DNA Extreme Family History - The Baynham, Cale, James and Majumdar Family History

Girindra Majumdar

My Indian Grandfather

DNA - Extreme Family History

Below are details of my paternal DNA ancestry. Please click here for details of my mother's mitochondrial DNA ancestry.

Because I know very little about ancestors on my father's side of the family I decided to have my DNA analyzed by Oxford Ancestors. I signed up on their website, paid the fee and waited for the kit to arrive. When it arrived I had to swab the inside of my cheek with a small brush then send it off to Oxford.

I had my paternal Y-chromosome analyzed to see which clan I originated from. Most chromosomes come in pairs with one of each pair being inherited from your father and the other from your mother. The Y-chromosome is the exception, only males have one and they inherit it exclusively from their fathers. The Y-chromosome is also unusual because while all other chromosomes are packed with genes that control the myriad of functions of the human body, the Y-chromosome has only one gene of any real importance - the sex-determining gene. This gene makes males male. Without it all human embryos would remain as females and all babies would be girls. A man inherits his Y-chromosome from his father, who got it from his father, who got it from his father and so on back through time for thousands of years.

Six weeks after sending off my sample the results arrived.

My Y-chromosone signature

DYS 19	DYS 388	DYS 390	DYS 391	DYS 392	DYS 393	DYS 389i	DYS 389ii-i	DYS 425	DYS 426
15	12	22	10	11	12	11	16	10	11

Gilgamesh

I belong to the clan of Gilgamesh. The Clan of Gilgamesh is thought to have arisen in the Middle East about 30,000 to 40,000 years ago. It's presence in Europe is probably the result of the migration of Middle Eastern farmers during the Neolithic period about 10,000 years ago. The modern day members of the clan of Gilgamesh are found predominantly, though not exclusively in central Eurasia and the Middle East. The distribution in the following countries and among the following peoples is: Iran (40%), Lebanon (30%), the Greenland Inuit (25%), Ethiopia (10%), the Kazbegi of Georgia (10%), the Berbers (5%), Iraq (2%) and the British Isles (1%).

I find the results quite interesting since my father was Indian and born in India.

You can find more information at the Oxford Ancestors website.