My DNA Results
On December 23, 2010, after waiting for about 6 weeks, I received an analysis of my DNA. The test would have been back earlier, but additional testing was required. [I must be a complicated person.] This information is not always 100% accurate, but it is a start to piecing together the family puzzle. DNA is a science and, for the purpose of human migration, is a useful tool to help discover our family group’s origins (Africa, Europe, Asia, etc.). Keep in mind that my results are identical to my father’s, his father, his father’s father and so on. So if you are a DRIVER male, your DNA and my DNA should match. If myself or you or someone in our DRIVER paternal line was adopted, there will be a mismatch. Later in this section I will encourage you get tested, but keep in mind that you may find out something you don’t want to share. This is understandable.
In his book “One Blood”, Ken Ham explain how we are all one race and that would be the “Human Race” (Homo sapiens). For those of us who proclaim to be Christians, the Bible states that we all originated from Adam and Eve. The term “Race” as we know it today, was defined by racist people like Charles Darwin. Yes, if you believe in Darwinism, then you are, in my opinion, subscribing to a racist theory that helped to lower the status (worth) of Blacks or darker skinned people in this country and throughout the world. As you can see this is a sore spot with me and I hope through this research and your own research you will see how we are all related to each other – ONE BLOOD.
Acts 17:26 (King James Version)
And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
Understanding your/our DNA is a second step in building a family tree. In this book you can see that I have reached back as far as I can go in the Americas, but beyond the Americas, through records and oral traditions, is still a mystery. The use of tools such as DNA testing will help us probe our historical human origin outside of our obvious African roots. Maybe someday through DNA testing and The National Geographic initiative “The Genographic Project” (https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/index.html) we will be able to pinpoint our origins not only in Africa, but throughout the world.
Recently, there has been great interest in identification of ones “roots”. TV shows like “Who Do You Think You Are”, “African American Lives 2” and “Faces of America” have profiled some well-known celebrities such as Emmitt Smith, Spike Lee, Brooke Shields, Mario Batali, Stephen Colbert. Chris Rock, Tom Joyner, Tina Turner and others. If you have not seen these two series, I would encourage you to check them out online at http://www.nbc.com/who-do-you-think-you-are/, http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/index.html and http://www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/. The tools used in these shows include DNA testing. One of the things I noticed as these celebrities were interviewed is there expression when they found out who they really are. Most people live other people’s family history or follow tainted family traditions, but through DNA testing, you now have a more accurate picture of your ancestors and origin. Every year we celebrate “Black History Month”. How about dedicating the next “Black History Month” to discovering your roots and sharing them with your children.
DNA testing for Genealogy is NOT used or stored for legal or medical purposes. Results are private and you have a choice in sharing your results. As I build the family tree, I would like to know our family medical history to understand health risks that run in the family. For example; in 2007 I was diagnosed with a condition known as “Protein S Deficiency” (http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/205582-overview). This disorder causes abnormal blood clotting and is passed down through families. It occurs in about 1 out 20,000 people. The way I found out about this condition almost cost me my life. Long story short, I had a blood clot travel from my leg to my lungs which could have been fatal. I was in the hospital for two weeks and went through a barrage of tests. These tests were inconclusive to why someone my age would have blood clots. I had one doctor who would not stop searching for the answer and finally, through some additional testing of my blood, found that I have this disorder. Knowing this, through medicine (on a blood thinner for the rest of my life) and a restricted diet, I can prevent clotting in the future. Other medical information about my family ancestors tells me that I am at risk for diabetes, stroke and cancer just to name a few. Also I know through family tradition and first hand observations, that substance abuse is common in several branches of my tree. I personally was on the road to alcoholism, but one day in the year 2000 God just took away my desire to drink alcohol. It must have been all those prayers my mother was sending up during her life on earth. I don’t think drinking alcohol is a sin or you are a bad person for taking a drink, but I do think if you know there is a pattern of abuse in your family, you may be at a higher risk for addiction and abuse. I worked in a ministry that ran a substance abuse program and saw firsthand how it not only affected the individual, but also the entire family. I believe this is what is called a “Generational Curse” and if you know that these types of curses exist, you can prevent them in your life as well as your children and grandchildren. I am not a medical professional, but common sense tells me that knowledge and prevention makes for a better life. Well that is enough preaching for now!
My DNA Results.
Wayne K. Driver’s Y-DNA Haplogroup Test Results – At this time I choose to test my Y-DNA which only looks at my paternal (father, grandfather, great grandfather, etc.) branch of the family. Simply said, I am only looking at the DRIVER line and through this testing I hope to identify a common relative. Finding this common relative, will help to identify where the DRIVER family originated and possible who we are related to in this country. This may take some time to make the right connections, but over the next several years I am confident that more people will add their DNA to the many databases, therefore creating more matches.
So what is a Haplogroup?
According to FamilyTreeDNA (http://www.familytreedna.com/understanding-haplogroups.aspx), “…major branches on the family tree of Homo Sapiens.”
What is my Haplogroup?
Haplogroup R1b, M343 (Subclade R1b1b2, M269)
How to interpret my DNA?
Here is an excerpt from my report. My full report is available upon request via WKDriver@GMAIL.COM. Future reports will be available on my blog http://route606.blogspot.com/.
The genetic markers that define your ancestral history reach back roughly 60,000 years to the first common marker of all non-African men, M168, and follow your lineage to present day ending with M343, the defining marker of Haplogroup R1b.
If you look at the map highlighting your ancestors' route, you will see that members of haplogroup R1b carry the following Y-chromosome markers:
M168 > P143 > M89 > L15 > M9 > M45 > M207 > M173 > M343
(Less is known about some markers than others. What is known about your journey is reflected below.)
Today, roughly 70 percent of the men in southern England belong to haplogroup R1b. In parts of Spain and Ireland, that number exceeds 90 percent.
M168: Your Earliest Ancestor
Time of Emergence: Roughly 50,000 years ago
Place of Origin: Africa
M89: Moving Through the Middle East
Time of Emergence: 45,000 years ago
Place: Northern Africa or the Middle East
M9: The Eurasian Clan Spreads Wide and Far
Time of Emergence: 40,000 years ago
Place: Iran or southern Central Asia
M45: The Journey Through Central Asia
Time of Emergence: 35,000
Place of Origin: Central Asia
M207: Leaving Central Asia
Time of Emergence: 30,000
Place of Origin: Central Asia
M173: Colonizing Europe—The First Modern Europeans
Time of Emergence: Around 30,000 years ago
Place: Central Asia
M343: Direct Descendants of Cro-Magnon
Time of Emergence: Around 30,000 years ago
Place of Origin: Western Europe
What can I do with these results?
I can post these results to the following websites and look for matching markers that will identify common ancestry throughout the world. Once I find this common ancestry, I can now narrow my scope of research outside of the US to other regions and countries. This will help me/us understand out makeup and work forward to identify even more relatives to include in our trees.
.I would encourage everyone reading this book to submit a DNA test and post your findings.
What is next for me?
This is just one of many tests. Throughout the next year or two, my plans are to take further test to discover my ethnic makeup and look at my mother’s branch. These tests are becoming more affordable and accurate as more people get involved. I hope this first test is of interest to you and will encourage you to take a test or two.
