Árran Archive: Sami DNA family tree project

Sami DNA family tree project
by Virginia Schultz

Dear Árran,

I've found a fascinating new project, and I wanted our group to hear about it. It's the "Saami Anonymous Project." It's a DNA study and, although I'm no scientist, I can understand that DNA study in terms of genealogy is a fascinating new tool that might be very helpful to our group. I went to their website, which was recommended to me by Ovla Ravna. This group is specifically for us with Sami heritage.

After spending quite a bit of time deciding which test would be best for me, I sent in my check. I ordered the mtDNA Plus test and paid $189 for it. There were a variety of tests to choose from with the prices given. Within a couple of days my kit arrived. I had three little comb scrapers on sticks/applicators and three vials of liquid. I'll have to admit that I was so determined to get a good sample that I practically took all the skin off the inside of my cheek. It was tender for several days afterwards. I wouldn't suggest getting that carried away! I did three samples with four hours between each. The applicator stick made it easy to put the samples in the little bottles. In the same spirit of excitement I put stamps on the little package and drove right to the post office with it!

The company doing the tests is Family Tree DNA. They have a comprehensive site, and I read everything on the site before I made my decision. They had a DVD recommendation plus several books to read. The DVD is "Journey of Man." I rented it and watched it. It's very interesting and understandable. I also ordered one of the books, and it arrived today. Being a teacher, I was delighted to be able to learn more about the subject so when my test results come back, I'll understand what I'm getting. Among the many parts of the site there was a set of commonly-asked questions.

With a DNA test the accuracy is determined by the number of markers that are being checked on males. A marker is a change in the DNA, a mutation which is then passed on to the following generations. Encarta defines "genetic marker" as "a known, usually dominant, gene that is used to identify genes, chromosomes, and traits known to be associated with that gene." For mitochondrial DNA the first and last part of the strand are tested. Since I signed a release that came with my test kit, I will be notified if my test matches me up with another individual who has taken the test. The other person and I will have the same ancestor within a time frame, and they are looking for the most recent ancestor that we would have in common. If you don't want to have them contact you, they won't, but I can't imagine why you wouldn't! The DNA samples that I sent in will be kept by the lab for twenty-five years, unless the donor rescinds their permission.   Perhaps in the future there will be more to learn about my DNA with new advances in genetics.

The results belong to us, the ones who have taken the tests. I didn't have any concerns about their privacy practices. Truthfully, I can't see any reason not to be very open about it. It will be interesting for all of us. Since the tests come back in about seven weeks, I'll write about my own results ...

Hi again! Well, I got my results back this week and am scrambling to understand them. The company sent four pages of explanation, a certificate, and a haplogroup map, showing migrations. My haplogroup is U5a1a, and the literature explained that a haplogroup "identifies deep ancestral ethnic and geographic origins on your maternal line." They included a map showing where the haplogroups are found and how they are connected with each other.     My haplogroup origin is found only in Sweden. My maternal line back from my grandmother is as follows:
∙    Anna Adela (Erkintytär) Paavo/Äkäslompolo b. 1886 in Cokato, Wright County, Minnesota
∙    Greta Gustava Pekantytär Esko b. 1848 in Turtola Village, Turtola Parish, Finland
∙    Maria Gabrielsdotter Lampinen/Bucht/Iivari b. 1825 in Övertorneå Parish, Sweden
∙    Eva Eriksdotter Lampinen b. 1793 at Lampinen Farm, Juoksenki Village, Övertorneå Parish, Sweden
∙    Marketta Hindriksdotter Kauliranta b. 1748 in Kauliranta Village, Övertorneå Parish, Sweden
∙    Marketta Ollintytär b. 1684 of Kauliranta Village, Ylitorneå Parish, Finland (The parishes passed from being Finnish to Swedish parishes and vice versa through the years.)

    The director of the project also wrote to me several times, and in one of his messages he says, "In my Saami material I do not find your specific mutations but a related group U5a is found both among Kautokeino Saami in Norway and among Saami in Finland. This doesn't mean this lineage is not Saami, it just belongs to a minority lineage and it also probably belongs to the greater U5 Saami 'family.'" I had signed up as a member of the Saami Anonymous Group. I plan to also send my information to other Scandinavian groups to enlarge the database.

    This is the only line that my mitochondrial DNA will represent, because mitochondrial DNA is passed from mother to daughter to granddaughter. If all of my mother's inheritance were shown, there would be Finnish, Sami, and Germanic (from the Bucht line). Of course, I wish that I had a brother so that I could ask him to get tested to get yet another line. Then I would know our father's father's father's line.

    The mtDNA Migrations Map shows "U" mitochondrial DNA as having gone to Sweden from the near east and beyond that as having come from Africa, where evidence shows the first people originated. "U" is also shown to have gone to the British Isles.

    I was given the names of two people to whom I'm related. I've been in contact with one of them, and he understands this better than I, so he's been a big help. The experience has been fun and interesting, so I'd recommend it. I've even managed to learn quite a bit about genetics that I didn't know before!

    Virginia Schultz
    Martinsburg, West Virginia

Visit Virginia's website