My DNA Test Results	The Y-Chromosome Test
The mtDNA Test	Hapologroups

 

DNA testing can help expand and corroborate your research. It can help you pinpoint more closely a geographic region for your family, and, when comparing with someone else with close matching results, tell you how many generations separate the two.

There are many companies that offer this service, but beware, some are much more expensive than others, and still offer the same level of service, so shop around.

My DNA Test Results
I recently took a Y-Chromosome DNA test in the hope that it might help me further my research with the Hancock line, and unlock more information about James Hancock. These results would be the same for any male members of my family (Father, Grandfather, Uncles, Brothers, Great-Grandfathers etc).

All it really did was confuse the Genetics Lab.

Apparently, my Haplogroup (see below), should be R1b which is a predominantly European group. This should link in with my research on my tree. The geographic location I should therefore, have been linked with is Western Europe (France, Spain, England, Ireland).
 

 

This is where it gets confusing......

The Haplogroup is correct, but according to my DNA, I have links going back 20+ Generations (550 - 600+ years) to the USA and a set of names that whilst European in origin, are mainly found with similar DNA markers to me in North America and Mexico (yee haa!).

 

Due to this a lot of extra research is being carried out by the genetics lab, but it looks like I have roots in that area.

After a discussion with the genetics researcher it seems more than possible that my ancestors were part of the early groups to settle in the new world from England. After spending many generations there and having families, someone has made the journey back to Europe to continue the Hancock line and bring us up to the present day.

The Tests:- (from Wikipedia)

The Y-Chromosome (male only test)
A man's paternal ancestry can be traced using the DNA on his Y chromosome (Y-DNA) through Y-STR testing. This is useful because the Y chromosome, like many European surnames, passes from father to son, and can be used to help study surnames. Women who wish to determine their paternal ancestry can ask their father, brother, paternal uncle, paternal grandfather, or a cousin who shares the same paternal lineage to take a test for them.

The mtDNA Test (Mitochondrial)
A person's maternal ancestry can be traced using his or her mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The DNA in the human mitochondria is passed down by the mother unchanged.

Haplogroups
In the study of molecular evolution, a haplogroup is a group of similar haplotypes that share a common ancestor with a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) mutation.

 

Because a haplogroup consists of similar haplotypes, this is what makes it possible to predict a haplogroup from Haplotypes.

A SNP test confirms a haplogroup. Haplogroups are assigned letters of the alphabet, and refinements consist of additional number and letter combinations, Example: R1b1.

Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA haplogroups have different haplogroup designations.

Haplogroups pertain to deep ancestral origins dating back thousands of years.