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Archiver > DNA-R1B1C7 > 2007-12 > 1196783149


From: "David Ewing" <>
Subject: Re: [DNA-R1B1C7] DNA-R1B1C7 Digest, Vol 1, Issue 145 / Ewing
Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 08:45:49 -0700


Marie Kerr appropriately points out that we do not have to choose between
applying Y-DNA studies to genealogy or anthropology--it has applicability to
both. But that does not really respond to my comment. What I was trying to
point out is that this business of trying to draw "ethnic" and phenotypic
conclusions from Y-DNA data alone is based on a misunderstanding of what the
Y-DNA evidence can tell us.

As Marie points out, close Y-DNA matches on large marker-panels do give
evidence about genetic and genealogic connections in the paternal line. That
is what got most of us on the list interested in this science. But even
perfect 200-marker Y-DNA matches do not give us information on ethnicity or
appearance. Consider that an R1b1c7 great great granddaddy of a large number
of offspring by different mothers could have been a sailor, who fathered
sons in every port--one in Norway, one in Spain, one in Africa, one in
India, one in Cambodia, one in China, one in Tonga... Now suppose each of
these sons remained with their mothers, married local women, and their
descendants remained in each of these places and interbred with their
neighbors. Each of our R1b1c7 sailor's second great grandsons will have
received 100% of his Y-chromosome, and 6.25% (1/16) of his other genetic
material, on average. What would their ethnicities be? They would be
Norwegian, Spanish, African, Indian, Cambodian, Chinese, etc. And what would
they look like? Mostly, they would not look particularly like their great
great granddad--they would look like their neighbors.

This does not mean that it would be useless for them to check their
Y-chromosomes to find out who their 2nd great granddad and his paternal line
ancestors may have been. But it does mean that it would be useless for them
to check their Y-chromosomes to figure out what their ethnicity or "racial
characteristics" may be.

David Ewing

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