Decoding Neanderthals and other Mysteries
Posted on January 11, 2013 2 Comments
If you are interested in our Human origins, I highly recommend the Nova (PBS) documentary on Decoding Neanderthals which is viewable on their website. This program shows how DNA and meticulous research is changing our views on man’s early origins.
In our own DNA news we have some new mysteries that may get solved soon. Most are due back on around Valentine’s Day which is in essence that 2 YEAR Anniversary of the WHEATON SURNAME DNA PROJECT.
One result that has come in that has all of us scratching our heads is Adam’s GENO 2.0. His results made no sense as it placed him in a completely different Haplogroup and with none of the known mutations he must have. We believe this is due to a lab mixup of some sort, perhaps a swapped sample or rotated plate (reading results backwards?) The lab is investigating and he seems to be one of a small group of individuals where something went amiss. These results are important in comparing with Jerry’s WTY and Terry’s GENO. I hope to have a better look at Rodger’s Geno 2.0 when I get back from vacation.
Other big results coming are
- Charles from Australia who has a solid paper trail back to Exeter in the 1500’s…no telling which cluster he will match.
- Jerry’s expansion of markers from 67 to 111
- Paul Ritchie Wheaton from Nova Scotia, CA who tracks back to Robert’s son Ephraim
- Tests for newly lay discovered SNP L1358 from Jerry’s Walk Through the Y Testing are Michael F. Who is GD -4 from Jerry; Don HOWELL GD -5 from Jerry and Hal EATON who is over -30 GD from Jerry. This should give us a good idea of how widespread this SNP is.
- Also on its way to lab is a our new member Robert Norris Wheadon from Newfoundland, CA
Stay tuned.
Need Your Help in 2013
Posted on January 3, 2013 Leave a Comment
Here is a list of project needs and how you might help out in the coming year. You can help in many ways.
- Research and locate descendants for testing as listed below
- Make a financial Contribution to the project here. You can do this by Paypal or credit card for any amount including $5 and up.
- Spread the word
I could not pass up a bargain so I bought 2-37 marker tests to have on hand. In the past I have purchased 12 marker kits on sale but these were not available this time and the cost of a 12 marker regularly is $99 so for the extra $20 plus shipping we get something very useful. There are two circumstances in which they will be used. One if the test subject is willing to make a contribution to the project covering part or all of the sale price ($123 vs regular price of $149+ $4 postage) Or the person is unable to afford the test and is critical to our understanding. In general this would be folks in England as opposed to those in the US, Canada or Australia. It is an expensive hobby and I cannot afford to subsidize all who would like to test.
Needed for Y-DNA testing (those in Bold we have no results)
- Wheatons from Devonshire, England
- Whettons or Wettons from Staffordshire, England
- Weetons of Lancashire, England
- Wheedons of Norfolk, England
- Wheatons and Wheadons of Australia
- Descendants of all of Robert Wheaton’s sons especially Samuel & Obadiah originally from Massachusetts
- Descendants of Thomas Wheadon, especially Thomas’ son John originally from Connecticut
- Descendants of Christopher Wheaton of Hull, Massachusetts
- Wheatons and Wheadons of Newfoundland, Canada
- Wheatons and Wheadons of New Brunswick, Canada
Needed funds for
- Subsidizing SNP testing for Haplogroups ($29 each)
- Extending markers particularly for those with low marker numbers
I am hopeful that this year we can connect those of Canada to their rightful families. And ever hopeful that we can resolve the mystery of Robert Wheaton’s precise origins and perhaps in the process answer some Mallenby, Howell, Hancock and Raines mysteries.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Why Numbers Matter
Posted on December 28, 2012 Leave a Comment
Although this is specific to Group B I hope all of you will take a look. I am enclosing two matrix charts which show the number of mismatched markers in Group B at 67 Markers and then at 111 markers. Although it doesn’t look like much there is a lot to be gleaned here.
This Shows how closely related are the first 7 where each is related to the others with no more than 2 mismatches. Dan Hancock is closely related to Glenn, Jerry & David Joe. And Thomas Mallenby is not far behind. By comparison Larry Raines is -3 to -4 with the core group which is closer than my husband Michael who is -4 to -5 with core members. But look what happens when we add another 44 markers. Also of note is the relationship between Larry Raines and Adam which suggests a more recent common ancestor. Also Adam is the closest match for Don Howell.
The core Wheaton group holds pretty tight. My husband who was an outlier at 67 does not increase the number of mismatches with the Wheaton core group. In fact he stays at -4 with David Joe (no change) but adds -5 for a total of -9 with Thomas Mallenby. Dan Hancock shows how strong his match is with the core Wheatons as he is still only -3 to -4 with the core group.
The more people in a group and the higher the number of markers tested the closer we get to deducing relationships. At this point it is impossible to do with the other Groups but it is my hope that eventually they will grow as well.
Anyone wishing to add markers please take advantage of the sale before Years End.
Looking Forward to 2013
Posted on December 26, 2012 Leave a Comment
I have updated our Results page here: https://sites.google.com/site/wheatonsurname/patriarchs/results
This only includes markers up to 67. For those tested at FTDNA for 111 markers see our page at FTDNA. (The website doesn’t like big excel files.) I have grouped the results with those having the same markers and/or same lineage together. Makes viewing possible relationships easier and also shows the strength of our WHEATON-MALLENBY-RAINES-HOWELL matches. Remember marker labels in RED are faster mutating markers so those difference are less significant. Markers off modal (average) are shaded darker.
RESULTS expected in the next month or so:
- Charles A 12 marker test. Charles has the most distant paper trail of any Wheaton. His ancestor John was born about 1527 and lived in Exeter, DEVON (Group A, B, C, D ?) Care to guess? Charles lives in Australia
- Jerry’s extension from 67 to 111 markers (Group B)
- Adam’s Geno 2.0 results (Group B)
- Rodger Geno 2.0 results (Group C)
- Michael F. test for the new SNP L1358(Group B)
- Don Howell test for the new SNP L1358 (Group B)
- Paul Ritchie from Newfoundland, Canada who traces back to Robert 1 Wheaton of Rehoboth’s son Ephraim (likely Group B)
- Robert Norris from Newfoundland (Group ?)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Posted on December 24, 2012 2 Comments
Its been a great year for the Wheaton DNA project. Let’s hope for good things in the New Year.
All the best to you and yours this holiday season.
Kelly
L1358 Discovered in Group B Walk Through the Y
Posted on December 21, 2012 Leave a Comment
As all of you know by now (but some future readers might not), our sponsorship of Jerry’s “Walk Through the Y” was successful in the discovery of a brand new, never before identified mutation on the Y chromosome called L1358. The schematic shown below is from Thomas Krahn’s Y Chromosome browser showing the precise location of our discovery as denoted by the red vertical line. As some of you may remember the Y chromosome is about a third the size of the X chromosome and along with chromosomes 21 and 22 among the smallest. But it is still power packed with over 50 million base pairs.
On average a WTY tests about 230,000 Base Pairs. Since FTDNA began doing WTY only about 500 men have been tested and in that 5 year period nearly 1,000 new SNPs have been discovered at FTDNA. In the beginning more SNPs were found because the areas had not been well explored. Of the 500 WTY tests the vast majority (200+) have been for Haplogroup R (which just happens to be the most prolific Haplogroup in England). Of those only 8 were L2+. The last L2+ prior to Jerry’s test was in May of 2011 and no new SNPs were found.
Why is this discovery important? Each time there has been a mutation on the Y chromosome only the descendants of the man in which that mutation took place will carry that SNP. So each man will carry a “genetic roadmap” of his descent from the earliest man. When we find a new SNP it needs testing to determine how widespread it is. If only a few Wheatons in Group B carried this SNP we would know it is very recent. If all Wheatons (and those that match them) carry the SNP we would know it is further back. If other L2+ men test positive then we can place it in a time frame and determine not only who is related to who more recently, but also where the mutation likely occurred. Currently we believe that the man in which the L2 SNP occurred lived in the mountains of Northern Italy about 5,400+ years ago. From that one man the L2 SNP has spread out to Southern Italy, Germany, Belgium, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, US, Canada etc. If we test L2+ men for L1348 and find it extends beyond the Wheatons but is only found in England we can start to determine the time frame and likely place of residence of that man in which the mutation first occurred.
This is how individuals working with scientists are changing our understanding of the human family. It extends our ability to reach back beyond genealogical time. In the future with more SNPs being discovered and some of them being more recent…. we may be able to recreate a family tree going backwards via STRs and coming forward using SNPs. SNPs are copying errors where an allele changes from its ancestral value to a derived value. The derived value in this case is A+. Which seems very appropriate! A+
WHAT A YEAR IT’S BEEN!
Posted on December 19, 2012 Leave a Comment
Here’s what we have accomplished this year:
- WE went from 17 to 37 MEMBERS at FTDNA and many more overall!
- WE went from a presumed 2 Wheaton groups to SEVEN with FOUR of those Groups tracing roots to DEVON!
- WE have proof the name had not a single origin but likely many.
- WE have 3 members who are participating in the Genographic Project Geno 2.0
- WE have sponsored a Walk Through the Y for a member of Group B
- WE have been responsible for the discovery of a brand new SNP L1358
- WE have located the earliest Wheaton of record in Devon in 1288!
- WE have our first African American of Wheaton descent join us
- WE have solved a few mysteries and uncovered many more
My very Best Wishes to all of you this HOLIDAY season.
My wish list for next year:
- More members especially from England
- Descendants of Thomas Wheadon’s son John
- Descendents of Robert Wheaton’s sons Obadiah and Samuel
- Descendants of Christopher Wheaton of Hull, MA
- An answer to Robert Wheaton’s precise origins
- That our new SNP and the results from Geno 2.0 help refine the origins of the various Wheaton Groups
- That through this project we learn more about our place in the Greater Human Family
Warmest Wishes to all. If you are looking for a last minute Christmas gift give the gift that keeps on giving a DNA Kit or a donation to our general fund. Yes I am shameless Ho, Ho, Ho!
GENO 2.0 First Thoughts
Posted on December 14, 2012 Leave a Comment
Three of our project members that I know of have taken the GENO 2.0 and one has results. Of the over 12,000 Y-DNA SNPs tested Mr. Mallenby is positive for 447. That really doesn’t mean much in itself but it does show why FTDNA is no longer recommending the Deep Clade Testing as this test is far more comprehensive.
Most of the results that I have checked so far are consistent with the known Y-tree also known as the Phylogenic Tree. However there are many new SNPs below the terminal L-2 SNP and some that were placed on the tree over on the U106 side of things (like the WHEADONs) which he is positive for. So the Y Tree will be getting an overhaul as these things get sorted out. Each SNP has a name such as L2 or Z148 and they also have a position and sometimes a “Rs number” So For the series L, M, V and Z series where I could find the Rs number I looked up my husband’s results on 23andme (he is also Group B). All so far are identical with Mr. Mallenby save one: L516 aka Rs9785694 Mr Mallanby shows the mutation (therefore is positive) whereas my husband is negative. In this case the “ancestral” value (allele) is G (my husband) and the mutation or “derived” value is A (Mr. Mallenby). When we have Adams’s results (Group B) we will be able to compare them to Mr. Mallenby. They should be nearly identical. Any differences could be branching of the tree in genealogical time.
The GENO 2.0 only tests 12,000 known and selected SNPs. It cannot find unknown mutations. That is where the Walk Through the Y steps in and tries to identify NEW mutations. Together with a little luck we may get some big answers about Group B this coming year. We should also be getting good info on the Wheadon Group C Folks too!
I know I have probably lost some of you by now but as more info gets digested I hope to be able to report it in a way that is actually interesting and meaningful…..okay back to number crunching….
Too Much News so just a quick ROUND-up
Posted on December 12, 2012 Leave a Comment
Those with Genographic 2.0 are getting there results including many more SNPS. As yet not sure what it all means as the Phylogenic trees do to reflect all these new SNPs yet. Thank you to Thomas and Terry for keeping me posted.
We also have new results for Geoffrey which show that he and the New Jersey Wheatons (of Wheaton Glass fame) are not recently related. I have separated them into D1 and D2 for now. They are both part of the very prolific North Atlantic modal that will show matches at 12 markers which fall apart at 37. Remember I warned of this. I suspect Kingsley will still match Geoffrey but we will need his markers extended to know for sure.
Please see the previous post about the passing of 88 year old Wheaton Clan B Dale Dean Wheaton.
Looks like our Walk Through the Y results may be a ways out but will be worth the wait.
Thanks for the comments regarding the Wall Street Journal Article. Here is the link for posterity.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443589304577635801333547784.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
There are many sales and new price structures for various DNA tests. If you happen to have an interest in medical related DNA the $99 price at 23andme is quite attractive and includes atDNA. Ancestry.com is currently offered at $129 for atDNA and FTDNA’s equivalent atDNA called Family Finder is $199. If you want recommendations for holiday gifts please contact me directly.
That’s the short update. I will post more as I get it.
Uncle Dale Dean Wheaton
Posted on December 12, 2012 1 Comment
My Uncle Dale passed away early Saturday morning, at his farm-home with hospice and family. See other obit information here: http://www.petersandmurrayfuneralhome.com/obituaries_view.php We are part of the Robert Wheaton Clan, with postings on Jean’s web site through the 6th and 7th generation ending at Ottis and Alonzo in Eaton Co. Michigan, my Great and Great Great Grandfathers.
I brought along printouts of the family lineage, and family members enjoyed reading and sharing the stories around his bedside. Thank you all-
R. Bruce Wheaton
Wheaton Wood 