Welcome to our "Neese/Kneece/Nehs" Surname Project!"

Jeffrey Nase, Yvonne Stewart and Greg Wood are the Co-Administrators for this project and would be glad to help you with any questions you may have related to the Neese/Kneece/Nehs DNA  Project.

THE Y-DNA 37-111 TESTS. The Y-chromosome is passed from father to son, virtually unchanged, down through the generations. There are mutations that occur over time, and these are what help us to identify the different Neese/Kneece/Nehs family lines. Since only males inherit the Y chromosome, only males can do the Y-DNA tests. For the Y-DNA portion of our Neese/Kneece/Nehs Surname Project, we ask that any males who carry the Neese/Kneece/Nehs surname test at the Y-DNA 37-marker level to start with. The 67- and 111-marker tests are also very useful, but can be purchased as an upgrade at a later time. The Y-DNA tests will help to establish the various Neese/Kneece/Nehs family lines, and show how closely male members of each established line are related. Collaboration with Y-DNA matches may unlock genealogical clues to identify a common ancestor.

THE FAMILY FINDER TEST (Autosomal DNA or atDNA). Everyone has two types of DNA. The first type is called the AUTOSOMAL DNA, and it consists of 22 of the 23 pairs of chromosomes contained within the nucleus of each of our cells (the 23^rd pair is the X and the Y chromosomes, or the sex chromosomes, which have their own specialized DNA tests). This autosomal DNA is the DNA that everyone inherits from all of their family lines, maternal and paternal. The atDNA undergoes recombination to various degrees at the time of fertilization, making it quite a challenge to determine from which ancestor any particular sequence of atDNA was inherited. Both males and females can do the Family Finder (atDNA) test. It will “match” DNA test results with others who have tested with Family Tree DNA (FTDNA), and with those who tested at Ancestry DNA and have transferred their results over to FTDNA, providing them with contact information and the predicted relationship for their matches.  It also provides them with a breakdown of their ethnic background. The Family Finder test is a very important part of our Neese/Kneece/Nehs DNA Project because it allows us to establish relationships across all family lines in a person’s DNA makeup, whether paternal or maternal, and to establish how closely one is related to their matches. It may also be the key that helps us to unscramble the various Neese/Kneece/Nehs family lines. We hope every member of our Project will consider doing the Family Finder test. 

THE mtDNA (Mitochondrial DNA) TESTS.  The second type of DNA, mitochondrial DNA, is found within tiny cellular organelles called mitochondria. These are located in the cytoplasm of the cell, outside of the nucleus. Since mtDNA does not recombine during the process of fertilization, it can be used to trace one’s direct maternal genetic ancestry back for many thousands of years! What is unique about mtDNA is that it is ONLY passed down by a mother to her children. Both males and females inherit the mtDNA, but only a female can pass it down to her children. Therefore, both males and females can do the mtDNA tests, which will trace one’s MATRILINEAL DNA ancestry (mother back to mother, back to mother, etc.). We recommend that anyone interested in this test go with the mtDNA Full Sequence test, as this is the most definitive test for determining the mitochondrial haplogroup.

HELP US TO LOCATE POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS

Any participant in the project is encouraged to recruit relatives with a connection to any of the Neese/Kneece/Nehs family lines to test for the project. 

FINANCIAL SPONSORSHIP

Also, a group of relatives or other interested parties can "sponsor" a person to be tested by making modest contributions to the Project, so that all who want to be tested, may be, and it won't be a financial burden on any one person. General contributions can also be made, to be used at the Project Administrator's discretion.