Testing GALPIN DNA with the Gilpins
Hi,
I know that most Galpins believe that the two different surnames are from two different genetic lineages. You are most likely right. That does not stop you from using the Gilpin project to test through. Here is our news letter:.... Nelda
See:
http://freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~bonsteinandgilpin/http://freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~bonsteinandgilpin/
Genetic Genealogy
What Can It Do For You??
Putting aside the common interest in the possibility of aristocratic ancestors, typically genealogists are in to genealogy because of.
(a) An interest in knowing who they are and who they are linked to,
(b) An interest in getting a feel for what historical times were really
like, and
(c) The challenge of solving mysteries.
Y DNA studies fit with all of these motives by identifying the defining DNA characteristics of your paternal ancestry, as passed down from fathers to sons over generations, just like the surnames that usually go along for the ride. So what Y DNA gives us as genealogists is effectively another type of "source document" that we can put with all their other clues in order to confirm some theories, and reject others - at least when it concerns a male line where we know of living male-line descendants.
For many genealogists DNA testing also satisfies one more interest, not covered by traditional genealogy, and that is the scientific interest in the history of human migration throughout history and even pre-history. For example, participants who might be interested in ancient human migrations, are also able to have their mitochondrial (mt) DNA or their SNP markers tested at group rates, and they can also become involved in National Geographic's "Genographic Project".
The test is very easy. A simple firm wipe inside your mouth is sufficient. A few short areas of DNA on the Y chromosome are then checked. The Y chromosome is the part of a man's DNA which gets passed more or less exactly from every father to every son - which in principal is what surnames also do. This means that in order to take part in this project you need to find a willing male. If you have a choice of closely related men, then the general rule is to select the oldest one.
It is important not to wrongly over-rate or under-rate the value of DNA testing for genealogical research. Unrealistic expectations that solutions to long-standing genealogical mysteries will simply come flowing back from laboratories on the first day lead surprisingly often to very interesting leads being forgotten or not noticed, and in many cases it even leads to people feeling that DNA testing is a waste of time - which can effectively put a stop on a whole project. Put simply, while surprises do happen, and while it is undoubtedly true that most projects have only small databases so far, one of the most important things to remember is that DNA studies normally require quite a bit of old style research in order to come up with
good hypothesis and good confirming evidence.
There is no conflict between "old style" genealogy and "genetic genealogy": they need each other! Once you realize that, you never know what you'll find!