- If you'd like to examine my genes in uncomfortable depth, sign up for a free account at www.23andme.com and email me your login name. Below are a few snippets of interest.
- Maternal Haplogroup - J1
- A quote: "J1 is the only haplogroup
that researchers consider 'Semitic' in origin because it is restricted almost
completely to Middle Eastern populations, with a very low frequency in Italy and Greece as well (Semino et al. 2004). The group’s origins are thought to be in the
southern Levant.
Its presence among contemporary Sephardic and Ashkenazi populations
indicates the preservation of Israelite Semitic ancestry, despite their long
settlement in Europe and North Africa."
- Interpretation: Since Jewish lineage is matrilineal, I'm about as Semitic as you can get.
- Paternal Haplogroup - R1b1c
- A quote (from 23andme): "R1b1c is the most common haplogroup in western
Europe, where it is found in more than 50% of men. Ancient
representatives of the haplogroup were among the first people to
repopulate the western part of Europe after the Ice Age ended about
12,000 years ago. In the process the haplogroup differentiated into
even more distinct groups that can trace the details of the post-Ice
Age migrations."
- Interpretation: I might be half viking.