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Cameron
DNA Project
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Cameron
DNA Project
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The Clan Cameron Association
of North America is coordinating
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Before anyone begins participation in a DNA study, we urge you to explore all the possibilities and results you can expect to receive. One fact should stand out to everyone from the onset and that is that the “more the merrier” rule certainly holds true. Unless you have someone else participating along with you and you both feel somewhat sure that you are related either to each other or back in time, you could be frustrated early on in the testing. Once the study has enough participants to really offer a broad band of Camerons entering their DNA, more and more test results will begin to show a match.
Can women participate? Absolutely. Women can become involved in different ways than Cameron men, however. First, if her father were a Cameron, a woman can encourage any Cameron male relatives with a Cameron father to participate. Second, she might offer to help fund a test for one of these relatives in order to, herself, be able to find out more about her own Cameron line.
What about doing an X (female) chromosome study? It WILL NOT help you trace or connect the Cameron surname. To trace any surname you need a Y-Chromosome test performed. A mother passes an exact copy of her X-Chromosome to all of her children, both male and female. A father passes an exact copy of his X-Chromosome to his daughters and his Y-Chromosome to his sons. The X-Chromosome test can be taken by anyone (male or female) but traces the MATERNAL line (mother, grandmother, great grandmother, etc). It tells you nothing about the father's surname line. The Y-Chromosome test can only be done on males (because only males have the Y-Chromosome). It traces the PATERNAL line (father, grandfather, great grandfather, etc). For a surname study you MUST use the Y-Chromosome test. The X-Chromosome test is also much more extensive and expensive.
How can someone find out the results of other participants’ lines? The results of a participant’s test (or line) can only be released by the participant who submitted his DNA. If you are notified that another participant’s line coincides with yours, that other participant is the only person who can release the results of his test to you. It may be possible for a participant to give “blanket permission” for his test results to be released, but that would be a serious step and one to be carefully considered. It is our recommendation that you not take such a step lightly.
Will those from Cameron septs feel “left out” if they cannot participate? If they are Chambers, Clarks, Martins or Taylors there is no need as Family Tree DNA already has active projects going on each of those Cameron sept names!
Can “Surprises” Occur Following Testing? Just as in today’s world and in all past times, there have been children taken into a family when that child may not have, in fact, been a full or partial blood relative. Additionally, fathers died – or were even unknown to the birthmother – so bloodlines became blurred. A questionable test result is always possible, although not probable. Again, we recommend that, if you have any reason to think prior to a DNA test study that such results might occur, we recommend you give it serious thought.
How can two matched test results connect family trees? The two (or more) lines can only be connected when and if the pedigrees (family trees) are shared by the participants. If the test results are exact or inexact, the trees may provide this connection. But many family trees do not always go back to a single person, so new lines of genealogical research must follow.
Finally, Clan Cameron must assure those who decide to enter a study through Family Tree DNA that we make no guarantee you will find your common ancestor, nor do we – as an organization - receive any financial gain from the testing. Our only goal is to provide Camerons everywhere with a means to help them in their personal genealogy research study.
However, if you are not
affiliated with a chapter or branch of Clan Cameron somewhere in the world
today, we urge you to consider membership. We
offer you friendship, fellowship and so many experiences only those who share a
kindred tie can have. Our Clan’s
history is robust and rich as we have carved our name in
Let Clan Cameron help you expand your Scottish horizons as we explore our roots together.