A
Administrator - Also known as a 'Project Administrator',
'Group Project Administrator', 'Project Manager', 'Coordinator'
and 'Co-Coordinator'. A volunteer who establishes a DNA
study with one or multiple commercial DNA testing companies.
Admixture DNA -
The non-gender chromosomes that mix or
recombine. Also known as autosomal DNA.
Allele -
(pronounced UH-leel) - The scientific result for a
marker.
Ancestral haplotype - The
method of deducing the MRCA's
haplotype by comparing matching
descendants' haplotypes, and eliminating the
mutations. A minimum of three lines, as distantly related as
possible, is recommended for deducing the ancestral haplotype.
Ancestral state - Refers to the state of a
SNP that has mutated and is shared by
the most people. Example: A negative result on a SNP means
it is ancestral, a positive result means it is
derived.
Anthrogenealogy - A term coined by Family Tree DNA combining
the words 'anthro' and 'genealogy' in reference to
utilizing DNA to trace one's heritage far beyond recorded
documentation.
Atlantic Modal Haplotype (AMH)
See Western Atlantic Modal Haplotype
atDNA - Acronym for
Autosomal DNA.
Autosomal
DNA - The non-gender chromosomes that mix or recombine. Also
known as admixture DNA.
B
Base - The unit or building
block of DNA. Adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine, (G), and thymine
(T) are the four bases in DNA. The order of bases is the sequence of
DNA.
Base pair - Two bases bonded together and attached
to one of the strands in the DNA double helix. Adenine always pairs
with thymine, and guanine always pairs with cytosine.
Buccal cell - A type of cell found in cheek tissue
inside the mouth
C
Chromosome - A structure
found in the nucleus of a cell that contains genetic material.
Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes; 22 pairs of autosomes and one
pair of sex chromosomes.
Coding region - A region of DNA which contains
genes.
Cohanim Modal Haplotype - The Y-DNA haplotype most
commonly found among males with an oral tradition of Cohen ancestry.
Cohen - The Hebrew word for priest which refers to
a direct male descendant of Aaron, the brother of Moses; plural:
Cohanim.
Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) - The CODIS
system uses marker locations in the autosomal DNA. CODIS test
results are maintained in an FBI database which is used to identify
people and solve crimes.
Complementary sequences - Opposing strands of DNA
which bond together to form the double helix. The bases always
complement one another with adenine and thymine pairing together and
cytosine and guanine pairing together.
Convergence - The process of two unrelated or less
related lineages changing over time to resemble one another.
Cross-over - See recombination.
CRS - Acronym for Cambridge
Reference Sequence. The first
mitochondrial DNA to be fully sequenced at Cambridge University in
1981. The anonymous donor of the CRS was
haplogroup 'H'. Mitochondrial results are determined based upon
where the results differ from the CRS.
D
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) -
A chemical consisting of a sequence of hundreds of millions of
nucleotides found in the nuclei of cells. It contains the genetic
information about an individual and is shaped like a double-stranded
helix.
Derived
state - Refers to the state of a SNP that
has mutated, usually in one man, from the
ancestral state and created a new
haplogroup or sub-clade of a haplogroup.
A positive SNP result is derived, a negative SNP result is
ancestral.
DNA amplification - The production of many DNA
copies from one or a few copies or fragments.
DNA replication - The process by which the DNA
double helix makes a copy of itself or of a fragment of itself. It
uses the old DNA as a template for the synthesis of new DNA strands.
In humans, replication occurs in the cell nucleus.
DNA sequencing - The process of determining the
exact order of the nucleotide bases in a segment of DNA.
DNA Y-chromosome Segment (DYS) - The "name" of a
marker on the Y-chromosome. It is assigned based on a nomenclature
system controlled by the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee, which
assigns DYS numbers to newly discovered markers.
DNAF - Acronym for DNA-Fingerprint
- a commercial DNA testing company.
DNAH -
Acronym for DNA Heritage - a commercial
DNA testing company.
DNA-NEWBIE - A DNA-Newbie
is someone who is new to the field of genetic genealogy. It is also
the name of a Yahoo mailing list forum sponsored by the
International Society of Genetic Genealogy.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DNA-NEWBIE/
Double helix - The twisted
shape DNA forms when its two strands bond together. A double helix
looks like a twisting or rotating ladder.DYS - Acronym for DNA
Y-chromosome Segment - The assigned
number of a marker on a segment of the Y-chromosome. Example:
DYS# 393
E
Enzyme - A protein that
facilitates a specific chemical reaction by working as a catalyst.
Exact match - Two individuals with exactly the same
results for all markers or regions compared.
F
FTDNA -
Acronym for Family Tree DNA
- a commercial DNA testing company.
http://www.familytreedna.com
Family Tree DNA Time Predictor (FTDNATiPTM)
- A program used to calculate estimates of Time to the Most
Recent Common Ancestor (TMRCA). It is the world's first calculator
that incorporates mutation rates specific to each marker. This
greatly increases the power and precision of estimates.
G
GAP - Acronym for the
Group Administrator Page -
This is a webpage in which a DNA Project Administrator utilizes
functions such as creating a public website, generating a FTDNATiP
report, etc. to assist project participants in coordinating
results.
GEDCOM - Acronym for Genealogical
Data Communications - A plain text
program created for exchanging genealogical data between different
genealogical programs. Family Tree DNA's 'My FTDNA' page,
Y-Search and
Mitosearch all contain a feature to upload a GEDCOM for pedigree
comparisons to matches.
Gene - A segment of DNA which
contains the genetic code to make a certain protein or part of a
protein.
Generation - The number of
years between the birth of the parents and the birth of their
children. Different studies use different numbers of years per
generation. Family Tree DNA uses 25 years.
Genetic cousins - Individuals whose Y-DNA or mtDNA
test results match one another.
Genetic distance - The number of differences, or
mutations, between two sets of results. A genetic distance of zero
means there are no differences in the results being compared against
one another (exact match).
Genetic Genealogy - The latest tool for genealogists
utilizing DNA to aid genealogical research.
Genetics - The study of genes and heredity; the
study of DNA.
Genographic Project -
(pronounced GENE-o-graphic) - A five-year scientific genetics
project launched in 2005 to study and map human migratory patterns.
Along with testing indigenous populations, the project offers a
12-marker Y-chromosome or HVR1 mtDNA test for public participation
with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the indigenous
communities. The project is sponsored by National Geographic, IBM
and the Waitt Foundation. Genographic participants have the option
to join Family Tree DNA's database once their DNA results are in.
Genome - The entire complement of genetic material in a
chromosome set. The human genome is composed of 46 chromosomes, with
a total of 3 billion base pairs.
Genotype - The genetic makeup of an individual
organism.
H
Haplogroup
- A group of similar haplotypes that share a common ancestor with a
SNP mutation. Because a haplogroup consists of
similar haplotypes, this is what makes it possible to predict a
haplogroup. 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 your deep ancestral
origins dating back thousands of years.
Haplotype
- The term for the set of numbers that consists of your
Y-chromosome or
mitochondrial DNA results.
Haplotypes are also known as signatures.
HVR - Acronym for Hyper
Variable Region - The sections of
non-coding
mitochondrial DNA that are used for
genealogical DNA testing.
I
ISOGG - Acronym for the
International Society of Genetic
Genealogy, a free society founded in 2005 for the
promotion and education of genetic genealogy.
J
JoGG - The Journal
of Genetic Genealogy - An
online journal published quarterly with articles and features
pertaining to genetic genealogy and
anthrogenealogy.
http://www.jogg.info/
Junk DNA
- Slang term usually used in referring to the
non-coding region of DNA on the
Y-chromosome. For more about:
http://www.psrast.org/junkdna.htm
M
Marker -
A type of non-coding Y-chromosome DNA.
The numbers designating your individual DNA segment numbers you
receive with Y-chromosome DNA results.
Example: 393=13. This means at marker #393, your
allele value is 13.
Meiosis - The stage in which
sperm and egg cells are formed. It is during this process that the
autosomal chromosomes recombine and mutations occur.
Microsatellite - See short tandem repeat.
Mitochondria - A specific organelle in the cell
that helps it to produce energy.
Mitochondrial DNA - Energy releasing
organelles located in the cytoplasm of cells, which contain
their own DNA. Mitochondrial DNA is passed from mother to child,
but only females continue to pass on their maternal mitochondria to
their children.
Mitosearch
- A free public database sponsored by Family Tree DNA where
mitochondrial DNA results from any
testing facility may be uploaded and compared.
http://www.mitosearch.org/
Modal haplotype - The most
common result for each marker tested in a group of results. See
also: ancestral signature.
MRCA -
Acronym for Most Recent Common
Ancestor.
mtDNA - Acronym for
mitochondrial DNA.
Mutation
- A change in the DNA that occurs at random. Mutation is a
scientific term that often connotes a negative connotation as a
result of 1950's 'B' movies, but in
genetic genealogy, a mutation is usually beneficial. Mutations
on the Y-chromosome are often used for
distinguishing different ancestral lines.
Mutation rate - The frequency
with which random mutations occur.
N
Non-coding DNA - Also referred to as "Junk
DNA", non-coding DNA has no known biological function.
Nuclear DNA - DNA of
chromosomes found in the nucleus of the cell.
Null - A
null is a value of zero on a marker. Nulls can occur due to
missing genetic material on a marker, or a SNP
can sometimes cause a null result. Several YSTR
markers have been identified in certain families to have null
results:
439,
448
O
OA -
Acronym for Oxford Ancestors - a
commercial DNA testing company.
Organelle
- A cell structure with specialized functions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organelle
P
Pherogram - For STRs, a plot
which shows the length of a fragment of DNA. This allows its allele
value to be measured.
Phylo-tree
- Shortened term for Phylogenetic Tree -
Most often used in reference to the available online diagrams
connecting all Y-chromosome
haplogroups. This term is also applied to
DNA project diagrams created by Project
Administrators utilizing specialized software.
Polymorphism - See
mutation.
R
RAO - Acronym for Recent
Ancestral Origins (formerly known as
REO - Recent Ethnic Origins)
The number of matches you have in Family Tree DNA's database as
specified by country or region. To access the RAO, Family Tree DNA
clients need to click the tab on their "My FTDNA" page.
recLOH
- Acronym for Recombinant Loss of
Heterozygosity - When a section of DNA on a marker is
missing, that marker is sometimes repaired by another marker filling
in the missing DNA with its own material. This is referred to as a "recLOH
event" and is usually observed with multi-copy markers like 385a and
385b, and is also common in the 464 set. The recLOH event causes
the allele values to match 11-11 instead of the more common, 11-14
that you see in R1b. For more about:
Recombinational Loss of Heterozygosity (recLOH)
Recombination - An event
occurring during meiosis - the formation of sperm and egg cells. One
chromosome from the mother and the other from the father break and
trade segments with one another.
Replication - See DNA replication.
Restriction enzyme - A protein that recognizes a
certain sequence of DNA and cuts the DNA at that site.
Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) -
See single nucleotide polymorphism.
S
Sequencing - See DNA
sequencing.
Sex chromosome - The X- or Y-chromosome. Normally
males have one X and one Y and females have two Xs.
SNP -
(pronounced SNIP) - Acronym for Single Nucleotide
Polymorphism. A SNP test confirms your
haplogroup by determining if a SNP has
mutated from its
derived or ancestral state. A
SNP is usually found on a different area of the
Y-chromosome than where the
YSTR markers are. Sometimes, a SNP may cause a
null result on a marker.
STR - Acronym for Short
Tandem Repeat - See:
YSTR
Sub-clade
- Referring to a "branch" farther down the
phylogenetic tree. Example: H3 -> '3' is a sub-clade of
mitochondrial
haplogroup 'H'. R1b -> '1b' is a sub-clade of
Y-chromosome haplogroup 'R'. Sub-clade
testing is also referred to as deep clade testing.
Surname - A last name or
family name traditionally passed down from father to son.
T
Time to the Most Recent Common
Ancestor (TMRCA) - The amount of time or number of
generations since individuals have shared a common ancestor. Since
mutations occur at random, the estimate of the TMRCA is not an exact
number (i.e., 7 generations), but rather a probability distribution.
As more information is compared, the TMRCA estimate becomes more
refined.
Transmission event - The passage of genetic
material from one generation to the next.
U
Unique Event Polymorphism (UEP)
See single nucleotide polymorphism
W
Western Atlantic Modal Haplotype (WAMH)
The most common Y-DNA haplotypes found in Europe’s most
common Y-DNA haplogroup, R1b.
Whit's Predictor - The
commonly applied nickname to the "Y-Haplogroup Predictor" created by
Whit Athey. Enter Y-chromosome markers
into the predictor and it will display percentages for matches to
various haplogroups.
https://home.comcast.net/~whitathey/predictorinstr.htm
X
X-chromosome - The female
gender chromosome, if a child receives one X from the father and one
X from the mother, the child's gender is female.
Y
Y-Base - A free public
database sponsored by DNA Heritage where
Y-chromosome DNA results from any testing facility may be uploaded
and compared.
http://www.ybase.org/
Y-chromosome - The male gender chromosome. In other words,
only males have a Y-chromosome, which they receive from their
father, who received it from his father, and so on. This
transmission of the Y-chromosome down the male line is why it is
useful for surname testing to determine if two males share a common
ancestor.
Y-DNA phylogenetic tree - A
graphic representation of the Y-DNA haplogroups according to the YCC
classification. Haplogroup names and major clades are labeled and
mutation names are given along the branches of the trees.
Y-Search
- A free public database sponsored by Family Tree
DNA where Y-chromosome DNA results from any testing facility may
be uploaded and compared.
http://www.ysearch.org/
YSTR -
Acronym for Y-chromosome Short Tandem Repeat.
The number of times the bases repeat that determines the value of
the marker. Example: Thirteen repeats of the same bases
equals a value of '13'. |
