April 2019 – Edition 169 – Jerrems Journal

April 2019 – Edition 169

Your Jerrems Newsletter:

Here is what we learned about our ancient ancestry:

Introduction

Hang on to your hats for some exciting news! This article describes the DNA testing services now available and then tells you the interesting results obtained by Ray and myself and Irish reader Donal OCallaghan.

The above photo is a reconstruction of a Neanderthal man (see later to learn its relevance). Chances are he wasn’t a Jerrems, but more likely he was one of our earlier ancestors.

Editor’s Note: The narratives below were written by Donald in North Carolina US, Ray in Sydney, Australia and Donal with colorful editing.

Donald: Breaking my vow

There are a few things in life that I vowed I would never do:

Sky diving
Polar swimming in ice cold water (like Lake Michigan in January)
100-mile triathlon
DNA testing
And a lot more crazy things.

Well, I broke a vow.

DNA Challenge

How I got Hooked

Recently I received an interesting weekly email from David Gerwitz, one of my favorite bloggers at ZDNet.com. The article: “Before taking that DNA test: Six things you need to know.”

Here are some excerpts of David’s blog:

Services available

If you’re using a home DNA testing service, you’re likely looking for one of three things:

(a) Ancestry and family history: The first big draw of a full DNA test is that you’ll get a detailed breakdown on ancestry and ethnicity, and the migration patterns of your ancestors. Spoiler alert: Your ethnic background may be radically different than you think it is.

(b) Relative identification: With your permission, some DNA services will let you connect with relatives you never knew you had — other folks with matching DNA who have used the service and likewise given their permission to connect to possible relations.

(c) Health and disease info: DNA testing can also indicate which conditions for which you may have a preponderance. It’s a controversial feature, to be sure.

Understanding the test types

Generally, there are three different test types: Autosomal, Y-DNA, and mtDNA.

Autosomal tests are today the most common. They can be administered to both men and women, and trace back through the lineage of both sexes.

The Y-DNA test can only be administered to men, and traces DNA back through the patrilineal ancestry (basically from father to grandfather to great grandfather).

The mtDNA is matrilineal and lets you trace your ancestry back through your mother, her mother, and her mother going back.

Autosomal tests can get you quality genetic information going back about four or five generations. Because the Y-DNA and mtDNA tests are more focused on one side of the line, you can get information going back farther, but with less data about family structure.

Here is the part of David’s blog that caught my interest:

A Guide to Different Services

(https://www.cnet.com/news/best-dna-ancestry-testing-kits/)

(a) 23andMe

Price: $99 or $199 with health info (plus $9.95 shipping)

Tests: Autosomal, Y-DNA, mtDNA, Health

Match Database: 1 million

Autosomal SNPs tested: 650,000

Named after the 23 chromosomes found in human cells, 23andMe offers quite a large range of tests, including health tests

(b) Ancestry DNA

Ancestry is the big name in DNA services, in large part because of its ongoing affiliation with the Mormon Church and their fascination with genealogical record keeping. Its offerings pre-date its DNA testing. The Ancestry.com service is a separate subscription service that offers access to a wide range of databases and research resources.

Price: $99

Tests: Autosomal, Y-DNA, mtDNA

Match Database: Just getting started

Autosomal SNPs tested: 638,000

This is a UK-based genomics firm that offers autosomal DNA data, as well as a breakdown of matrilineal and patrilineal lines. DNA data is gathered through a mouth swab. We liked how shipping for the test kit is free. If you’re looking for a DNA service that can match you to other possible relatives throughout the world, Living DNA is not the service for you.

(d) National Geographic Geno DNA Kit

Price: $99.95 paid by Donald. Now $69.95

Tests: Autosomal, Y-DNA, mtDNA

Match Database: 230,000

Autosomal SNPs tested: 700,000

If you’re more interested in the societal aspects of your genetic makeup than finding family connections, the National Geographic Genographics Project may well be a fascinating service to participate in.

While the Genographics Project labs are run by the same Gene-by-Gene firm that runs Family Tree DNA, test results are aimed at helping you trace your ancestors, not just down your mother’s and father’s line, but also based on chromosomal markers, to help you gain insights into ancestors who may not have been on your direct parental lines.

If you’re more interested in answering questions like “Where did I come from?” and “How far back can I trace my DNA?” rather than “Who was my great, great, great grandfather?” then this test may be for you.

Link to Explore National Geographics Geno DNA Kit. https://shop.nationalgeographic.com/collections/geno-2-0-dna-ancestry-kit-usa-delivery

Family Tree DNA

This offers Paternal Ancestry (Y-DNA) starting at $169 US, Maternal Ancestry (mt DNA) for $199 US and Family Finder (autosomal DNA) for $79 US.

Donal chose the latter test and the results are set out later in this article.

Why Donald bought the National Geographic Geno DNA Kit

I was intrigued with the National Geographic Geno Kit.

Here is their pitch:

Discover the complete story of your ancestors’ journey from 200,000 years ago to today with National Geographic’s Genographic Project and our Ancestry DNA kit, Geno 2.0.

National Geographic’s Genographic Project uses DNA analysis and cutting-edge technology to answer fundamental questions about where we originated and how our ancestors came to populate the Earth. Join the thousands of people who have already taken part in the Genographic Project— and unlock the mysteries of your deep ancestry.

So, despite my vow, I fell for the pitch.

I paid on line, registered, waited five days, got the kit, spat into a vial, closed the box, took to the post office for free mailing and sat back waiting for the results, which arrived six weeks later by email.

RESULTS OF DONALD JERREMS’ TEST

The results are very intriguing. My ancestry is made up of 79% Eastern Europe, 8% Southwestern Europe, 8% Northwestern Europe and 4% Northeastern Europe. This also includes 1.5% Neanderthal because as humans were first migrating out of Africa more than 60,000 years ago, Neanderthals were still living in Eurasia, where they originated. It seems our ancestors hit it off, leaving a small trace of these ancient relatives in my DNA, as with most people of European descent like our readers. Historically this interbreeding with the Neanderthals, who were much better adapted to cold climates, could have been advantageous. Perhaps my Neanderthal heritage explains why my dentist says I have strong teeth?

My Maternal Lineage Began About 150,000 Years Ago.

As shown on the map above, my maternal ancestors originated in North Africa and carried farming culture from the region of the “Fertile Crescent” into Europe (the colloquially named “Fertile Crescent” lies in Iraq, Israel/Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan as well as the southeastern fringe of Turkey and the western fringes of Iran). This revolutionized not only the way food was grown but introduced a shift from a nomadic lifestyle to a settled one. Changes to tools, pottery, and weapons may not otherwise have been possible. Thus, my cousins have played an important role in the history of the Fertile Crescent region and of Europe.

This is probably quite explicable because my more recent ancestors have come from the United Kingdom and Germany.

Perhaps the reference to pottery includes bottles, in which I am very interested if they contain wine.

My Paternal Lineage Began At Least 180,000 Years Ago.

As shown in the map below, after leaving Africa my paternal ancestors journeyed a long way further to the east into Central Asia. Hunters of megafauna such as the woolly mammoth on the open steppe, they followed their prey with the seasons. Though the big game animals later became extinct, my distant cousins still live as nomadic herders in these lands. This probably accounts for the fact that my ancestry is made up of 79% Eastern Europe.

Perhaps this explains why I am very keen on golf, where my ancestors’ horse riding skills are now relevant to my riding cantankerous golf buggies.

RESULTS OF RAY JERREMS’ TEST

Ray knew that Donald had bought the National Geographic Kit so he decided to buy the Ancestry DNA Kit to enable us to cover all bases (or so he thought).

The earliest genealogy date that Ray’s previous research has provided us is in the Jerrems Journal of September 2005 (marriage of William Jerom to Cecelia (Cis) Futtit on 29th July 1750 at St. Helen’s Church in Willingham-by-Stow near the city of Gainsborough). Later articles have referred to the very popular story that the Jerrems family were originally Huguenots who fled from France to avoid religious persecution in the 17thand 18th Centuries.

Ray hoped that the Ancestry DNA Kit results would solve this mystery, however the results only go back to the 1800s. The results show links with relatives up to five generations removed, however he has only obtained actual contact with a handful of relatives up to four generations removed, coming from ancestral lines he knew about quite extensively anyway. These lines included his maternal grandparents and paternal grandparents, the former including the big “plus” of locating Bruce Carron whose “Smith” grandmother was Ray’s grandfather’s sister.

The reason for this low “strike rate” is that, like the other tests, Ancestry.com relies on people who have been tested previously. Hopefully I will be contacted by people who have undertaken later tests.

RESULT OF DONAL OCALLAGHAN’STEST

Here is a photo of modern-day hunter gatherers, the San people of the African Kalahari.

As previously mentioned, Donal’s test was carried out with FamilyTreeDNA.com.

His reasons for selecting this test were, “The DNA test was operated by FamilyTreeDNA.com. I selected that company based on reviews that said it is particularly suited for family research. The test that was done was autosomal. I did not order a Y-DNA or mtDNA test. As I understand it, the matches are done across a shared database that is common to 23 and Me and other popular genealogy sites (subject to settings that we have selected on the site that we log into, so that for the most part much the same range of potential matches exists across several test kit suppliers. However, the algorithms for selecting matches may be different and people who submitted samples to different companies can get different matches and different people who submitted samples to different companies can get different matches and slightly different interpretations of their ancient origins.”

The results for Donal turned out to be spectacularly successful because he was provided with a “match” with a distant relative in Melbourne who provided a lot of “family tree” information.

Congratulations to Donal for being 100% European! Donal, who is related to our Healy readers, was also provided with this map which shows his earlier undated origins which could go back to Celtic, Viking (and earlier) times.

According to FamilyTreeDNA, the “shovel” icons on the map below are archaeology dig sites. The implication is that Donal’s sample was matched with DNA information from at least some of those sites, giving dates going back an impressive 8000 years and background information for each site.

An example of this information, for the site in Spain, is

Remains of a 7,000 year old Hunter-Gatherer, dubbed La Brana 1, were discovered in a cave in Northern Spain. Through analysis of DNA extracted from a tooth, La Brana 1’s remains have since shed some much needed light on the Mesolithic inhabitants of ancient Europe. DNA analysis has concluded that La Brana 1 carried genes that are associated with disease resistance, thus challenging the existing belief that the emergence of these genes coincided with the arrival of later farming communities. Analysis also suggests that this Hunter-Gatherer is more closely related to modern-day Northern Europeans than to Southern Europeans who have shown greater similarity with Hunter-Gatherer remains from regions in Sweden and Siberia.

Conclusion

Well, we now know where Donald gained his love of golf and fine wine, but we are no closer to solving the “Huguenot” conundrum. However we can now see the different types of reports obtained from the three tests selected.

Donald enjoying the recent Masters

Of course, I am not really there in person, maybe next year. However, I am in my recliner watching on The Golf Channel.

Please note the following:

I am wearing my green Masters Visor and golf shirt. I wear them only one week per year.
I am eating the traditional Masters pimento cheese sandwich and drinking Coke.
I am also wearing green shorts – part of my uniform for the week.
Please ignore the fake paunch… I have a pillow bulging out my back.