Richard III and DNA testing

[Alexander.]

Just a quick overview for you:

There are basically three types of DNA tests useful for genealogical purposes:

• Y-DNA - DNA from the Y chromosome (found in cell nucleus) which only males have, and is passed from father to son with very few changes. Useful for direct paternal lines.
• mtDNA - Mitochondial DNA found in mitochondria, passed from mother to all children (male and female) through the generations. Useful for direct maternal lines.
• Autosomal DNA - Autosomes are your chromosomes in your cell nuclei that are not sex chromosomes (that is, not X or Y). When reproduction occurs, mitosis and meiosis take place which mix up (recombine) the DNA of the parents, to make a unique offspring. For this reason, unlike Y-DNA or mtDNA, it is not traceable along one single line. This means that it is only useful for determining rough relationships between people (eg. Second cousins), but it will not tell you on which lines you are second cousins. Autosomal DNA is only really useful for showing relationships in the last five or so generations, and general information about your ethnic ancestry.

You can look in the RootsChat Lexicon under DNA Testing for more threads on the subject:
http://surname.rootschat.com/lexicon/reflib-lexicon.php?letter=D&lang=EN&input_form=

[clearly]

Many thanks for that Freckneale. It is exactly what I wanted: concise, clear and containing everything I wanted to know.

[Nick29]

He wasn't a hunchback, as Shakespeare alleged, but he did have scoliosis, which is a sideways curvature of the spine.  Apparently the skeleton also has scoliosis.

Apparently the skeleton also had an arrowhead lodged in the back (as Lydart said) 

[Jean McGurn]

Perhaps they ought to get the team in from History Cold Case  they did a good job on the skelton that had been buried in a Scottish castle - think it was Stirling Castle but not sure without watching the programme again.

Jean

[johnxyz]

The article I saw said Ibsen was the end of a direct female line - can't remember if his mother had no daughters or whether there were no sisters with children. Also said that for old samples mtDNA is easier to recover and analyse than Y-DNA.

[davidft]

Perhaps they ought to get the team in from History Cold Case  they did a good job on the skelton that had been buried in a Scottish castle - think it was Stirling Castle but not sure without watching the programme again.

Jean

The dig at Leicester is being filmed for a TV "special" which a cynic may say has shades of we know the result we want now how do we get there about it 

What surprised me is that reading articles on the dig there was allegedly a stone pillar on the site until at least Victorian times saying it was the burial place of Richard III. If so one wonders why it was destroyed ......

[davidft]

The article I saw said Ibsen was the end of a direct female line - can't remember if his mother had no daughters or whether there were no sisters with children. Also said that for old samples mtDNA is easier to recover and analyse than Y-DNA.

Seeing Mr Ibsen being interviewed yesterday he did talk very much as if his mother was still alive. That being the case one wonders why they didn't test her as he said she was quite excited about the Richard III connection

(Unfortunately the news report is not on the ITVplayer)

[Redroger]

Autosomal DNA Would seem to be inherited thus, You are 50% of each of your parents, 25% of your grandparents, 12.5% great grandparents, 6.25% of your 2Xgreat grandparents, and 3.125% of your 3Xgreat grandparents. Obviously therefore unless you have a high level of inbreeding in your tree then this seems to be little use in determining your ancestral line beyond your great grandparents.

[johnxyz]

Found the article re Ibsen. His mother died  4 years ago, his only sister had no children. So he is the end of the line.

A further though on mtDNA versus Y-DNA. If a Y test didn't match, there would be a question about paternity down the male line as a possible reason for a mismatch. An mtDNA mismatch would prove it's the wrong person.

And finally don't forget DNA profiling originated at Lecester University with Alec Jeffreys in the 1980s, so presumably they have some good expertise on hand.