Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

In my project I am using family history and surnames to predict my ancestors ancient ancestral route and comparing my prediction with my DNA results I submitted to the Genographic Project. I did both a mtDNA and a Y-Chromosome DNA test. I made my predictions and I have viewed the results from the Genographic project. My problem is I have to have a chart and I can not think of a good method for displaying my data and making a chart. In previous years I have used Excel my data and making charts, but it doesn't seem to have anything applicable.

Please forgive me if this is a duplicate message; I sent a message earlier but I was not register at the time and it is not appearing anywhere.

Hi Xavier,

What data do you have and want to plot? Details would be useful please, e.g., quantity of data, range of data values and what variables are represented.

Thanks.

Hi Xavier,

It can be difficult to display data that is qualitative rather than quantitative but there are ways.

There are several ways people display family histories using different types of graphics or charts.
This type of family tree is common for showing genetic traits, but you could use it for indicating ethnicity or geographical data
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt ... image&cd=1

Another way might be to do pie chart with different ethnic or geographic regions given different colors. One for your predictions and one for the mt DNA results and one for the Y-chromosome results.

As David said knowing what format your data is would help us help you better,
Bets of luck,
-Caroline

This is a great project. I looked at the Genographic website and they have a really great diagram showing how DNA is transmitted along the maternal and paternal lines. https://genographic.nationalgeographic. ... posts.html You might consider drafting a similar diagram showing the lineage suggested by your relations and the family names. However, what I read at the Genographic website suggests that they will report a much longer timeline lineage. So, while your family name may have been fairly constant for the past 400-500 years, and it might be traceable to certain areas of the world, but the data from the genographic project seems to predate modern naming conventions. You will probably need to draft a hybrid diagram showing your known immediate ancestry and then cap that with your genetic heritage as determined by the genographic testing.