RAWES DNA This page was originally created back in 2008 when the science of DNA was newer and less understood than it is now. DNA testing has become an increasingly important factor in determining relationships between different branches of a family.

This is not a page where the scientific complexities of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Nucleic Acid) will be explained. The analysis of the DNA test is highly complicated and dependent upon whom and what is being tested and also for what reason the test is being undertaken. Humans have 46 chromosomes grouped into 23 pairs. One pair deals with the sex chromosomes. A male has one Y and one X chromosome. The Y is inherited from his father and his X is from his mother. A female has two X chromosomes, one from each parent. These chromosomes are passed down unchanged from one generation to another, except very occasionally there is a slight change. It is this change that can help one to estimate the genetic gap between individuals and also how closely they are related. I believe I am being correct in stating that a male's mother's father or a female's father's father do not show up on the normal 'Y' and 'X' DNA test. The origin of the male's Y-chromosome goes without saying, however his X chromosome would come from his mother who carries two x chromosomes. Testing is usually organised on either the 'Y' (father, father father), or X (mother, mother, mother). The testing of the male's Y chromosome can be of major help in our patronymic society where the male usually carries his father's surname. A few years ago a test was carried on the Y chromosome of men with the surname of Sykes. 70% of the males had identical Y DNA patterns. The assumption was that there had to be a common ancestor for the majority of Sykes'. After several DNA tests, including an early version of Ancestry.com, I plummed for Ancestry's Autosomnal test. This suited my needs for a fuller understanding of my own genetic background as it gave me a splash of my DNA from both mother and father. It is not however ideally suited for a one-name study where the object of the game is the origin of the Y-chromasome from my father. For my Y-chromasome I went with FamilytreeDNA and learnt that my 'Rawes' chromosome is R-M269. Learning this was not particularly helpful as it is the most popular western European male chromosome and is carried by approximately 110 million men!