Q. What is a SNP and how can I use them to figure out how I'm related to my matches?

A. SNP is short for single nucleotide polymorphism. They are the most common type of genetic variation among people. Each SNP represents a difference in a single DNA building block, called a nucleotide. For example, a SNP may replace the nucleotide cytosine (C) with the nucleotide thymine (T) in a certain stretch of DNA. When this occurs it is a mutation (or change in your genetic code) that we can then use to determine how people are related to each other. Since these mutations occur in individuals, that means that people who share the same SNP ultimately inherited them from the same individual—a common ancestor.

A SNP found through Big Y testing occurrs approximately every 120-140 years.   This group has not yet done enough Big Y testing to discover its defining SNP.   We have one Big Y finished and one Big Y pending.  After both of those tests have been analyzed, we should have our own SNP. This SNP occurred in a common ancestor who lived around the time of the Crusades (≈ 24 generations ago).  Since Family Tree DNA claims that all of the men on your match list are related to you within the last 24 generations, then you also will all be positive for a set of SNPs that occurred around this time.  

Once we have a couple of Big Y tests in this E group, our SNP tree will start to take shape.    Men who are extremely close STR/marker matches to one of these men will be able quite inexpensively test the "novel" SNPS (also known as private SNPs).  This serves both to help put these private SNPs into chronological order (or help date these SNPs) and enables you  to add your branch to the DNA/phylogenic tree.  As more men test and database size increases, dating will continue to improve.

Q. I'm already a member of a Haplogroup Project. Why should I join this one?

A. This project can be considered a hybrid surname haplogroup project because it’s name comes from a SNP that occurred within (or slightly outside) of the genealogical time frame. Because MOST Jews did not have surnames this far back, this SNP can be considered a surname surrogate because it is your paternal genetic signature. Family Tree DNA considers the genealogical time frame to be 24 generations or around the 11th Century. So this project is open to all of the men who appear on your match list. We still rely on the larger E-M35 DNA Project for assistance with more complicated DNA analysis and encourage all of you to also join that project as well.   Administrator from that project are already working closely with us.

Q. Why do all of my matches show different terminal SNPs.  Are we different?  

A. No, you and ALL  of the men on your match list share a set of SNPs that occurred around 1000 years ago.  After that time you will continue to share some SNPs with some members, but not with all.  If your "terminal SNP" is shown as L117 or M35 and some of your matches are V22 or BY7450 this is only because they have paid to do SNP testing, and you have not.  

Q. Which is better, upgrading markers or testing SNPs?

A. If you have only tested 12 or 24 markers, I would suggest upgrading to at least 37 markers.  However, if it’s a choice between upgrading STR (markers) or doing SNP testing, you’re much more likely to get more bang for your buck by investing in SNP testing.   Also, do not buy a SNP pack unless you are certain that it contains SNPs which occurred within the last 24 generations.  If you don't know, ask your administrator or look at the SNP tree posted under "results".   

If you've never paid for a SNP test, an effective way of figuring out your placement on the SNP tree is to note the "terminal" SNPs of the men on your match list. These men have actually paid to do SNP testing.  Unless someone on your match list has done Big Y, you should be positive for the all of the "downstream" or recent SNP that appears on your list.  

Q. What is Big Y and how can it benefit me?

A. Big Y is a direct paternal lineage test that looks at 12 million locations on the Y Chromosome. Big Y is able to detect new branch markers that are unique to your paternal lineage, surname, or even you. Because a SNP will mutate approximately every 144 years (one of the nucleotides A,C,G or T will change), the age of a SNP can be calculated, and the more men who do Big Y, the more accurate this date becomes.

In this group we have VASS & BILLSTEIN have done Big Y and have tested positive for both  R1b-FGC20980 and FGC21046.  (See YFull results).  So our DNA tree is only starting to develop branches.  With each new Big Y we will expand branches and discover more SNPs.  This group is still in need of more Big Y, but some men are better candidates than others. For example if one of your very closest STR matches has already done Big Y your contribution will be less than if you have no close matches who have done Big Y. When you have a super close match who has done Big Y there are some very inexpensive ways to attach your ancestor to the SNP tree without doing Big Y.

YFull assumes that a new mutation/SNP occurs around every 144 years.  So using this rate we would expect to see 7-8 SNPs each occurring between  900 CE -1950 (birth of individual).  So based on 7 SNPS we perhaps could see a new SNP appear as follows:  1044 CE, 1188 CE, 1332 CE, 1476 CE, 1620 CE, 1764 CE and finally ca 1908 CE.  

So the more men who do Big Y, the more new SNPs will be revealed that occurred AFTER 900 CE. When two or more men share a SNP, that SNP becomes a common SNP and its position on the SNP tree can be determined and a date can be predicted. But as you can see that leaves scores of SNPs that have been found in some of your matches. If you also do Big Y you will be able to pull out even more of these SNPs, get them dated and contribute even more of your own novel SNPs.

Q. How can I attach my branch to the E-BY7450 Phylogenic/DNA tree if I can’t afford Big Y?

A.   Once we have several Big Y for this group, we will have a number of SNPs that you will be able to test.  Some may be available at Family Tree DNA, but you may have to test at an external lab called YSeq.  SNPs can be purchased here at a cost of $18.00 each plus a one time cost of $5 for a new kit.  So for only $95 you can test 5 SNPs!  If you are positive for ANY of these SNPs, we can add your results to our DNA tree.  Your results will be very important in allowing us to understand when these private SNPs occurred.  So your results will also help attach dates to these SNPs.  The downside of testing at YSeq is that they do not communicate their results to Family Tree DNA.  Therefore your terminal SNP at Family Tree DNA will stay the same.  

Q. I've already taken a Y-Chromosome test through Family Tree DNA. Why should I take more tests?

A.  Most of you have taken one of the basic Y-DNA tests which only tests Short Tandem Repeats (STR). STRs are different than SNPs.  STR/markers look at a specific location on the Y Chromosome and notes the number of times that the four nucleotides repeat.  If you have a "12", that only means that A,C,G & T repeats 12 times.  A mutation occurrs when the number of repeats either increases or decreases.  So if your match has a "13", that is a mutation where you have 12 repeats of ACGT, and they have 13.   STR testing has value in helping to figure out where you fit.  It isn't so good in identifying your top matches because  they are very reliable.  For example "back mutation" are a huge problem.  This is when  over time there is a mutation to a 12, later to a 13, and then sometimes later back to a 12.  So you can see how this would cause your top matches to not really be your top matches, and your not-so-good matches may in fact be your closest match.  SNPs are much more reliable and very rarely back mutate.  

Q. What makes our cluster "Jewish"? Does this mean that I have proven Jewish ancestry?

A. The simplest answer to this question is that this cluster is Jewish because the vast majority of men who belong to this haplogroup are either Jewish themselves, or are of Jewish descent on their father's line. Due to a history of persecution, Jews have historically been an isolated population with very little intermarriage and very few converts. Thus, it is overwhelmingly likely that the common ancestor of this haplogroup was a Jewish man. Therefore, being a member of this haplogroup can be viewed as confirmation that you have Jewish ancestry on your patrilineal line (i.e. father's father's father's father, etc.). However, it does not say anything about the rest of your ancestry.