"Full Blooded"

[Pleater]

My education and interests being scientific, I studied inheritance and genetics - and one of the difficulties when breeding my colourful little budgerigars is that from any individual ancestor only half the genome is passed on to any offspring.

It is usually necessary to spend a long time trying to obtain a strain of individuals with one particular inherited feature, though I did have one cobalt blue bird (called Roger) who became the source of lots more cobalt blue offspring than statistically probable.

With people and tribes, I pity those trying to make the rules, because it would be quite possible for someone with only a limited amount of tribe DNA to appear 'full blooded' if they inherited the genes for tribal appearance, but for someone with - for instance, one great grandparent being an incomer, to resemble their great great grandmother or father.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[jthk]

Often the US-based Native nations have blood quantum requirements that are imposed on them from the federal US government. Many Native nations do not have blood quantum rules/requirements as a part of their culture historically.

Best,
Jonathan

My education and interests being scientific, I studied inheritance and genetics - and one of the difficulties when breeding my colourful little budgerigars is that from any individual ancestor only half the genome is passed on to any offspring.

It is usually necessary to spend a long time trying to obtain a strain of individuals with one particular inherited feature, though I did have one cobalt blue bird (called Roger) who became the source of lots more cobalt blue offspring than statistically probable.

With people and tribes, I pity those trying to make the rules, because it would be quite possible for someone with only a limited amount of tribe DNA to appear 'full blooded' if they inherited the genes for tribal appearance, but for someone with - for instance, one great grandparent being an incomer, to resemble their great great grandmother or father.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Cavalry Scout]

I don't believe that we've brought the topics of culture and heritage in this thread. It seems to me that these hold a place of equal importance (and maybe moreso) to DNA.

-Mark-

[Father Bill]

I don't believe that we've brought the topics of culture and heritage in this thread. It seems to me that these hold a place of equal importance (and maybe moreso) to DNA.

-Mark-

Yes. Frankly, I see little importance in DNA outside of Clan Chiefs and royalty (and even then it may have had a detour or two that nobody knows of). The important family is not those who share your DNA; it's those who love you and take care of you, and about whom you care.

I care about Scotland.

[freep]

Yes. Frankly, I see little importance in DNA outside of Clan Chiefs and royalty (and even then it may have had a detour or two that nobody knows of). The important family is not those who share your DNA; it's those who love you and take care of you, and about whom you care.

I care about Scotland.

Again, my goal was to start a conversation about who has a right to weigh-in, criticize or alter things cultural.
It drifted into DNA, but when asked questions if I've what is hopefully helpful info it seems rude not to share it even if it is off-topic.

Hopefully this is all sorted now with the move?

[kiltedcontractor]

Yes. Frankly, I see little importance in DNA outside of Clan Chiefs and royalty (and even then it may have had a detour or two that nobody knows of). The important family is not those who share your DNA; it's those who love you and take care of you, and about whom you care.

I care about Scotland.

I agree. I have blood family that live overseas. They are effectively strangers. However, dna helps those of us whose family history is inconsistent .....fill in the blanks. In my case rumors are seeming to be verified.

[Geoff Withnell]

Yes. Frankly, I see little importance in DNA outside of Clan Chiefs and royalty (and even then it may have had a detour or two that nobody knows of). The important family is not those who share your DNA; it's those who love you and take care of you, and about whom you care.

I care about Scotland.

I couldn't help but think of my wife Michele when reading your post. The lass both by family tree, and DNA testing some family members have done, a German/Lithuanian Jew. Not more than a trace of "Celtic" ancestry to be found. And yet, she would no more go to an event such as a Burns Dinner without some display of Davidson tartan than she would go in torn, stained bluejeans. She enthusiastically helps out at the Davidson tent at games, and is helping our local covener with the work in getting the US Clan GM together for this April in Southern Maryland. IOW, a good bit more of a participating member than many with the DNA. In her case it is because she is a "whither thou goest" sort of gal (and I am a lucky man). You are what you do with your DNA and heritage.

[EagleJCS]

I’m an ‘American mutt’ with known Irish (Dad’s side), Luxembourger (Mom’s side), and German (both sides) ancestors. My paternal line has been in Kentucky since before 1800 (and as far as we’ve been able to find so far, in North America since before 1770). We don’t know when/where they came over from Europe (presumably the British Isles, probably Scotland or Ireland since the family name is Scott, though the family name may have changed following the move – it’s happened). Since some records have been lost and/or destroyed and there were several people with the same names and approximately the same ages settling in the same areas at the same time, we may never untangle the knot containing our particular thread.

Percentage-wise, I think I’m more German than anything else – I haven’t really sat down to figure the exact “proportions” – but since I started researching the family tree and found Clan Scott and the proud history of the Borderers, I’ve embraced that (presumed) Scottish heritage. At any rate, I’ve been told by others presumably ‘in the know’ that since I carry the family name, I can claim membership in the clan (and not be just a dues-paying member of the Clan Society), regardless of the origins.

I’d like to do a DNA test to get additional information regarding my family origins, but that will have to come later (after I win a sweepstakes or find buried treasure).

Keeping this somewhat kilt-related, I even bought a kilt in Scott Modern Red (see my avatar) after finding out about Clan Scott, then sold it after I lost weight. I don’t currently have a kilt in my clan colors, just a couple of neckties (one in Scott Red and one in Scott Green) and a scarf in Scott Red.

[freep]

I was talking to a friend today about a meme I saw. There was a horse tied to one of those cheap plastic outdoor chairs. The legend stated, "Perception is Everything."

Is perception the operant factor then?

Does one need Scottish blood to be Scottish? Or, is one Scottish if perceived by self and others to be so? Is it possible to be Scottish without ever having touched Scottish soil?

By the same token, is being born in Scotland a requisite to being Scottish? Are some Scots more Scottish as a result of being born in the Highlands rather than the lowlands, cities or larger villages? Are those with connections to certain Clans more Scottish?

Is there some useful term for those that carry Scottish blood but are not of the soil, Americans for example? Or does Scottish require immersion in the culture--even if we understand there are a hundred Scottish cultures depending on where in Scotland one is immersed?

[freep]

Yes. Frankly, I see little importance in DNA outside of Clan Chiefs and royalty (and even then it may have had a detour or two that nobody knows of). The important family is not those who share your DNA; it's those who love you and take care of you, and about whom you care.

I care about Scotland.

Apart from things Scottish there is a great use for DNA for those of us who were adopted or whose forebears did not pass on ethnic information. Some of us in that category burn with curiosity as to our origins. Based upon reactions from people that know their origins when informed I've had DNA tests done, it seems whence you've come has little importance when you've known all along. I suppose it makes sense people would not understand the desire to know, when you have not.