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RESULTS
A perfect 12/12 match means you share a common male ancestor with a person who shares your surname (or variant). These two facts demonstrate your relatedness.
A perfect 25/25 match means you share a common male ancestor with a person who shares your surname (or variant). These two facts demonstrate your relatedness.
If two people matched exactly (25/25), there is a 50% probability that the Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) was no longer than 7 generations ago and a 90% probability that the MRCA was
no longer than 24 generations ago.
A perfect 37/37 match means you share a common male ancestor with a person who shares your surname (or variant). These two facts demonstrate your relatedness.
If two people matched exactly (37/37), there is a 50% probability that the Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) was no longer than 4.7 generations ago and a 90% probability that the MRCA was
no longer than 16 generations ago.
Specifically for genealogists, if you match another person exactly you have a 99.9% likelihood of sharing a common ancestor with that person. This individual is described scientifically as the Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA). Population geneticists then apply a term known as the Most Likely Estimate (MLE) of when your T (time to the) MRCA would have lived, however, that is an estimate and in each individual case the actual generation could be nearer or further from the person tested. For the purposes of scientific discussion, the FTdna population geneticist feels that 25 years best expresses a typical generation prior to the Dark Ages and 25 to 30 years per generation for the period thereafter.
For those individuals whom we suspect by genealogical research to be related. A match of 25/25 is adequate to prove MRCA. Further testing (Ydna37) is not necessary for more than one or two individuals to compare to other groups that have not been connected by genealogical research.
Other references of explanation are:
http://www.familytreedna.com/faq.html
Also the past issues of the Facts & Genes:
http://www.familytreedna.com/facts_genes.asp
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MUTATIONS
A change in the DNA sequence is referred to as a “mutation”. If someone’s results match another’s results on 11 out of 12 markers, the 1 marker that does not match is a mutation. Mutations can occur for several different reasons, but are usually believed to be caused by the DNA strand being slightly mis-copied within the body. Mutations happen over time and are caused by different physical and chemical conditions, both internal and external to the body. They can happen at any time and it appears that some families have more mutations than others. And some markers mutate at a faster rate than other markers.
According to experts, if there are 11 out of 12 matches on the first 12 markers, probability is high that you are of the same family. The same is true if there are 23 out of 25 markers that match. It might be wise if you were only tested for 12 markers and your results are different on one marker, you may want to consider upgrading your tests. No additional sample is needed as your dna sample is on file at the lab.
A perfect 12/12 match means you share a common male ancestor with a person who shares your surname (or variant). These two facts demonstrate your relatedness.
A perfect 25/25 match means you share a common male ancestor with a person who shares your surname (or variant). These two facts demonstrate your relatedness.
If two people matched exactly (25/25), there is a 50% probability that the Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) was no longer than 7 generations ago and a 90% probability that the MRCA was
no longer than 24 generations ago.
A perfect 37/37 match means you share a common male ancestor with a person who shares your surname (or variant). These two facts demonstrate your relatedness.
If two people matched exactly (37/37), there is a 50% probability that the Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) was no longer than 4.7 generations ago and a 90% probability that the MRCA was
no longer than 16 generations ago.
Specifically for genealogists, if you match another person exactly you have a 99.9% likelihood of sharing a common ancestor with that person. This individual is described scientifically as the Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA). Population geneticists then apply a term known as the Most Likely Estimate (MLE) of when your T (time to the) MRCA would have lived, however, that is an estimate and in each individual case the actual generation could be nearer or further from the person tested. For the purposes of scientific discussion, the FTdna population geneticist feels that 25 years best expresses a typical generation prior to the Dark Ages and 25 to 30 years per generation for the period thereafter.
For those individuals whom we suspect by genealogical research to be related. A match of 25/25 is adequate to prove MRCA. Further testing (Ydna37) is not necessary for more than one or two individuals to compare to other groups that have not been connected by genealogical research.
Other references of explanation are:
http://www.familytreedna.com/faq.html
Also the past issues of the Facts & Genes:
http://www.familytreedna.com/facts_genes.asp
****
MUTATIONS
A change in the DNA sequence is referred to as a “mutation”. If someone’s results match another’s results on 11 out of 12 markers, the 1 marker that does not match is a mutation. Mutations can occur for several different reasons, but are usually believed to be caused by the DNA strand being slightly mis-copied within the body. Mutations happen over time and are caused by different physical and chemical conditions, both internal and external to the body. They can happen at any time and it appears that some families have more mutations than others. And some markers mutate at a faster rate than other markers.
According to experts, if there are 11 out of 12 matches on the first 12 markers, probability is high that you are of the same family. The same is true if there are 23 out of 25 markers that match. It might be wise if you were only tested for 12 markers and your results are different on one marker, you may want to consider upgrading your tests. No additional sample is needed as your dna sample is on file at the lab.