Still unsure about AU DNA and using it as proof

+15 votes
373 views

I received a note that https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Wilcoxson-242 is missing as a daughter on this profile.  I indicated that we have never found any sources to connect her.  In fact there are children already connected that I dispute.   Here was the answer I got.

Here is the DNA proof

Comparing Kit M130133 (Robert Lee Willcoxson, Jr) and T453763 (*Megibben)
Chr   Start Location  End Location   Centimorgans (cM)  SNPs

15          24,410,624                27,186,206               8.6                          542

Does the above prove anything?

 

WikiTree profile: Sarah Wilcoxson
in Genealogy Help by Robin Lee G2G6 Pilot (863k points)
I have same question. After 15 years research on 3rd great grandfather still cannot find conclusive proof of his father. How much should I rely on DNA matches? I found several matches at GedMatch all leading to my suspected 4th great grandfather. The best match is to a descendant of his brother. Using the GedMatch default settings (700 snp; 7 cM) I get these:

at Chromosome 7, 20.5 cM, 1845 snp
at Chromosome 18, 15.3 cM 1318 snp

Is that good enuf to establish that me and my match are likely 5th cousins through our mutual 4th great grandfathers (as actual data suggests--but does not prove)
I am starting a DNA project to help with Triangulation segments and DNA confirmations.

Please see:

https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/1177552/interested-dna-study-the-couple-john-wilcoxson-and-sara-boone

2 Answers

+15 votes
 
Best answer
I agree with Ben.  As presented, there is no probative value. Even if combined with other matching test kits in a triangulation group, I would personally consider it suspect as evidence. Discounting the fact that a single, small segment match can't be used as validation of a distant ancestor (at these dates we'd be dealing with the people tested probably being in the range of 6th to 9th cousins--very difficult if not unrealistic to attempt to validate with autosomal DNA using the current technology), there's a problem with the location of the 8.6cM segment itself.

There are areas along some chromosomes we have begun to identify as what are colloquially called phenotypical "pile-up regions." These are places where an inordinate amount of the population share the same alleles. The quickest example is a stretch along chromosome 6 called the HLA region. This area relates to some of the human autoimmune functions. Obviously, mutations to autoimmune functions are NAGT (not a good thing  ;-) for survival of the organism, so that region looks very much like it has for a very, very long time.

On chromosome 15, two such regions have been identified: assuming GRCh37, from bp  20,060,673 to 25,145,260 and 27,115,823 to 30,295,750. You can see that the small segment at 24,410,624 to 27,186,206 overlaps both those regions. Generally speaking, I would discount that segment even in a triangulation group without additional information.
by Edison Williams G2G6 Pilot (442k points)
selected by Robin Lee
+13 votes
It shows they could be related, but no, it doesn't really prove the nature of the relationship. It has almost no probative value for relationships back in the mid 1700s.
by Living Buckner G2G6 Mach 5 (56.1k points)

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