Paternal Ancestry Analysis

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The purpose of the Strickland DNA Project is to determine Strickland kinship based on descendancy from Matthew Strickland, an early inhabitant of 1600's Isle of Wight County, Virginia, from whom many Stricklands are descended. Some of the participants have documented lines going back 8 to 12 generations to Matthew, and others are hoping to find a connection. The test serves as verification for the documented lines and as a means of comparison for the others. All of the earliest known Strickland ancestors from which the participants in the study descend are listed on the Ancestral Charts page.
 

Genealogical records (or oral family history) indicate that each donor is a descendant of one of a few specific Stricklands, Stricklins, or Stricklings. Each donor submitted a biological sample to determine if common Y-chromosome markers could establish any relationships between different Strickland/Stricklin/Strickling lines.

Y-chromosome (Ycs) markers are passed from father to son and remain mostly unaltered from generation to generation. This property makes the Ycs an ideal focus for genealogical studies because, barring adoption or illegitimacy, the route of the Ycs through time in a pedigree exactly parallels the surname in many western cultures. The Ycs is widely used in establishing relationships among individuals sharing the same or similar last names. By determining a Ycs fingerprint, or haplotype, of several related male individuals, we can create a Ycs haplotype that is inherited with a specific surname. This information can be used for further genealogical pursuits by allowing males with the same or similar last name to compare Ycs haplotypes and determine descent from a common paternal ancestor.

For an explanation of the Y-chromosome test, please read Paternal Ancestry Signature.
 

The participants include both male donors and some female sponsors. Some donors have documented lines back to Matthew Strickland. The female sponsors chose male donors to whom they are directly related, as this was a Y-chromosome (male) test only. Since the female sponsors are genetically linked to this DNA project, the results also apply to them.
 

Summary

Y-chromosomal analysis of the donors has identified one major Strickland line. The consensus of this line, Modal 1, is displayed. At each locus the modal type is determined by majority rule. The collection of the modal types are called the modal haplotype, and that modal haplotype possibly represents a common ancestor's haplotype. The data suggests that the donors within Strickland Modal Haplogroup 1 share a common ancestor. Some of the donors match Modal 1 exactly, and others exhibit one to three mutations from Modal 1. Such mutations are not unusual, especially when several generations are involved.

The donors who do not fit in with the major Strickland modal haplogroup are categorized as singlettes and represent other Strickland lines. They share some alleles with Modal 1 and with each other. The maximum likelihood analysis (MLA) states that Modal 1 and the various singlettes are most likely separated by a range of 52 to 334 generations. Therefore, the probability that any of the singlettes share a common ancestor with Modal 1 are low.
 

DNA testing is performed by Relative Genetics, and our project is hosted by Ancestry.com. The Strickland Research Group members and Strickland DNA Project participants would like to thank the folks at The Center for Molecular Genealogy at Brigham Young University who helped us begin the project (case no. SC2002-41) in 2002.

Many thanks to Ron Strickland, original leader of the Strickland Research Group, without whose initiative this project would have never been accomplished. Thanks also to Robert Stricklin for his work with the Phase II participants, Rebecca Christensen for her work in maintaining the DNA test results, and to Rocky Strickland for maintaining the ancestral charts.
 

Additional participants are invited to join. If you are interested in comparing your DNA or have questions about this project or other ongoing research being conducted by the Strickland Research Group, please contact Robert Stricklin.

Strickland DNA homepage at Ancestry.com: http://groups.ancestry.com/site/35397329/
 

Copyright © 2002-2009 Strickland Research Group. Reproduction in any form is prohibited. The information contained in the ancestral charts was provided by the participants, and the Strickland Research Group assumes no responsibility for accuracy. The data contained herein is intended for genealogical interest and should be used only for that purpose.
 

Updated 1/1/09