Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation's Newsletter

The Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation has published Issue 1 of Molecular Connections, its newsletter. It can be read on the web at http://www.smgf.org/newsletter.jspx?id=1.

Britain's Human History Revealed

Britain's human history revealed:
By Jonathan Amos
Science reporter, BBC News, Norwich

Eight times humans came to try to live in Britain and on at least seven occasions they failed - beaten back by freezing conditions.

Scientists think they can now write a reasonably comprehensive history of the occupation of these isles.

It stretches from 700,000 years ago and the first known settlers at Pakefield in Suffolk, through to the most recent incomers just 12,000 years or so ago.

The evidence comes from the Ancient Human Occupation of Britain Project.

This five-year undertaking by some of the UK's leading palaeo-experts has reassessed a mass of scientific data and filled in big knowledge gaps with new discoveries.

The project's director, Professor Chris Stringer from London's Natural History Museum, came to the British Association Science Festival to outline some of the key findings.

What has been uncovered has been a tale of struggle: "In human terms, Britain was the edge of the Universe," he said.

Continued at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5317762.stm

So you reckon you're Scots?

"Scientist's gene test traces Pictish roots

By Dean Herbert

HELP is at hand for the millions of people around the world who claim to be Scottish.

A new test will be able to prove if that's just wishful thinking or if someone really has a Caledonian connection.

A leading scientist has developed a "Scottishness" test that searches people's DNA to trace their origins.

Geneticist Dr Jim Wilson is offering the £130 diagnosis, which determines how Scottish people are."

Continue reading here:
So you reckon you're Scots?

DNA Shoah Project

Further details are now available about a project to use DNA to identify victims of the Holocaust:

"The DNA Shoah Project strives to establish a genetic database of those who lost family during the Holocaust. A DNA database can help identify those victims who were murdered by the Nazi regime and/or who died because of wartime-related issues and are buried throughout Europe in unmarked and mass graves. Most of the 6 million Jews who were murdered were not cremated but buried after their death. In many cases, DNA can be obtained from the bones of these victims when they are disinterred. Remains of Holocaust victims continue to surface throughout Europe because of continual land development and until this project, there is no means to positively identify the victims. Establishing the DNA database now will begin a process that will carry far into the next millennium. The DNA Shoah Project can also serve to unite loved ones and further establish closure for families who have missing relatives. The database is being created to assist European governments in the identification of victims and will not be used for any other purpose."

Continued at http://www.dnashoah.info/

DNA and Jamestown Anniversary project

A Press Release from Relative Genetics and Genealogy/Found: "

Partnership Looks to Link Millions Genetically and Historically

This partnership combines genealogy, family history and DNA genetics to link nations and people in celebrating “America’s 400th Anniversary” There is a possibility of 145,000,000 descendants.

Salt Lake City, UT (PRWEB) August 1, 2006 -- Heirlines Family History & Genealogy is merging genealogy with modern science. It has teamed up with Relative Genetics and GenealogyFound to show that after 400 years millions of Americans can trace their family tree back to the Jamestowne colony and Colonial Virginia. DNA testing and genealogical research is combining to help Jamestown descendants jump the pond and find their immigrant origins from Europe and other nations.

The year 2007 marks the 400th anniversary of the original Jamestown settlement -- the first permanent English colony in what is now the United States of America. Heirlines, Relative Genetics, and GenealogyFound are using traditional genealogy along with genetic genealogy to link millions of living people to their roots in that 17th Century colony. They are building a public database of Jamestown and 17th Century Colonial Virginia descendants that will be available beginning in 2007."

Continued at site above.

Sailor identified by DNA

Vernon couple plays role in identifying remains of sailor

By Jason Rowe, Journal Inquirer

Nearly 64 years after a deadly naval accident in Narragansett Bay, R.I., the brother of one of the sailors who died finally knows what happened to his brother's body.

DNA testing has successfully identified the remains of a sailor who turned up in the bay in August 1943 as Seaman 1st Class Raymond S. Johnson of Fort Wayne, Ind.

Johnson was one of 15 sailors from the then newly commissioned USS Gherardi who died when the whaleboat they were traveling on capsized in the bay's cold, stormy waters in December 1942.

Cont. here:

http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16930635&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=161556&rfi=6

DNA: It's a Small World

An excellent short article on DNA testing for genealogy from the Tribue-Review on Pittsburgh Live:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/living/family/s_461182.html

Confucius' DNA test

Chinese scientists have determined the DNA signature for Confucius and are providing a test for possible descendants of Kung Fu Tzu. See the story here:
http://channels.netscape.com/tech/story.jsp?floc=FF-RTO-romta&idq= /ff/story/0002%2F20060616%2F0445390249.htm&sc=romta

The Journal of Genetic Genealogy has posted issue 3, Spring 2006

2006 Y Haplogroup tree from ISOGG

The ISOGG has posted a re-worked 2006 Y Haplogroup Tree at http://www.isogg.org/tree/index.html. This tree continues the work previously done by the Y Haplogroup Consortium. and Family Tree DNA.