The apparent missing value is due to a mutation called a "SNP" near DYS439 which interferes with the test process and prevents a value from being detected. See an FTDNA null439 presentation that shows details about the SNP.
SNPs are passed down from father to son, and all males with a null439 SNP descend from a common ancestor who lived within the last 5000 years. Most null439 males with known origins have roots in England or Germany (see the News tab).
The null439 SNP is also called "L1" or "S26". L1/S26 is carried by about a half of one percent of R1b males. All males with L1/S26 also have the SNP "S21" (also known as "U106") which defines the R1b1b2g subgroup (formerly R1b1c9). R1b1b2g is found in about 25% of R1b males.
Under the latest YCC definitions, the L1/S26/null439 subgroup should be designated R1b1b2g3. Bennett Greenspan has written that "The L1 SNP under some Pxxx make from Hammer's lab will be on a forthcoming version of the tree…probably later this year [2008]." See a proposed R1b tree that includes R1b1b2g3.
If the FTDNA lab fails to detect a value at DYS439, they will test the sample two more times before declaring it to have a null value. This means very few results are mis-identified as a null439 when they are not.
If your Family Tree DNA report shows you have an asterisk beside DYS439, then we welcome you to join the null439 project. Click the JOIN icon at the left of your MyFTDNA page and select the null439 project.
Go to the Results tab to see a listing of known null439 results. Go to the Y-Results tab to see results of Project members, but be aware this list includes interested parties who do not have the null439 SNP (as evinced by a blue 12).
Go to the News tab for a discussion of possible null439 connections and origins. This site was founded by Leo W. Little who worked with FTDNA and others exploring the NULL439 cluster and making information about it available.
Please contact James Fox at James.Fox6@Comcast.net for further information. |