Dear List,

Having, literally, just come through my first round of yDNA testing for my Virginia Fallin family (first immigrant in Northumberland County prior to 1671), perhaps I can share what I've found so far.  First, unfortunately, it does remain true that testing a male with the surname being examined is the genealogical gold-standard.  Only yDNA (the "Y" indicates the test is on the Y chromosome, found only in males) will track a straight line through all of test subject's direct line (same surname) ancestors.  That is why so many discussions of "DNA" are really about yDNA testing.

Someone mentioned "mt" mitochondrial DNA testing.  While it's a technically amazing fact that mitochondrial DNA (our energy producing mitochondria are the remnants of a bacteria that at some point entered into a symbiotic relationship with all animals) will take one back through every mother.  But that can be a nightmare for genealogy, unless you are looking at only one or two steps, because every wife moving backward has a different surname.  In just a few generations you are completely outside a reasonable genealogical analysis.  On the other hand, if you have a unique question that only can be solved by this sort of sideways analysis -- go for it.

In my case, through a series of lucky events and tireless work by a late friend and collaborator, I have quite a good paper trail.  Others with my same name have not been so fortunate.  For some one with a brick wall, the yDNA analysis, if they can make a match, allows them to "borrow" another's paper trail and provide proof that they are on the right track.  By the same token, failure to make a match can save a researcher years of fruitless searching.

In my case the analysis yielded an unexpected dividend.  I have always assumed that the name was Irish and was a variation of a name more commonly spelled "Fallon/ O'Fallon."  I was so sure of it, that I spent a great deal of time digging around with that family's history in the 1600s and earlier.  Well the yDNA analysis has shown that I am related to a phonetically similar, but totally distinct Irish group, represented by the names "Phelan/Whalen/Faoláin."  There is no discernible relationship between the two sets of Irish names and my ancestry has now moved to an entirely different region in Ireland with a significantly different political history.  I know of no other way that I could have made this step and (despite throwing out about 10% of my research!) the test has already more than paid for itself.  In the meantime, my hoped for "yardstick" use for the analysis shows preliminary favorable signs (the only other Fallin yDNA test online is a match), everything now depends on others ponying up the cost to have the test done.

I used FTDNA.  I think they have the largest pool of tested subscribers who have given permission to have their tests matched with others.  On the other hand, I think all the test providers now use a system that allows them to check across one another's results.  My quick change in family origins was greatly facilitated by the fact that there is a "Phelan/Whalen/Faoláin" "project" at FTDNA.  In my case that project has collected a great many similar matches and was able to place me squarely in their group.  The co-leader of the project (in Australia) has been enormously helpful.  I'm not sure the extent to which the other test providers have evolved similar projects.

On the down side, I find the FTDNA site to be extremely opaque and difficult to explore.  Perhaps that's true of the other sites as well, but I would hope not.

Jack Fallin
Walnut Creek, CA 


On Feb 27, 2012, at 9:00 PM, VA-ROOTS automatic digest system wrote:

> 
> Topics of the day:
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>  1. Genealogy (8)
> 
>  3. DNA testing
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