| DNA testing has become a vital tool for genealogist. This technology continues to improve and expand.
Today there are three types of DNA tests for genealogy: yDNA, mtDNA, and autosomal DNA.
yDNA is passed only from father to son mostly unchanged on
the y chromosome. By comparing the markers
in a yDNA sample to a base sample it is possible
to tell if the two samples have a common male
ancestor. The more markers alike, the
more recent the ancestor. mtDNA, mitochrondrial DNA is passed from the mother to her children, both male and female, but only daughters pass it on to their children. Comparing mtDNA allows us to
trace our maternal ancestors. yDNA and mtDNA are located on the X and Y sex chromosomes. Autosomal DNA is from our autosomal chromosomes which contain segments of
DNA that we share with everyone to whom we are related. Only yDNA and mtDNA indicate which haplogroup, the ancient group of people our father or mother are descended from.
The Whiteside Family
Association has already analyzed yDNA samples from
several Whitsett/Whitsitt families and have
found some that show a common ancestor with
descendants of William Whiteside,
who came to Virginia from Ireland and then
to Tyrone (Rutherford), North Carolina.
The yDNA results indicate that my wife's Whitsett
family descends from this line. The results
have also shown a discrepancy among the descendants
of Samuel Whitsett of Montgomery County, Kentucky.
This motivated me to launch an effort
to explain the reason for the mismatch (see "Mystery of The Mismatched yDNA", and "Family Group Sheet Samuel Whitsitt of Ky".
I am not an expert
on DNA. I think I understand the basics of this
research. For a more in-depth explanation,
visit the Whiteside Family Association web site.
There is a yearly dues for joining the
association, but the website is free. I believe your membership
is included in the DNA test fee if
you participate in their project.
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