I do not have an answer, but some years ago a road crew dug up some unknown graves in Va., and were later determined to be my people. Exactly how they came to the conclusion they were Lock(e)'s is unknown to me. They were removed and placed in a cemetery. I now wonder if DNA could prove they are my direct kin even though we are talking like 9 generations ago? Like someone sort of said, the new genes brought in for each generation has likely weeded out any gene combo that could DNA link me to my family 9 generations ago, I would think anyway? I know this isn't the right forum to pose this question, but maybe we have among us a DNA person who could answer that. :)
 It would be very interesting to me and my family if we could DNA prove the family that was accidently dug up is in fact my kin.
Thanks
Donald Locke
> In a message dated 11/4/2003 10:37:01 AM Pacific Standard Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
> >
> (1) Would this not also be the case --- if it is the case --- not just in
> the Native American example given, but for any genetic inheritance.
> According to this argument, as I understand it, after a certain number of
> generations one would no longer carry any genetic inheritance ("markers")
> from earlier generations. If this were the case, and it we accept the idea
> that genealogy = DNA, then it would become irrelevant to search one's
> ancestors beyond some critical number of generations. Not that the
> intuitive is necessarily correct, this does not seem to make sense.
> <
>
> I can't remember the first message about this, but I can offer the little
> that I know.  The genes that are passed down to us from our parents are selected
> at random.  Each parent has two of each gene.  One could be for blue eyes and
> the other for brown, and each trait that we have including our skin color,
> hair color, looks, personality, etc.  They have two of each but can only pass
> one
> and that is a random selection.  So if you have an Indian in your past, you
> could have that gene passed each time, or it could have been filtered out long
> ago.  If you don't look like an Indian, the chances are you don't have the
> genes of one.  That fact doesn't change who our ancestors were.
>
> On the other hand, the DNA that is being used for the DNA genealogy Projects
> never changes, but remains the same from father to son forever.  This is why
> it is so useful in determining which family we belong to.  Every male with the
> same name in the same direct line will have the same DNA markers. The same
> goes for the mtDNA which is passed from mother to daughter. It is possible to
> tell from your numbers, who your ancestors where thousands of years ago.  Not
> their names, because, females change their name every generation through
> marriage, but where they were from.
>
> Julia French Wood
>
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