The 8% Error?

**Singlemalt** · 12th March 11, 08:26 PM

I heard a program on CBC radio (Canadian equivalent of BBC) in the last year or so. That talked about an interesting statistic which was coming up through modern DNA research. What researchers were finding when doing DNA testing of modern people was that roughly 8% of us are sired by someone other than the fellow we regard as our father. I thought the really interesting part of this was apparently this percentage is pretty constant around the globe, across cultural and religious barriers.

On one hand the story made me smile as it points to the commonality of mankind in all our strengths and weaknesses. On the other hand as someone who has spent some time researching my own genealogy I wonder if I am wasting my time?

Assuming past generations shared the same passions, weakness and foibles as the current one, by the time you factor an 8% error rate into each generation when you go back a couple of centuries and perhaps 8-10 generations we really have no idea who our biological ancestors are.

We may be socially and culturally descended from those we uncover through genealogy but there is no guarantee we are biologically.

**MacBean** · 12th March 11, 08:39 PM

If you're interested in ancestors back in the 1700's, you probably have more than 200 direct ancestors (2*2*2*2 etc.). Some of those may not be genetic ancestors; adoption or placing children with other families was more common back when, but the majority of them are genetically related.

If you following a single line, say your patrilineal as I do (MacBean), then only one out of the 200-300 other ancestors of that time shared the name. Genetically, we are far more mixed than we realize, no matter where on earth we live; that's what makes sexual reproduction so valuable biologically...it guarantees mixing.

But perhaps you are seeking meaning, a story or two, a sense of identity. Those are completely under your control, are your choice and yours alone. Some here make no pretence of being Scottish...no matter. Others are sure they're Scottish, but I doubt that stands much scrutiny. We are all mixed.

My twopence...

**Singlemalt** · 12th March 11, 09:10 PM

I appreciate your take on this Mark. I am not particularly troubled by this. In fact it kind of comforts me in the commonality of all mankind. We really don't know who our brothers/cousins are so we should treat all people as though they could be.

At one time I was driven to search back as far as I could in my genealogy. More recently I have decided to try and learn as much as I could about the more recent lives and character of my more immediate family, parents, grandparents and great-grandparents who actually had a direct impact on me rather than some (maybe) ancestor two centuries ago.

If anyone out there still has a grandmother (or great-grandmother) around I suggest you make a big pot of tea and spend a whole afternoon asking her questions. I suspect you will learn a lot more about what makes you...you than ancestry.com will ever teach you.

Cam

**chrisupyonder** · 12th March 11, 11:43 PM

My surname could be Norman (France), German, Jewish, Viking and who know what else on my fathers side. Mothers side Norman, German, Irish. So I am a blend of Europe with hint of middle east on the side and a lot ended up in Scotland after the Norman invasion in 1066.

**ForresterModern** · 13th March 11, 05:42 AM

Originally Posted by chrisupyonder

My surname could be Norman (France), German, Jewish, Viking and who know what else on my fathers side. Mothers side Norman, German, Irish. So I am a blend of Europe with hint of middle east on the side and a lot ended up in Scotland after the Norman invasion in 1066.

Similar story here but even the surname can have a lineage of various heritages at different historical times. Foster derives from Forrester which historically originated with one specific person from a noble Flanders family, to England and southern Scotland with the Norman Conquest, settled in Scotland and northern England, some parts then moving on to Northern Ireland, some still there, some Scots-Irish immigrants to the US or elsewhere, some to Australia, some back to Holland then on to the US, some to the US or elsewhere directly from England or Scotland, where the name has been modified in various places over centuries to the many variations of Forrester, Forester, Forster, Foster, Vorster, etc....

And that is only my patrilineal surname line. Even worse when one traces the other English and German and even other Scottish lines, even some native American thrown in there for a little genetic and historic spice. As said above, we are all cousins in one way or another, and should treat all like we are each others' familiy (well better than some family in some cases).

**English Bloke** · 13th March 11, 02:00 AM

Originally Posted by Singlemalt

... We really don't know who our brothers/cousins are so we should treat all people as though they could be...

Nice way of putting it. Well said.

**Kilted.Genarian** · 13th March 11, 09:20 AM

"Treat your friends like family -- and your family like friends."

**Joshua** · 17th March 11, 03:52 AM

I've been digging in my roots and have found a couple of interesting "facts".

The only pre-Revolutionary war immigrants in my family (so far, I've not gotten to everyone) came immediately following the Revolutionary war and that is my Scottish and German connection. Paternally, I only have one Scottish ancestor in the last 8 generations or so, an Urquhart woman married my great, great, great, great, great grandfather. I have found other Scots maternally (a McKaye and a MacIntyre) but they also were women, that married men in my line, and they were in the 1600's or so.
You can only go so far before hitting a brick wall. I'm stuck on a handful of lines and am considering getting a paternal test kit for myself as well as a maternal kit for my sister.

**McFarkus** · 17th March 11, 07:00 AM

Originally Posted by Joshua

The only pre-Revolutionary war immigrants in my family (so far, I've not gotten to everyone) came immediately following the Revolutionary war and that is my Scottish and German connection.

I have the opposite situation. Almost all of my ancestors came over between 1607 and 1750 with a very few around 1800. Like many of you I'm a European mutt with a few drops of Native American blood.

**Joshua** · 17th March 11, 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by McFarkus

I have the opposite situation. Almost all of my ancestors came over between 1607 and 1750 with a very few around 1800. Like many of you I'm a European mutt with a few drops of Native American blood.

I actually mistyped (damn whiskey!) - I meant to say "Post-revolutionary war" as in, it seems that the majority of my distant ancestors were Americans before America was America. Including a very distant great grandfather William Davis, aide to Gen. George Washington and 2nd generation Welshie.