Be Sure to Visit my new 1900 Galveston Storm Website at: http://freepages.genealogy.rootseb.com/~barnette
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MOLECULAR GENEALOGY-MODERN GENEALOGY
According to an article in the November issue of Science
an analysis of DNA samples taken from 1,007 men from 25 places in Europe shows about 80 per cent of the men share a specific Y chromosomal pattern. This shared pattern suggests they had a common unnamed ancestor who lived 40,000 years ago.
The new scientific discipline, Molecular Genealogy, is accomplished by using the information encoded in DNA to show the relatedness of one person to others in a population or group. Each male has a Y
chromosome which was passed to him by his father. The Y chromosome of the father was passed to him one generation at a time backwards through the male line for thousands of generations. A similar
Molecular Genealogy study is being conducted at Brigham Young University by a group led by Scott R. Woodward Ph.D. Woodward previously has worked with DNA in Egyptian mummies and the Dead Sea Scrolls. The research group hopes to
take blood samples from 100,000 people in 400 places around the world over a six year period. The person giving the sample will also supply a four generation family pedigree chart. The major objective of
the study is to determine the genetic composition of major populations throughout the world. The database will be used to identify the origins and affinities of an individual and/or family with unknown ancestry. The identification
of groups of DNA markers, or halotypes, that are unique to a population will be used to determine specific origins and affinities for individuals. By establishing genotypical links in each population and
between each of the populations, it will be possible to establish immigration and migration patterns. It will help individuals link to their ancestral homelands even when there is no traditional name based genealogy to lead them. Several noteworthy Molecular Genealogy cases have been cited in recent months. One of the more prominent cases involved proving some of the children of Sally Hemings were probable children of Thomas
Jefferson. Another case proved Cheddar Man, Britain's oldest complete skeleton buried over 9000 years ago has descendants living in Cheddar, England today. And another study has proven the Melungeons of East Tennessee have
Mediterranean genetic links rather than British proving they were not descendants of Sir Walter Raleigh's Lost Colony as many thought. Readers who would like to learn more about what is going on in the field of
Molecular Genealogy should visit the Molecular Genealogy website at
CHEROKEE CULTURAL CLASS
The Cherokee Cultural Society of Houston will offer an exciting course
that will explore the rich cultural heritage of the Cherokee. Cherokee History, Mythology and Genealogy will be offered on Saturday December 9 from 10 A.M. to 4:45 P.M. Taught by Cherokee Nation certified
teachers Deborah Scott, Gayle Ross and Marjorie Lowe the class will be held at the Bear Creek Library, 16719 Clay Road near Highway 6 in West Houston. For more information and to register, contact Barbra
(B.J.) Callihan at 281-208-1751 or e-mail
NEWS FROM THE BOOKSHELF
Sharon Carmack has written an informative new book titled Discovering
You Immigrant & Ethnic Ancestors: How To Find and Record Your Unique Heritage. The book sells for $18.99 plus postage and is available from the publisher, F&W Publications, 1507 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45207. The book is divided into three parts plus two appendixes, a bibliography and an index. The first part, Getting Your Genealogical Research Started explains how to begin a search for an ethnic or immigrant
ancestor and discusses some historical trends that might affect ones research. Included, there is a discussion on how to use published sources, computer databases, and original and compiled records such as
court, cemetery, church, naturalization and immigration records. The second part of the book, Major Ethnic Groups in America- Historical Views offers a short historical overview of about thirty ethnic immigrant
groups who settled in what became the United States. The historical view discusses the origins of each ethnic group, why they left their homeland and where they went when they got to North America. For each ethnic group there is a
bibliographical list of research guides, social histories, historical sources, finding aids, names of organizations, periodicals and internet websites. The last chapter, Leaving a Legacy, offers suggestions for
writing about one's ethnic or immigrant ancestors. Lastly, there are appendices with lists of archives, libraries and websites helpful to those researching their ethnic immigrant ancestors.
