More X-Chromosome Charts
Last month I wrote “Unlocking the Genealogical Secrets of the X Chromosome” and posted a few charts that show the inheritance of the X-chromosome through 8 generations. I thought these charts might be helpful since inheritance of the X-chromosome can be difficult to understand without seeing it.
New Chart with Ahnentafel Numbers
Since posting the article, two new charts have been created using the originals. I made one, and the other was made by Rodney Jewett (who gave me permission to re-post the chart here) and posted at dna-forums.org.
Mr. Jewett added the Ahnentafel numbers of contributing X-chromosome ancestors to the chart. Using these numbers, an individual can simply create a numbered Ahnentafel report to identify X-chromosome contributing ancestors using this chart:
Note that Ann Turner also has a text file of the Ahnentafel numbers of those ancestors who potentially contributed to the X chromosome, through 10 generations.
New Chart Showing Contribution Percentages
I’ve been very intrigued by all the recent discussion of the X-chromosome in the genetic genealogy context, and I’ve been exposed to some facts about the X-chromosome of which I previously was unaware.
For instance, I kept seeing statements that suggested that different ancestors in each generation contributed different amounts to the X chromosome. I read that at the 8th generation, one ancestor contributes 1/8th, some contribute 1/64th, and the others contribute between 1/16th and 1/32nd. I kept trying to understand this, but I had to chart it out to grasp it. Although this chart is for a male, I believe it will also work for a female by adjusting the generations slightly. The chart is big so it might take a moment to download:
Thus, the chart shows that if you are a male, your mother’s father’s mother’s father’s mother’s father’s mother contributed 1/8th of your X-chromosome, while your mother’s mother’s mother’s mother’s mother’s mother’s parents only contributed 1/64th.
Now, keep in mind that this chart serves only as a very rough guideline for inheritance. Although males pass the X chromosome largely unchanged to their daughters, females will usually pass a mixed X chromosome to their child a mixture of the X chromosome they received from their father and the X chromosome they received from their mother. However, a child is unlikely to receive an X chromosome from their mother that is 50% from their maternal grandfather and 50% from their maternal grandmother – it will most likely be some other more random amount between 0% and 100%. Thus, an ancestor is likely to be either under- or over-represented in an actual X chromosome.
Please, if you find any errors in my chart, please feel free to email me and I’ll do my best to correct them.
Potential Research
With the advent of affordable sequencing, I would love to see a study that examined X-chromosome inheritance in a family of 6 or 8 generations. How closely would it match the theoretical inheritance probabilities from the chart above? It’s probably just a matter of time before this research is conducted.
P.S. – Feel free to use these charts, but please give proper credit.
January 12th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
[...] to have come down to you and from whom is to view things graphically – these charts really help. http://www.thegeneticgenealogist.com/2009/01/12/more-x-chromosome-charts/ Since 1975 I have spent countless time and resources focusing on the Young family of Germany, the [...]
January 12th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
[...] on your X. Blaine Bettinger just published fan charts which include specific percentages: http://www.thegeneticgenealogist.com…mosome-charts/ This makes it very clear that the best person for me to test to find information relating to my gg [...]
January 12th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Two days after I posted to GENEALOGY-DNA-L a link to my charts of X chromosome inheritance that show ahnentafel numbers and percentage of X chromosome DNA inherited from each ancestor, Blaine posted charts with the admonition “please give proper credit”. How extraordinary.
January 12th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Jim – I assure you that it was pure coincidence. If I had seen your charts before I created mine, I would have included a link or asked your permission. For example, I obtained permission from Rodney Jewett before posting his chart here.
If you click HERE, you’ll see that I uploaded this post on January 9th and set it for auto-post today. I know it’s not definitive proof, but I stand by my reputation in the genetic genealogy community.
I do apologize for the coincidence, and I now wish I had posted my chart as soon as I created it last week.
January 14th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
I am happy with all the charts. But when you consider the millions of SNPs that are present on the X chromosome, some of the ancestors that are not listed on the charts such as ahnentafel numbers 426 (the father of 213) and 852, 853, (the
grandparents of 213)etc. could have left a substantial block of markers on a person’s X chromosome too. Maybe these X pedigree charts need to be extended out in some of the lines.
Keep up the good work, Jim and Blaine.
January 18th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
[...] or my own posts.Here are my picks for great reads from the genealogy blogs for this past week:* More X-Chromosome Charts by Blaine Bettinger on The Genetic Genealogist blog. Blaine provides more information about how the [...]
January 19th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
[...] there in the blogosphere.Using DNA to explore the pastBlaine Bettinger of The Genetic Genealogist presented charts indicating the approximate proportions of an individual’s X chromosome that can be …. To be specific: “if you are a male, your mother’s father’s mother’s father’s mother’s father’s [...]
February 8th, 2009 at 10:47 am
I have been doing literature searches for X chromosome inheritance and came across this site. Can we come up with some valid scientific reasons or importances as to why this type of research should be completed? My thoughts are to advance the health and welfare of humans and other organisms but what needs done specifically, where is the practical foundation for a study of this manner?
March 1st, 2009 at 5:34 am
[...] Can’t Post Here is an interesting link for The Genetic Genealogist http://www.thegeneticgenealogist.com/ I found there some charts regarding inheritance that might help give you a visual on Fingerprint DNA http://www.thegeneticgenealogist.com/…of-the-x-chromosome/ With Percentages filled i http://www.thegeneticgenealogist.com/…x-chromosome-charts/ [...]
April 18th, 2010 at 8:17 am
[...] http://www.thegeneticgenealogist.com/2009/01/12/more-x-chromosome-charts/ Note that the percentages are AVERAGES. A man’s X chromosome can be exactly the same as his [...]
February 1st, 2011 at 11:35 am
How about a X descendant chart with percentages of the oldest couple? Let’s say 5 generations with each couple having one female and one male. To make it simple just trace the X of the Father.
September 27th, 2012 at 10:18 am
[...] Blaine. He originally published them on his blog, The Genetic Genealogist, in December 2008 and January 2009 in his blogs about how to use the X chromosome for [...]
September 28th, 2012 at 3:10 pm
[...] Blaine. He originally published them on his blog, The Genetic Genealogist, in December 2008 and January 2009 in his blogs about how to use the X chromosome for [...]