Mennonite DNA: yDNA

What can be learned from studying the yDNA of low-german Mennonites?

yDNA is genetic material that is passed on exclusively from father to son. Therefore, it is preserved generation after generation.

In the chart at the right, let's assume that all the individuals in the three lines have the same surname. The three lines show how far back the GRanDMA database links them. But, can we tell, from DNA, if they share a common paternal progenitor…Are they paternally related?

Let's assume that the first two, x and y, do share the same yDNA. Then we know that, if we could go back far enough, we would find a common paternal ancestor. However, line z has different yDNA; therefore, we know that we will never find a common paternal ancestor.

This Mennonite DNA yDNA study requires a collection of yDNA analyses from a large number of men with low-german ancestry to answer these questions.

Where can I learn more detail?

Start at mennoniteDNA.com. Tim Janzen has written and amassed a lot of information. You will learn more about the project and get lots of details about the use of yDNA data.

A report on Mennonite DNA's yDNA results describes Mennonite DNA's collection of data. A separate document provides an interpretation of the yDNA results (but I can't find the link.)
    Amen.