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From: "David Ewing" <>
Subject: Re: [DNA-R1B1C7] On Behalf of Something like ethnic specifics
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:25:17 -0700


Yair Davidiy writes, "R1b1c7 members are probably of much less varied
origins than most ethnic groups. The chances are that some characteristic
attributes of statistical significance do exist."

Remember, the Y-chromosome only passes down the paternal line. Your paternal
grandfather has contributed only 25% of your genetic make up. Your 10th
great grandfather in the paternal line has contributed only 0.024%. R1b1c7
members do not constitute an "ethnic group." Indeed, genetic make up has
practically nothing to do with ethnicity, which is mainly a cultural and
linguistic phenomenon. Furthermore, the working genes on the Y-chromosome
are almost exclusively involved with spermatogenesis, and have next to
nothing to do with any observable physical features of the men who carry
them--the only exception I know of being the "hairy ears gene."

Have a look at Chapter 9 of Human Evolutionary Genetics, by M.A. Jobling, et
al, for a detailed discussion of the facts of human diversity and an
explanation of how genetics has been misunderstood and misused in
considerations of race and ethnicity.

David Ewing

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