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DNA Testing

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Clan Cameron DNA Project Objectives

This Project is international in scope.  Camerons have immigrated for centuries from Scotland to many lands and we know we have relatives in Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, Scotland and many other countries around the world. This makes finding one’s common ancestors even more challenging.

One goal of the Project is to assist Camerons in their genealogical research, many of whom are interested in learning just where in Scotland their families came from. This requires that Camerons who already know their lineage in Scotland, preferably back at least as far as the early 1700s, participate [insert link to most wanted].

Another goal of the Project is to uncover some of the oldest mysteries that our clan has. The real question behind all of this, is where do we all come from?  Where do we belong?  The majority of those bearing the Cameron surname probably come from the original “Camshron” (Lochiel) line, the MacGillonies, MacMartins, or MacSorlies.

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.

What Your Personal Objective Might Be

  • Identify others related to you
  • Test theories about your ancestors
  • Help get past brick walls in genealogy research
  • Find a new location or area where more clues may be found
  • Validate existing research

These objectives should drive your choice of tests.

The Basic Process

The DNA Y chromosome tests recorded in this Project are passed from father to son and not through the mother, so you must either be a male Cameron or have a male Cameron relative agree to take the test for you (see more in Who Can Join for septs, female lines, and matches). After deciding which test to purchase, go directly to Family Tree DNA’s web site and follow the directions. You’ll receive the testing kit in the mail which you will return to them with the release form. The unique kit number will accompany your DNA collection tube to the testing lab, where FTDNA technicians will run the samples in their laboratory and the results of the Y-DNA MtDNA will be entered into a secure database. The computer-generated number and your surname is the only information about you that the testing facility will see.

If a genetic match is found between you and another person when you both (you and a theoretical relative) have ordered, paid for and submitted both samples, you will be informed via email.  If a genetic match is found between you and another individual who enters the library at some future time, both of you will be given the information that a potential match is in the database, provided BOTH of you have signed the Release Form.  Only if both parties agree will contact information concerning the separate parties be made available to the other party. In this way, all persons in the database will have the right to decide if they want to contact their probable genetic match(es).

There are many paths to take to interpret your test data. You should get instant information from FTDNA if and when you match other people in their entire database, including the Clan Cameron Project–as long as your personal FTDNA account has your current email address. The Clan Cameron project volunteers will also try to link you to one or more groups we have in our database. Finally, uploading your test data to Ysearch directly from your FTDNA account page will allow you to search against an international database fed by individuals and geneticists using a variety of testing companies all over the world.

For more information on interpreting results, check out our Clan Cameron Project Results web pages and DNA 101.

Please note that FTDNA handles ALL of the financial transactions and notifications of test results. You do not need to let Clan Cameron know what the results say–what we DO need your help with is capturing what you know about your family and are willing to share.

One person’s story of taking the test…..

It had arrived.  Just a few days earlier I had decided to participate in the Cameron Surname DNA project.  Having a very solid grasp on my family genealogy, especially my direct paternal Cameron line, was a great starting place but I wanted more.  To be able to push back that earliest documented Cameron ancestor and – just perhaps – link up my genealogy with others to our mutual benefit was an enticing reason to become involved.

The entire process of submitting my DNA was rather easy. Within a short period of time after paying to participate in the project a padded envelope arrived from Family Tree DNA, the group that pioneered the use of DNA testing in the field of genealogy. Simply opening the envelope was rather exciting. After all, just how often does one have an opportunity to find their family origins via a new and emerging science?

Within the envelope were the following items:

1) A re-closable plastic bag that included two small specimen tubes (each containing a clear preservation liquid that would serve to keep my DNA intact on its way back to the testing facility), two “OmniSwab” cheek scrappers (not nearly as ominous as they might sound) and a Release Form.

2) Three pages of text from Family Tree DNA, welcoming me to the study, citing news excerpts on the program and clearly written instructions on how to collect my DNA.

3) A padded return envelope, for sending the specimen tubes and Release Form back to Family Tree DNA.

Jumping right to it, I carefully read the instructions for “specimen collection” and hit a slight snag. For a viable sample to be collected you must wait at least one hour after eating or drinking to proceed with the check scraping. As such, one hour passed and I was finally ready to enter the field of genetic genealogy!

As noted in the instructions, I removed the cheek scraper from its protective wrapper. It is a thin 6” disposable plastic device, much like a “Q-Tip,” but with an unique rippled cotton pad at one end. The next step was to place the scraper into my mouth and “forcefully” scrape the cotton end against the inside of one cheek for up to 60 seconds. I should make mention that one should not take this specific instruction to an extreme. While it is important to perform an adequate scrape, to obtain viable DNA, overly aggressive scraping may cause slight bleeding. All in all, the procedure was painless.

Removing the scraper, the next step was to open one of the two small specimen tubes and insert the “head” of the scraper. There is a convenient plunger on the end of the scraper that ejects the rippled cotton pad into the tube’s fluid. As per the instructions, the tube must have its cap securely replaced, to avoid the loss of fluid during transport back to Family Tree DNA.

After performing the first scrape, a second sample is also required, to insure accuracy. They recommend performing the second scrape eight hours later and I used the other cheek to supply a sample. This is advisable, especially if you went overboard and were too forceful in your first scraping.

There is still the Release Form to consider. This document gives Family Tree DNA permission to make your e-mail address available to other participants whose paternal DNA results match yours. Within the Cameron Surname Project it is recommended that this optional form is completed and returned with your samples. Only by sharing our results amongst one another may we hope to discover more about our Cameron family line. The Clan Cameron Association will also be augmenting the results with information on the earliest known Cameron ancestor for each participant. As the participants become more and more involved with the project, it is hoped that these genetic family lines will begin to intersect with one another.

Once both samples are safely in their tubes, it’s time to send them back to Family Tree DNA. While the instructions indicated that the samples should be kept at room temperature, they also indicated that they would not be harmed by winter or summer temperatures when sent by regular mail. Nevertheless, it is advisable to send your samples back via the mail drop within a post office, not in an outdoor mail box. That will ensure your samples are kept at the recommended temperature.

There we have it. The day after receiving my test packet the specimens were collected and on their way back for processing. What will the results be? How will this benefit my search for Cameron genealogy? That remains to be seen. Only with additional participants will this project begin to yield results, so I encourage anyone with the Cameron surname to “take the plunge” and join in!

FTDNA Chosen as the Host Company for Project Testing

After researching several companies, the Regional Presidents of Clan Cameron North America chose Family Tree DNA of Houston, Texas as the Company we recommend to all Camerons – regardless of their location – who want to embark on finding their common ancestors in this manner. We also chose Family Tree DNA for the Clan Cameron testing source because they are most reputable and largest of similar testing agencies.

The Family Tree DNA company has been in business since 2000 and currently has over one thousand surname projects to its credit. Their website is very informative and simple to use and one can follow the progress of his surname project by simply logging on to their site.

Family Tree DNA accepts all major credit cards, which makes payment possible from anyplace in the world over their Verisign secure server, so using a credit card is assured safe.

Other companies also provide this service, although if you decide to use one, of them, please note that the exact segments on the Y chromosome they test and the order in which they report the data can differ from FTDNA.

How Much Does it Cost?

Tests run from about US$100 to US$280 (current pricing information).

Which Test Should I Consider Taking?

FTDNA offers tests for 12, 37, or 67 markers. Being of Scottish descent, most Camerons want to spend only as much as they need to answer their genealogical questions. [smile]

Generally, the 12-marker test can tell you which groups of families you descend from. For example, it will tell you if your forebears are from Italy or Scotland. It doesn’t help many determine where in Scotland. This test can help rule out connections too. The closest you can get to a match is showing a common ancestor in the last 850 years or so.

37-marker test can tell you which area of Scotland your forebears came from and match you much more closely to other participants. The closest you can get to a match showing a common ancestor is about 350 years.

67-marker test is the best way to break through brick walls in genealogical research that have you stumped in the 1700s or 1800s. It is also really critical for the project if you KNOW your ancestry back to the early 1700s and are really interested in helping contribute to the long-term goal of finding out where the original five families came from. This test can match you to a common ancestor within 150 years.

It is also easy to start off with the 12-marker test and then pay for upgrades later. FTDNA stores the results and just spends extra time reviewing and recording them to give you more data later.

Read what FTDNA says about the different tests and what they can answer.

Who Can Join?

The simple answer is any Cameron can join the project.

The more complicated answer is:

  • YES– Male Camerons: Since we are interested in links to the Clan, males who are in the direct line of male descent from a Cameron are the primary target of this project. If you are female, or are a Cameron because your mother (grandmother, etc.) is a Cameron, you must find a male cousin in the direct line of male descent to take the test for you.
  • MAYBE–Males of Cameron Septs: Most Clan Cameron Septs have project surname groups established in FTDNA, please join those projects first (find another DNA Surname Project). IF your results end up matching Cameron lines (see “Oldest Known Ancestors“), we would very much like you to join.
  • YES, but–Female Camerons: You can trace your direct line of female descent with a different DNA test, and we may eventually get enough information from Cameron women and their descendants to link up specific families. It won’t give you any new data on the parternal line.
  • YES–Individuals With Matching Markers: If you have result from at least 37 markers and find that you are within a genetic distance of 2 or less or a time to most recent common ancestor of under 400 years) match distance of two or less on at least 37 markers to a Cameron participant.

Privacy

Only Family Tree DNA will have the ability to cross-reference your unique test kit number with the personal information you provided in order to determine the names and contact information of family match(es). Privacy and confidentiality are assured and strictly maintained by the company. (Also see Legal Issues/Concerns below)

Surprises

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.

Legal Issues/ Concerns

Family Tree DNA follows the most stringent guidelines for privacy and controls of the Surnames Database Library and test scores, while the University of Arizona controls and maintains your genetic assets on their behalf. Therefore, there is a double safety net. All test results are maintained by FT DNA according to State legislation guidelines and the other is maintained by the University of Arizona, which is bound by both State and Federal privacy and confidentiality legislation.