Sunday, November 20, 2016

November-December issue of British Archaeology: The ancient British genome: writing new histories

The article begins on page 14. Most Barnes & Noble bookstores in USA carry the magazine. The article is not available online at this time.

The article reviews four studies with DNA results from 23 people: 4 Iron Age; 11 Roman and 8 Anglo Saxon - 12 men and 11 women. There are a number of charts in the article and details of each individual on pages 24-25.

http://new.archaeologyuk.org/british-archaeology-magazine

Edited to add the following:

Here are citations to three studies discussed in the British Archaeology article I posted about last nigh​t​ as well as citation​s​ to ​two other aDNA article​s​ mentioned but not discussed:

​​​Roman London​

Redfern, R.,​,​ Going south of the river: A multidisciplinary analysis of ancestry, mobility and diet in a population from Roman Southwark,London​, ​Journal of Archaeological Science​, Volume 74, October 2016, Pages 11–22, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305440316301030
and
Museum of London Report on the DNA Analyses of Four Roman Individuals Supplementary Information,
http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/application/files/3114/6598/9153/McMaster_Roman_DNA_Report.pdf

​Northern England​

Bradley, et al, Genomic signals of migration and continuity in Britain before the Anglo-Saxons, Nature Communications, Jan 2016, DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10326,
http://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms10326
​and
Muldner, Gundula; Chenery, Carolyn; Eckardt, Hella. 2011, The ‘Headless Romans’ : multi-isotope investigations of an unusual burial ground from Roman Britain. Journal of Archaeological Science, 38 (2). 280-290. 10.1016/j.jas.2010.09.003​, paywall: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305440310003134 (not discussed)

​Angle-Saxon​

Schiffels, S., et al, Iron Age and Anglo-Saxon genomes from East England reveal British migration history​, ​Nature Communications · January 2016 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10408 : https://www.researchgate.net/publication/291328000

​Ireland (not discussed)

Neolithic and Bronze Age migration to Ireland and establishment of the insular Atlantic genome,
Lara M. Cassidya,1, Rui Martinianoa,1, Eileen M. Murphyb , Matthew D. Teasdalea , James Malloryb , Barrie Hartwellb , and Daniel G. Bradleya,2 a Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland; and b School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland​,
http://www.pnas.org/content/113/2/368.full.pdf

The conclusion is that there is genetic continuity through the Roman period with two African and one Middle Eastern individuals as exceptions, and then a genetic change in the Anglo-Saxon era from ~400-900 A.D. 20% to 40% of modern British ancestry can be attributed to the Anglo-Saxons.

Any error in interpretation is mine.



Sunday, November 13, 2016

I am not attending the Family Tree DNA Administrators Conference this weekend. Fortunately, Jennifer Zinck is. Jennifer has posted her notes from the Saturday sessions on her blog at this URL:http://www.ancestorcentral.com/12th-international-conference-on-genetic-genealogy-saturday/

The following topics are covered:
  • Introduction to the Conference;
  • Dr Michael Hammer on "Ancient European DNA";
    Announcement of the AncientOrigins result page
    (non-European section is still under development);
  • Presentation by Bill Griffith on his discovery that
    his biological father was not the person who raised thought it was;
  • Janine Cloud presented on "Personal Privacy in Public Projects";
  • “Genographic Project Database: How Genetic Genealogists and Academics are working together”
    by Dr. Miguel Vilar of the National Geographic Society;
  • FTDNA Lab Manager Connie Bormans presented “What’s taking so long?!?!?! The Life Cycle of a DNA sample.”;
  • Michael Sager presented on the FTDNA SNP Tree.
Each presentation had a Q & A section.

Check back tonight for the Sunday sessions.





Sunday, November 06, 2016

LivingDNA sample sent back today.

I ordered a LivingDNA (1) test on September 27th and received it within two weeks. I only got around to taking the cheek cell samples today.

This test is for people with ancestry predominately from the British Isles, excepting Eire. The company is trying to get samples from Eire that can be used to make the test interpretation more accurate. The Interpretation should coordinate with the results of the People of the British Isles dna project (2)(3).

The test kit comes in a 9.5 inch by 5.5 inch cardboard box. It consists of an instruction book, two swab kits, a specimen bag, and the return envelope.

If you have taken a Y DNA test from FTDNA you will be used to the cheek swab kit used in this test. After doing the swabs, there are two samples to take, you place the swabs back into their original containers, no solution needed, attached the sample kit ID tags, place them in the specimen bag and then put that into the postage pre-paid plastic envelope and mail it back.

For my kit the specimen is being mailed back to Louisville, Kentucky. I don't know if that is the only collection point in the USA.

Once I have results I'll post them here and on my genealogy blog.

(1) http://www.livingdna.com
(2) http://www.peopleofthebritishisles.org/
(3) http://isogg.org/wiki/People_of_the_British_Isles