The Yarbrough DNA Project

The goals of the Yarbrough DNA Project are to:

1 - collect the genetic markers of the extended Yarbrough families;
2 - determine the family groupings;
3 - maintain the database of the Yarbrough DNA test results.

Genetic tests provide an estimate of the probability that the testees have a Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) within a useful range of time. The DNA test measures lengths of certain specific sequences on the Y chromosome. By comparing these lengths for different test subjects, a determination of how closely the testees are related. The Y chromosome occurs only in males and is passed down more-or-less unchanged from father to son, making this a very powerful for genealogical purposes. Females may participate by having a close male relative (father, brother or son) to provide a sample.

A genetic test kit consists of a cheek scraper and a collection tube. The cheek scraper is used to collect a sample from inside the cheek (about the same as using a soft bristle toothbrush). The YNGHA encourages all eligible Yarbroughs to take a 37-marker DNA test although the 67-marker test is much more accurate and is prefereable if cost is not a factor. It should be noted that the testing laboratory offers discounted tests from time to time. Notices about such opportunities are posted by the Project coodinator and by this site as they occur.

The Yarbrough Genealogical & Historical Association (YNGHA) uses FamilyTreeDNA (ftDNA) for DNA testing and hosting the DNA project results. There are also several other testing laboratories that offer genealogical DNA testing. The project accepts data from these labs. Test kits for 12, 25, 37, 67, and 111 markers are available (they are also other more comprehensive kits, too). A minimum of 37 markers is recommended and 67 markers are the preferred kit. Family Tree DNA periodically offers test kits at discounted prices, typically during the summer and early winter months.

Yarbrough Family DNA Project Results
The project results are updated periodically by the Yarbrough DNA . Please contact him about your participation in the project. FamilyTreeDNA provides the test results to the tested person. Each tested individual's test results includes a user ID and password that allows the tested individual to review his/her test results at the Family Tree site. Family Tree offers tested individuals the option of allowing their respective test results to be shared with our DNA Project members. The test results may also be uploaded to ySearch, a site that allows individuals to compare their respective DNA data to others with the same markers (not always of the same surname of the tested individual).

The complexity of the science underlying DNA testing cannot be over-stated. It is a powerful genealogical tool, and a successful program requires as much data as is possible to obtain. The Yarbrough DNA pool of data is just now becoming large enough to be really useful. Thus, the necessity of having as many Yarbroughs as possible take the y-DNA test will continue to be emphasized for some time.

Frequent Questions About DNA Testing

Visitors to the YNGHA Facebook page have raised questions about what happens to DNA data after the test lab has sent results to the tested individal (or surrogate). The more pertinent of these are:

  • Are there other vendors out there that people are using?
    There are a number other genealogical DNA testing firms, including 23andme, AncestryDNA, AncestrybyDNA, Britains-DNA, DNAme, DNA Worldwide (FTDNA affiliate),Genebase, 23andme, Roots for Real, YSEQ, among others. In addition, other DNA testing labs may (but not necessarily will) provide test results that can be uploaded to the database of the user's choice.

  • What happens to the results?
    Typically, the results are sent to the tested person. It is up to that person to contact the database administrator (ftDNA, GEDMatch, ySearch, etc.) and have the test results uploaded. Generally, the submitter chooses between private and public (restricted to members of the shared database) viewing of the data. Subject to this limitation, FamilyTreeDNA test data are automatically uploaded to ySearch (http:www.ysearch.org). This is a service provided by FTDNA that is more or less comparable to GEDmatch.

  • If they're not using familytreedna, are the results transferable the Yarbrough DNA database?
    Yes, and it can be either quite straight-forward or a bit more involved, depending upon the testing lab. There are several sets of test data in the Project database that originated from labs other than FamilyTreeDNA.

  • Do we have a female Yarbrough database?
    Not as such, and the mitochrondial results address an entirely different set of conditions. That is, the mtdna shows maternal connections but not the relationships. For those, one must rely on y-DNA tests of a maternal ancestor's nearest male relative. Another way of saying it, the mtdna just isn't that useful for establishing relationships, however interesting it may be.

Donate to the Yarbrough DNA Project
 Contributions in support of the Yarbrough DNA Project are very much appreciated. These funds are used to further the our DNA research by securing the participation of potential testees who may contribute to the project's success and who could not participate otherwise. Just click here.
Page last updated April 25, 1018.
© The Yarbrough Genealogical & Historical Association, Inc. 2018.
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