Family Tree DNA does DNA research and besides your basic ancestor matching also includes "Y" results for Males and "mdt" for females. These are additional tools in one's search for who they are. HFA member George Locke is the project manager. Michael Cooley is also involved with working the results going back to before the 1600's. Next George explains more about the Family Tree DNA site and the Higdon Project.

Genetic Genealogy and The Higdon DNA Project

Did you know that there is a Higdon DNA project? It is hosted by FamilyTree DNA and run by volunteers. Its purpose is to aid Higdon family researchers through the use of genetic genealogy.

What is genetic genealogy?

Genetic Genealogy is using commercial DNA tests to identify cousins (both close and distant) and more distant ancestral family lines by matching identical segments of DNA between various testers. Finding and communicating with genetic cousins allows the family historian to expand their family tree by identifying distant family branches when may have previously been unknow. Genetic genealogy is also very useful in confirming family branches which have been built upon scarce evidence. This can happen when researchers coordinate with one another and use DNA testing to confirm their paper trail relationships. However, it is important to keep in mind that DNA tests supplement, but do not replace, traditional genealogical research practices.

What types of commercial DNA tests are available for genealogical research?

The most common genetic genealogy test is the autosomal test which tests all 23 human chromosomes. This test is good for identifying genetic cousins up to about the 5th cousin generation (more or less). This test is offered by most every commercial DNA testing company. Less common are tests for the Y-Chromosome and Mitochondrial DNA. There are few commercial tests available for these tests, even though they are the most important tests used by scientists and anthropological researchers throughout the world. Luckily, one company in the USA provides all three tests to the general public.

How does genetic genealogy work?

Humans have 23 pairs of DNA chromosomes. 22 pairs (chromosomes 1 through 22) are made up of roughly equal amounts of genetic material from each parent. This is accomplished through a process called genetic recombination where the chromosomes from one parent will separate the halves and then recombine with the separated material from the other parent forming a new recombined chromosome in the child. The actual amount of genetic material you receive from each parent will vary for each chromosome, but the combined amount always comes out to the total needed for the chromosome to be viable. The 23rd chromosome pair determines the gender. It is made up of a combination of either:
• Two (2) ‘X’ chromosomes, one (1) from each parent (XX = female), or
• One (1) ‘X’ chromosome from the mother and one (1) ‘Y’ chromosome from the father (XY = Male).

So, for you as the DNA tester, roughly half of your DNA for chromosomes 1-22 comes from your father and the remainder comes from your mother. But the DNA you received from your father is roughly half of your paternal grandfather and the remainder is from your paternal grandmother, and the DNA you received from your mother is roughly half from your maternal grandmother and the remainder is from your maternal grandfather. And the same applies for each of your grandparents, and their parents before them and so forth.

What about the genetic inheritance for chromosome 23?

For chromosome 23, the gender determining chromosome, the genetic inheritance is different between males and females. Males and females both carry the ‘X’ chromosome, which will separate and recombine to form new ‘X’ chromosomes in both male and female children, but only males carry the ‘Y’ chromosome, and it does not separate and recombine, but is passed on only to male children as an exact copy from the father.

For males, the ‘Y’ chromosome is inherited unchanged from the father, and his father before him, and his father’s father before him, and so forth, generation after generation. Occasionally a small change (mutation) occurs in the unique genetic signature of the ‘Y’ chromosome. This small change is then passed along to the sons and their sons, etc. and is useful in determining genetic branching of paternal lineages.

What does the Higdon DNA Project look for in member’s DNA tests?

The Higdon DNA project focuses on the Y-Chromosome to identify individual Higdon family lines and group matching testers into “genetic family” groups based on their genetic signatures and their most distant known paternal ancestor. As more Higdon men are tested and placed into “genetic family” groups, those testers can concentrate their research by coordinating with other members of their “genetic family” group.

If the Higdon DNA project is focused on the Y-Chromosome of Higdon men, then how can Higdon women and descendants of Higdon families with different surnames participate?

Anyone with an interest in the Higdon name can help the Higdon DNA project by reaching out to any Higdon Men that they know and telling them about the project and asking them to consider joining the project and getting their Y-Chromosome tested. Anyone who has an interest in the Higdon name and who is already DNA tested can also join the project at FamilyTree DNA.

What if I’ve already been tested at another DNA company, Will I have to take another DNA test?

FamilyTree DNA accepts data transfers of existing DNA tests from most commercial vendors (i.e., Ancestry, MyHeritage, etc.) for a small transfer fee (about $19). In most cases users who transfer a copy of an existing test will not need to provide a new DNA sample unless they choose to upgrade their tests to include Y-NA or Mitochondrial DNA, or another test which requires new samples for test processing.

Where can I find out more about genetic genealogy?

The following links are just a few of the many sites which deal with genetic genealogy.
• ISOGG (International Society of Genetic Genealogy)
o https://isogg.org/
• DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy (Roberta Estes Blog on DNA and genealogy)
o https://dna-explained.com/
• FamilyTreeDNA Blog
o https://blog.familytreedna.com/
• The Higdon DNA Project
o https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/higdon-y-dna/about

I hope you have found this information useful, and I look forward to seeing you join our project.

Respectfully yours,
George F. Locke (grandson of Mary Elizabeth (nee Higdon) Locke)