Make Sense of Genetic Distance : Y DNA EXPLAINED

When you review your y-DNA results from Family Tree DNA, what does a genetic distance of 4 mean? Should you bother researching that?
🤔Why are 2 unrelated men in the same haplogroup? 👉🏼 • Why two men with the s...
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CONTINUE LEARNING
📺 Brief Overview of y-DNA Haplogroups • PATERNAL HAPLOGROUPS: ...
📺 Correcting for Small Segments in Family Tree DNA • Filter Out Likely Fals...
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CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
00:46 My Y-DNA results on Family Tree DNA
03:11 Autosomal DNA vs Y-DNA
03:44 What Y-DNA STR marker and value mean
04:16 How a genetic distance measured
06:09 Understanding a 12 Marker TiP Report
07:31 Understanding a 67 Marker TiP Report
07:59 Why are y-12 and y-67 different?
11:11 Advice When Researching Y-DNA
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#FamilyHistoryFanatics #geneticgenealogy #FamilyTreeDNA

[@gutsbiker]

My closest Y-DNA match was a 7th cousin 3 times removed with a distance of 3. It turned out his 7th great grandfather was the brother of my 4th great grandfather. All of this fit nicely into my family tree research. I'm very fortunate that when I tried to contact my Y DNA match that he responded. There are so many that don't.

[@AncientDirtbag]

Great explanation, exactly what I needed. Thank you!

[@TheMaestroso]

I have a match with someone where we're only two steps away at Y-111, and 0 steps at all lower levels. Seems like a strong match. Our Big Y kits only have 3 differences between them, too, though I know that test is more for the pre-genealogical time frame. Both of our known EOLs (his in the 1750s and mine in the 1780s) were born in southern NY. We might never figure out how exactly we connect, but the fact that we got in touch with each other and become friends is something really special to me.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Great success story.

[@0202fabrice]

@TheMaestro Keep watching your DNA matches, because it's probably just a matter of time until another match appears. Could be a LONG time, but you two could expedite by finding living male descendants of cousins in both your and his lines. Then it'll get interesting. For example: At first, my Big Y-700 had no matches beyond 67 markers, and that one was a fluke, matching at ONLY at 67 markers. Later, I was able to compare to a like-surname individual of likely but unknown degree cousin - no earlier than 9 generations back. We matched 103/111 markers with GD 7, so probably 2-4 or more generations back a paper trail. It was a very useful result because it shows our ancestors were related, and it confirms our paper trails. It also refined the Y-tree, adding a new terminal SNP for just the two of us in it, for now. More recently, a third 111 marker like-surname match unexpectedly arrived, closer to the other than to me. He was found to be a 5th cousin of the first, with GD 2. I looking forward to his Big-Y results! All three of us will probably be in the same terminal SNP unless the tree gets further refined. Even more recently, an unexpected match of a homophonic-surname 67-marker tester. He is my 5th cousin, the descendant an ancestor well-known to have changed the surname. So, keep watching!!

[@woodyhewitt]

I'm the Group Administrator for my Surname Group at FTDNA, and I've had some success building a Phylogenetic Tree using an online tool that breaks down all of the group's Y DNA matches into their individual branches (haplogroups) and provides an estimated value for TMRCA for the various common ancestors that are discovered by the tool. But we had to upgrade to the Big Y 700 test to obtain all of STR and SNP markers in the "test results" that are necessary for the online tool to build the phylogenetic tree. The Block Tree is nice but I like seeing the branching within the haplogroups provided by the Phylogenetic Tree as well as the Most Recent Common Ancestor Nodes and Group's Most Recent Common Ancestor and the estimated TMRCA values.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Different displays can help people see information in new ways.

[@aleckazamproductions8139]

Thanks. I learned a lot.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lisbethME]

My father and his first cousin tested with the Big Y700 of FTDNA and their results came back with a genetic distance of 7 even though their fathers were brothers. The autosomal results do indeed show that they are first cousins with 934cM shared and 124 as the longest block.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

I haven't looked into Big Y as much (since I haven't tested it) but if the same theory applies, as you go higher in the number of STRs that are compared, then the higher the number of genetic distance is allowed. For instance, at 37 and lower, I wouldn't worry about anything that wasn't 0. At 67 , a 1 or 0 is probably in a genealogical timeframe. At 111, a 2 might be in a genealogical timeframe, so for a BigY, GD of 7 might be normal for siblings.

[@0202fabrice]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics The Y-700 provides something like another 600 STRs, but ftDNA does not use them in any way. Don't know how to explain GD of 7 for first cousins! 🤔

[@davidlynx1576]

So happy you explained this. FamilyTreeDna does not answer support questions. None of the people on my list have my surname. I can't find the TIP menu;. just Time

[@DivineLightFitness]

Thank you for the breakdown on genetic distances. Without this video, I would have wasted a lot of time looking at genetic distances above 5! lol.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

You're very welcome!

[@akumathelion535]

AncestryDNA just released a rather interesting update today out of the blue.

[@PaulJHawkinsJr]

Hmm

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

They did but I've already seen how it's causing more confusion that help. They should really create a Chromosome Browser and focus on tools for helping us with DNA matching rather than doubling down on ethnicity results.

[@akumathelion535]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics More like Region matching than Ethnicity, which is ultimately subjective and so broad as to be meaningless at the end of the day. It would be nice to know on what regional DNA you're matched with someone. If someone simply shares the same regions it's all indiscriminately thrown together even if you only match them on one region's DNA. And It would also be nice to simply be able to discriminate searches based on regions to make it easier to find certain kinds of matches. To actually figure out ethnicity I had to go thru all my matches (and my parents'), cM range by cM range, looking for African names and asking 100% African matches what ethnicity they are. I've been able to put an ethnicity to everything except the Cameroon/Congo region. I was only able to find one 100% Cameroon/Congo match on my mother's test, but he never responded. The surname is common in eastern Cameroon.

[@jgrubbs]

This is so confusing! But I am going to keep reading, watching videos, and studying to learn as I know it may help me break through my brick wall to identify my 2nd great-grandfather! My Uncle has one of his five DNA matches at Y-111 (RM) that shares 122 cMs on the atDNA results, and is showing as a 5 step match on the Y-111 kits. RM is a 1 step match with someone who is a 6 step match with my Uncle, RM is a 2 step match with someone who is a 7 step match with my Uncle, RM is a 3 step match with someone who is a 2 step match with my Uncle who shares 16 cM with my Uncle, and RM is a 5 step match with someone who is a 7 step match with my Uncle.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

I am not sure what it is you want me to explain. Specific information about the matches differences between RM and your uncle would needed to start to deduce how the family is related.

[@ms.kalico4489]

Very confusing. I don't understand what a last name has to do with DNA.

[@ms.kalico4489]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics I don't understand what a surname has to do with DNA. Names are given at birth, DNA are "infused" at conception.

[@brianturner5995]

@@ms.kalico4489 It is cultural. Last name is often associated with the Y-chromosome because in western culture it is most often the father's last name that is passed on to the children. When the child is a male they theoretically have exactly the same Y-chromosome as their father.

[@wolnagalicja350]

You have skeletal structure of a woman so you ve got womans DNA .

[@patnoble466]

I had better luck with surname matches than you. My BigY700 results show 18 Nobles out of my 22 matches. I previously took the Y111 test, which showed 20 matches, 16 of which were Nobles. Between the 2 tests there are 20 Nobles and 3 other surnames. For me the BigY test was worth paying for as I have my haplogroup identified precisely and know who shares my spot on the haplotree. My best GD is 3, though. Records being what they are in Ireland, I can only hope a closer match eventually takes the test. It's great to plant the flag. And I'm enjoying my Noble YDNA email group.

[@sewing1243]

Having been involved with the Ewing Family Y-DNA project for at least 15 years (started testing at 37 markers, now I'm at BigY700) I'm of the opinion that these calculations are almost worthless unless you have a very solid paper trail. I have a paper trail cousin that is, by best guess, my 7th cousin 2 times removed based on our presumed common most distant paternal ancestor. Under BigY700 testing we share the same confirmed Haplogroup (of all the Big Y 700 Ewing participants we are the only two that share that haplogroup, most other close participants are 1 or 2 steps higher up the chain before we all most likely have a common ancestor, which appears to confirm the common parental ancestor is correct). Yet at 111 markers I and my 7th cousin, twice removed, are what FTDNA says is 4 steps distant and if I run the Y-DNA TiP Report for the two of us the best result I get says there is a 93.97% chance at a common ancestor at 12 generations (it never goes to 100%), and at 7-9 generations it calculates the chances of a common ancestor to be between 33% to 73%. From 16 to 24 generations it falls in the 99% region.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Your family male line is definitely a lot more stable than mine.

[@daanyaalkhan4901]

Can you make a video on the nMonte Runner that utilizes G25 coordinates?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Probably not. The problem is that this topic is too specific for my audience.

[@rghuno]

I'm a G-M201 and don't show any of my parental names in my 37 YDNA testing. (Sweden - About 4) I only had sixteen matches. 6 People had the same surname. I did notice that 5 of my 4 step matches had an 83.49% percent chance of having a common ancestor in 4 years. One 4 step match was at about 57 percent. My 3 three step matches had about a 28 percent chance of matching a common ancestor with in 4 years. 1 had about a 47 percent chance. Confusing indeed but I think the common answer is to upgrade but with the low number of matches and the step differences - I'd feel better about upgrading if there were a few 0 or 1 step matches also. Another thing i noted about the test was that two of the confirmed Haplogroups were different. A YDNA 500 marker test noted a BY166910 confirmation ---- A YDNA 700 marker test noted a confirmation of BY166910- - A YDNA 700 test noted a G-Z45631 confirmation- - The two BY166910 Haplogroups noted the same last name.

[@barrypycroft4107]

Q. Can more than one sample point mutate at each conception? I have a cousin who is 4-STEPS different. Is it the number of the difference; eg; in 7-repeats or 10 repeats? or is it the number of DYS that show different repeats? I have:- The mutations occurred between brothers, 1873 >1877. OR one of the brother's children between 1877 > 1898. [DYS385 = 1, DYS534 =1, DYS492 =2.] Barry P.

[@kayefink8293]

I also do not know my grandfather’s correct surname. I had my brother do a Y-DNA and have a Y-111 1 step match. As I understand (limited) the match has about an 85% chance of a common ancestor within 4 generations. Does that sound correct? He has a full proven tree so I thought I would look at the 4th generation and see if there were any commonalities with the very little info I have on my grandfather.

[@sean864]

Im just wondering how you match someone else with a different surname and different place. Is it after ur or their surname changes after so far back, that you could have a common line?

[@AbdalkaderAlkhatib]

thank you for your explanation, I have a question, when we analyze the Y DNA, does the mutation happen at a specific person? or does it happen during a whole generation?

[@cynthiaschaeffer650]

Mutations happen to individuals so brothers can have different Y-DNA marker results.

[@terrybrown7601]

I have the same problem with multiple surname matches my closest match is a Wood and I've been haplogrouped with 2 McCauley's . My closest Brown has GD of 7

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

It would have been nice if our male ancestors kept the same name and only had children with their spouse.

[@donaldcarter5504]

i have 87 matches on a y37.... 2 exact.... 3 two step...17 three step,,,,65 four step .....my question is how many generations back should I focus ,for the exact matches.....could this be uncles and cousins?

[@SolidusSnapes]

If you match with someone at 12 markers and not anything higher, does that mean yiur just not related. For instance, i have 29 matches with the surname or varation of the surname Gilliland / Gilland / Gilland / Gillian / Galant / Gillieland which is an accepted a variation of my own surname McClelland as per other mcclelland haplotrees and groups and yet none of them match with me above 12 markers. I have literally only got my big y 700 results back and not yet got a private snp hapologroup and only got 1 match at anything higher than markers. Is this merely a coincidence?

[@Raymond_Petit]

A godsend!

[@margaretford1011]

What do multiple numbers under a STR mean, and do these STRs change more frequently than the STRs that only have one number?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

The frequency of each STR changing is different, however, you would have to dig into some technical papers to see what those different rates are and perhaps why. The TIPS reports have taken all this into account.

[@daanyaalkhan4901]

Is this the distance concept as the ones they have on Gedmatch?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Nope, different concepts. Not related since GEDmatch is looking at SNPs and FTDNA Y tests are looking at STRs.

[@mrsrogerrabbitexc6174]

Do you happen to know if Family Tree updates haplogroups if they do a chip update, or do you have to try to figure out how the haplogroups are related, like you do with 23andMe?

[@akumathelion535]

Update? The only way to get a specific subclade is thru their Big-Y tests and I don't see how you make any updates of significance from that. Any update would be a matter of newlydiscovered subclades and your subclades placement in the phylogenetic tree relative to other subclades. But it would still be the same subclade. 23andMe gives you a lower resolution hapIogroup and there is the possibility of getting a more specific haplotype subclade. However, they wouldn't update chromosomal DNA either because they'd have to redo the test to look for more SNPs that they didn't before. So it wouldn't be an update so much as you having to take another test altogether if they ever expand their range of SNPs. 23andMe updates autosomal results, which are themselves "subjective"; a matter of probability and frequency. Autosomal results aren't "objective" like yDNA and mtDNA. And are therefore subject to change if their database, as it continues to grow, now places a particular sequence as occurring more in one region vs others. The autosomal results are about the labeling of DNA as "Nigerian" or "Senagalese" or whatever, which is using the same sequenced results. This labeling doesn't mean that DNA sequence isn't also found all over Africa in the other regions at a lesser frequency to the region they label it as. Hence, probability and frequency and where the confidence slider comes in.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Other than with Big Y, FTDNA only gives an estimate of your haplogroup based on the STR similarity with others. Haplogroups are determined by SNPs, so if you don't have the Big Y, FTDNA will probably have a haplogroup that is several steps up the tree from your actual haplogroup.

[@mrsrogerrabbitexc6174]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics Thank you, this may be a great next step for us. My husbands family came from Syria in the early 1900's, historical situations have reduced available records, so we are basically building his tree through genetic matches.

[@lafiddler1846]

FTDNA estimates are very conservative. My grandfather's brother and I match 37/37 we have same last name and tip report estimates 59% chance at 4 generations and 89% at 8 generations! The actual facts are he is my father's uncle (my grandfather's brother) so 3 generations counting myself or only 2 if not. I think maybe if we didn't share the same surname the match level we have could be more accurate. I wish that they would re vamp their system of matching.

[@louisvalois3863]

Wow! Very useful info!!

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

The numbers they gave are right in line with what you have. Nothing conservative about it. 59 out of 100 samples like yours would be within 4 generations. You were at 3 so you are one of those 59.

[@lafiddler1846]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics at 25 markers I have an exact match with 28 different surnames including my great uncle. The probably report is 61% with all of them and him at 4 generations. The same as me and my uncle. But I am not related to all of those matches of other surnames as closely as my g uncle. So, there's no closer estimate for same last name for an exact match??? No doubt that I must be related to all the other surnames I match, but it would mostly be at least 10 gen and most probably even farther, some maybe before surnames were common.

[@chriskeller272]

@@lafiddler1846 You should do your own video although I don't want to discourage anyone from doing a Y test.

[@turnerdan53]

On a different match question. I have someone showing as a 1st cousin through Ancestry with a 15% match. When I checked for the line match he shows up as have both lines How far removed can he be and still show as a 1st cousin with both lines present.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

With multiple relationships, you typically want to add the nominal amounts of DNA. So this would mean that he could be a 2nd cousin, half first cousin, or 1st cousin on both sides and still be within the amount that you listed.

[@janettefenton3517]

Can I upload my brother's Ancestry DNA to FTDNA and pay for the Y DNA test using his Ancestry DNA? Or does he have to take the FTDNA test to get the Y DNA matches?

[@ctmpodcast6901]

You have to take their specific test unfortunately, though you can upload Ancestry to FamilyTreeDNA and get normal DNA Matches.

[@debbieroot4618]

Oops! Catching the replay.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

No worries. That's why they are there.

[@michaelwhalan9783]

I have a 67 markers 4 distance Y match to Gary A Webb. There exists Gary A Webb known in rock music as Gary Numan.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Cool

[@StokesCheri]

I don't think you covered EXACT MATCH. My father has 2 and the MRCA is 4 generations away!! (5 for the son of match 1). I'm not as impressed with y-DNA as I was when it arrived on the scene and I think in the intervening years it hasn't impressed most die-hard genealogists. But now I understand why you leave Phil Garnet's test kit up on Ancestry... 😏 Personal anecdote: FtD's Y was our first toe-dip into DNA back in 2004 at 12 markers. There were enough guys on the list with the suspected NPE surname and one close enough that we felt we had our answer. My Dad died in 2009. I recently upgraded the number of markers and this father/son tested and the father got the NPE surprise when he tried to join his surname group and the mod suggested he contact my Dad, his closest match. (I had contacted him years before on My Heritage and been dismissed because he didn't have anyone in his extensive tree with that surname.) Uh oh... Suddenly he's contacting me looking for answers. Lucky for him I've learned quite a lot in the last 18yrs and could tell him with almost certainty when the NPE occurred.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Exact matchs can still be several generations away depending on the level of the test.

[@shawnstancil6942]

What does it mean if I have a genetic distance of 6 mean. It is with a Hernandez its 105/111 mean. According to it we are 99.91 related 24 generations back.

[@macpalmer6611]

I did the Y-DNA 37 at Familytree.I wish I had not done it. It is too complicated and has not shown me anything. I have 1 match,4 steps . Have never heard of this persons name. Think I will do Ancestry's Autosomal and see what I find.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Make sure you understand the 4 types of tests so you understand the results you'll likely get. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gImZh4aVgN2Xj5o

[@macpalmer6611]

When I took the test some 10 years ago,I did not know.

[@TESLblog]

You have only tested on 67 markers, so the likelihood of the common ancestor of your 11 matches being a few thousands years back is very high. Hence the last names have to be widely different as last names were only formed some 600-800 YBP. You need to use a number of Big Y test to the “rule of four” to strategically add your own haplogroup to the tree of mankind which would allow to better differentiate your matches.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

IF I had closer matches then this might be helpful as those matches might be within a genealogical significant timeframe. Since none of my matches is close enough to matter, I am not concerned with that.

[@TESLblog]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics I have watched this 3 hour video series kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2WoZ5Z6e5mao6s by Dr. Martinez. He speaks about using four strategically selected test subjects and to have them all do BigY tests. Say: myself, my father, a fourth cousin and an 8th cousin who we all descend in a directly paternal line from the same person, that I have identified through classic genealogical work (say my 9th great grandfather). If the test subjects are selected well, it puts your own “clan” onto the yTree of mankind with our own haplogroup designation. And it helps to break down the private variants in a way that the most recent common ancestor dates to the genealogical timeframe of about 350-400 ybp. Personally, I have found this to be the most rewarding use of yDNA testing, however, it requires a good view of your paternal line, and is maybe less suitable if there is a brick wall at the great grandfather level. Also, it is fairly expensive as you need 4 big Ys.

[@sr2291]

What about genetic distance in relation to MTDNA? 1 vs 2?

[@chriskeller272]

MTDNA is so very small you really need a GD of 0.:)

[@sr2291]

​@chriskeller272 Explain please.

[@JohnMcBridenamaste]

Not only do I appreciate you talking about the Y-dna test, but you hit it right over the head with how OFFPUTTING it is that the name changed upon coming here from England. Same here and I'd love to know why there are three or four variations of my biological paternal name (just like the adoptive name I carry).

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Variations happen for a host of reasons but the primary one is that spellings were not consistent throughout time until the wide spread use of identification. Once a person had an identification card, the spelling of their names typically locked in for the remainder of their life. Sure, some errors creep in but it is the exception rather than the rule.

[@tallthinwavy3]

When will you upgrade to Y-700? Took a mtDNA test?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

It's not worth the money to upgrade. I don't have enough close ydna matches for me to pursue it. There are not enough people in the YDNA database (it's not really growing), and I haven't resolved all my autosomal DNA matches. So, I'm following the advice I teach on this channel. If I haven't resolved all the autosomal DNA matches, then YDNA really isn't worth that much in genealogical research terms.

[@tallthinwavy3]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics I'm a DNA pioneer,upgraded anway and got 1 Y-700 match. Also will be ready for the Y-700 matches. Also can see those extra SNP's on the map getting an idea where your ancestors lived. Thanks for replying.

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics Y-DNA database is growing constantly, only the numbers are not comparable to autosomal tests, because autosomals are used much more widely and are cheaper. But Y-DNA is basically for different kind of research, it is not so often usable for genealogy, but it is great for deep research of male lines, migrations, for studying history of mankind, be part of large tree of mankind (BigY test). So it is not very fair comparison. I know you look at it only from genealogical kind of view, but it sounded like Y-DNA tests are nearly not useful generally, and it is not true.

[@winny3455]

I am here for the first time. I don’t understand yet. How do you know the DNA of people who lived so long ago? Stupid question maybe, i will watch your videos 👍🏻

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

The only stupid questions are the ones you don't ask. Thanks for taking the time to ask. Genetic genealogy builds on the traces of DNA that you inherit from your parents, you inherited them from your grandparents, and so forth. By using family trees based on genealogy records (what Devon teaches on this channel) and shared DNA segments (called cousin Matching), you can build your family tree. Let me recommend you watch this video about genetic inheritance. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5eah4iGosysaLc Then, watch the remainder of the videos in this play list to get you started in genetic genealogy. Ask questions with each video and we'll try to get you up to speed. kzbin.info/aero/PLcVx-GSCjcdnEg-YtkXA7Nj2YxxamaYKA

[@winny3455]

Thanks for the info. I look forward to learn about this.🙏

[@alvree01]

I just got my Y-DNA results back from Family Tree DNA. I tested at the Y37 level. I have matches on this level that the genetic distance is "Exact". What is that telling me?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

It means that you have no differences between yourself and the match. A genetic distance of 0.

[@alvree01]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics Thanks!

[@chriskeller272]

Good video. Reading the other comments I see major flaws in the TIP calculator. The TIP calculator assumes the correct surname to be of any use. Having done a few big y tests on relatives, I have come to the conclusion this test is absolutely useless in genealogy. Not to discourage people from doing it. It is potentially very powerful, but is limited by the historical record needed to corroborate it. Given its limitations, this test NEEDS TO BE FREE WITH AN AUTOSOMAL TEST. THIS TEST NEEDS TO BE OFFERED BY ANCESTRY, THE DATABASE LEADER. AND FINALLY THE TEST NEEDS TO BE OFFERED AT THE BIG Y LEVEL ONLY. STRs 12-111 ARE FAIRLY USELESS AND UNRELIABLE BY THEMSELVES. THE ONLY WAY TO GROW THE PHYLOGENIC TREE AND FOR THIS TEST TO REACH ITS POTENTIAL IS FOR THIS TEST TO BE OFFERED AT THE BIG Y LEVEL ONLY.

[@whychromosomesmusic5766]

At 111 markers and the Big Y I am what is known as Chandler Y-chromosome Group 7A. Most guys in the group are said to descend from the emigrant, John Chandler, who arrived in Virginia as a boy in 1609/10. But I have an NPE. My birth surname is the same as back to my great-great grandfather and it is not Chandler. Genetically and document wise I DO believe that I AM descended from the lines of my birth surname BUT through the probable mother of my great-great grandfather. That she gave him her maiden name and not his father's name. I believe that the probability is higher that my great-great grandfather's father's surname was Chandler than that it was some other surname and that the NPE was further back. So my latest project is researching land records of the area where my great-great grandfather is first recorded and find out where his known relatives were located and compare that to the Chandlers who were closest in proximity and maybe I might find some patterns in those. And narrow down possible candidates for his father among those. Then I can search for other documents to see if possibly there might be some clues that could get me closer to the truth. Probably a long shot but it's better than anything else I can think of. The best that I can determine from the Chandler geneticists is that I probably do descend from John Chandler the emigrant and ANY match that I have with ANY other guys in Group 7A despite their genetic distance could very possibly be through the emigrant or even before him and no way to narrow it down any closer than that.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Good luck on this search. The timeframe is looking at the horizon of DNA and most genealogical records.

[@carlloeber]

Except no, with records you cannot know with certainty that he is not your cousin within four generations.. Whatever kind of event that is can happen..

[@driedpancake]

the y str distances are so random. pretty much useless in everything but the vaguest of inferences

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Basically, if you don't have a distance of 0 or 1 it is probably not worth looking at.

[@brookebowman194]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics If the same person is a 1 step at 67 markers but a 5 step at 111 markers, it's still not worth my time?

[@SuperSlik50]

Secret paternity pops up every few generations

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Yes, more so than most people realize

[@pandachickenmama]

Am I the only one that is getting a high pitched buzz when playing this video?

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

No one pointed that out. I didn't hear one during editing. Keep me posted.

[@kibo40]

Nah still none the wiser😄

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Then please ask more questions. That's where learning happens.