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Archiver > DNA-R1B1C7 > 2010-09 > 1283451556


From: John Mclaughlin <>
Subject: Re: [R-M222] Clann Lugach mac Laoghaire
Date: Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:19:16 -0500
References: <AANLkTini_GCBe4NU1YBp2TQt5qGPU_3zYH6qffv4xvEv@mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTini_GCBe4NU1YBp2TQt5qGPU_3zYH6qffv4xvEv@mail.gmail.com>


On 9/2/2010 9:42 AM, David Ewing wrote:
> The best we could do is to genetically distinguish lines descended from
> individuals down each line at various removes in whom a mutation happened to
> have occurred. Let us suppose that we are speculating about which of the
> sons of Nial two present day families that we can distinguish genetically
> may be descended from. How are we to know that these two families are not in
> fact descended from the same son of Nial, but from different great great
> great grandsons? Indeed, how are we to know on the basis of Y-DNA that one
> of these families is not even descended from Nial at all, but rather from
> his great great great grandfather (ie, from Nial's 4th cousin)?

True. Unless Nial himself had some kind of unique mutation and that
does not appear to be the case. There's plenty of DNA for his known
descendants or alleged descendants.

The one thing I can't quite buy is the TMRCA estimate for M222 of ca.
200 AD. plus or minus. Some even come in at ca. 400 AD. at right at the
time of Nial. Since I can find no real explanation for the geographical
spread of M222 AFTER the time of Nial I have to assume it occurred prior
to Nial. And two centuries does not seem enough time to establish M222
in all the areas where it is now found. It's not just Ireland and
Scotland. There are also English matches and at least a few possible
French and German matches. Even a scattering in Scandinavia.

I do not think the true story of M222 has been written yet.

That's my own opinion, of course. Others will disagree.



John

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