debtor. Almost every man of business takes, or at least reads, his county paper, if any is published within its limits, or that which is issued nearest his place of residence; and the notice of a sale inserted therein, and published three or four times would be seen by every one likely to become a purchaser. . . .

Subscribers with access to the Historical Newspapers Collection can view this clipping.

Click here to subscribe to the Historical Newspapers Collection at Ancestry.com.

Fast Fact
Content Centers at Ancestry.com

Ancestry.com has added Content Centers to its website, which can be found by clicking on each record type (e.g., Census, Immigration, Military, etc.) from the main search page.

Content centers provide helpful information about each record type, such as articles on reading old handwriting, search tips, and other follow-up records you'll want to explore. There are also links to free charts and forms. Each center has exclusive materials that can help users get a feel for that particular record type.

Check out the content centers by selecting a record type.

Product Spotlights

		Honoring Our Ancestors by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak Normally this book retails for $12.95, but today you can buy it in the Shops@Ancestry.com for $9.95.

Thought for Today
Margaret Fairless Barber

To look backward for a while is to refresh the eye, to restore it, and to render it the more fit for its prime function of looking forward.