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Post by twoupman on Jan 22, 2016 11:47:10 GMT -5
BBC (UK) has begun airing a new 6 part series covering the 4,000 plus years history of China. twoupman houseofchinn.com
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Post by twoupman on Feb 21, 2016 11:41:48 GMT -5
Some of the episodes already aired. Episode 1 Ancestors: Episode 2 Silk Roads & China Ships: Episode 3 The Golden Age: Episode 4 The Ming: Episode 5 The Last Empire: twoupman houseofchinn.com
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Post by twoupman on Mar 11, 2016 12:59:42 GMT -5
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Post by Doug 周 on Mar 23, 2016 4:47:21 GMT -5
This BBC TWO 6 part series is a very good synopsis of the history of China. Thanks twoupman for posting these links so North Americans can view this UK restricted video. I hope the links are not taken down by the copyright holders. Narrator Michael Woods is enthusiastic and tells a compelling story. History can be dry if one tries to rote memorize all the dynasties. The overall common theme of the Chinese story is that change and revolution is the norm. The artistic style of using contemporary scenes of modern China to relate to historical context makes for enjoyable viewing. Two thumbs up!
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Post by douglaslam on Mar 23, 2016 5:17:25 GMT -5
DJ, thanks for reminding. I'll find the time to see it all.
As you're well informed in things genetics and DNA, what can you tell me about 23andme?
It is a story worthy of telling on this column for I am going to do a DNA swab in order to verify the probability of some Australians lineage to my village thus my clan. Our fellow member andrewAU is well aware of this.
DL
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Post by Doug 周 on Mar 28, 2016 18:43:12 GMT -5
DL I am glad to answer this outside the DNA forum. The reason is that I go against the conventional wisdom that DNA analysis is useful in its CURRENT form to study ancestry family heritage. Part of the problem is the small sample size of the current database. 23 & Me is not allowed to take samples from China.. I hear there is a large police database of DNA in China for kidnapped children, but that is not available to commercial users. Nov 14, 2013 at 10:17 kantmakm said: There is this service if you have your DNA data on your computer: siyigenealogy.proboards.com/post/16598/threadI plan to upload my data. I have been procrastinating. I still take this position, although at the time, a 23 & Me sample cost only U$99. Now it cost U$199. What ever company you choose, make sure you download the data and archive it.
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Post by douglaslam on Mar 29, 2016 5:06:26 GMT -5
DJ, what we have here is a group of Australians who share the same family name as me, and their great-grandfather's given name matches the same generational name as my great-grandfather's, and they come from a village close to Hong Kong. The Australians want to know about the origin of the great-grandfather, thus theirs. Of course, there will be no sampling from China, just me and the group of Australians. BTW, they look hardly Chinese at all.
In the absence of other clues, I volunteered to give an DNA swab for testing, as they would, to see if there is conclusive proof that we have the same grandfather seven, eight or more times prior.
Is this a valid test, and would the results yield conclusive proof one way or the other?
Thanks. DL
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Post by Doug 周 on Mar 29, 2016 11:17:28 GMT -5
DL, Yes, that is a good plan. What you are interested in is for a service which includes the Y chromosome, the marker for paternal lineage. Ideally, if you all have the same male progenitor, then you should have very similar if not exactly Y chromosomal markers (haplogroups). The Y chromosome is passed down by the father only. Getting Autosomal chromosomal markers might tell you what degree of separation you are; if you are 4th, 5th, 6th cousin, etc. As an indication of how inaccurate autosomal chromosome markers, see the attached photo. KK does not share any autosomal markers with my sons', but KK's brother shares markers with both of them. The lack of shared markers does not necessarily rule out a relationship. The reason is better stated here: thegeneticgenealogist.com/2009/11/10/qa-everyone-has-two-family-trees-a-genealogical-tree-and-a-genetic-tree/In summary, measure the Y chromosome marker. You might save some money by using a service which studies only the Y chromosome. IMHO DJ
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Post by douglaslam on Mar 30, 2016 6:10:46 GMT -5
DJ, This one line matters most to me.
"Getting Autosomal chromosomal markers might tell you what degree of separation you are; if you are 4th, 5th, 6th cousin, etc."
Thanks for taking the time to answer my query in regard to an DNA swab in order to determine the ancestry of a group of Australians.
This Forum is blessed by so many participants with specialist knowledge and you are one of them.
Thanks DJ. DL
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Post by Doug 周 on Mar 30, 2016 12:07:53 GMT -5
Be cautious about my enthusiasm in finding 4th, 5th, 6th degree of separation (or cousins). There is dilution of DNA and/or the mixture of chromosomes under the current techniques. They don't record the DNA sequence of every gene in these consumer samples. It is too expensive. Instead, they record the DNA of SNPs (single nucleic proteins) or a certain area. That is why KK is not related to my son's (5th cousin) but KK's brother has chromosomal similarities.
These companies are choosing the SNPs not for our genealogical studies, but to find a patentable clue to cure diseases. They market family heritage to the data pool (us genealogist) to increase their medical research cohort. That was why the US Federal Trade Commission went after 23 & Me for being too heavy on the marketing without proof.
Maybe in the future they will have more SNPs measured.
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Post by douglaslam on Mar 31, 2016 5:21:37 GMT -5
DJ, the people I am taking the DNA test with seem to know what they are doing. I'll just do the test and let them interpret the results. I have yet to log on the provider's web site for instructions and payment. DL
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Post by Doug 周 on Mar 31, 2016 12:01:22 GMT -5
DL, When you get your results, please share your experience on the DNA Chinese Genealogy sub-forumclick as a new topic. It will be easier for other forum members to find and participate. It would be helpful also one if your DNA test group members is willing to write an explanation. I need to learn from others with first hand experience. It was good that you shared the specific question that you were trying to answer using DNA testing. DJ
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Post by douglaslam on Apr 1, 2016 18:40:59 GMT -5
DJ, will certainly keep you and other members of this Forum informed of findings in the DNA tests. I do have an image of the group of people I am doing the test with, but I did not ask them to allow me to put it on a public forum. Suffice it to say, they don't look Chinese at all.
I am heartened by their desire to reclaim their Chinese ancestry. It would be icing on the cake if they turn out to be from my village and thus brothers and sisters to me, according to the generation poem.
Genealogy can be exciting. DL
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