Nordic R1a Y-DNA Project is a private initiative originating in Norway

Norway

Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...

, with the primary objective of using DNA

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...

-sequencing of the male Y chromosome

Y chromosome

The Y chromosome is one of the two sex-determining chromosomes in most mammals, including humans. In mammals, it contains the gene SRY, which triggers testis development if present. The human Y chromosome is composed of about 60 million base pairs...

 for indicating kinship between members of haplogroup

Haplogroup

In the study of molecular evolution, a haplogroup is a group of similar haplotypes that share a common ancestor having the same single nucleotide polymorphism mutation in both haplotypes. Because a haplogroup consists of similar haplotypes, this is what makes it possible to predict a haplogroup...

 R1a

Haplogroup R1a (Y-DNA)

Haplogroup R1a is the phylogenetic name of a major clade of Human Y-chromosome DNA haplogroups. In other words, it is a way of grouping a significant part of all modern men according to a shared male-line ancestor. It is common in many parts of Eurasia and is frequently discussed in human...

.

Purpose

The project objectives are:

• To create a base of knowledge on the use of Y-DNA sequencing for detecting relationships between members of haplogroup R1a, primarily of ethnic Nordic origin, secondly of northern European origin
• Spread information of its work through various sources, e.g. wikipedia.no and familytreedna.com
• Broadcasting knowledge of the haplogroup R1a in general
• Recruiting members of the haplogroup R1a for contributing to a R1a database of greater significance
• Contributing to the progress of refining subclades of the R1a

Background

The inspiration of this project can be attributed to the discussion group (in Norwegian) DNA og slektsforskning on DIS-Norges Slektsforum, where a group of its own emanated; The yDNA Haplogroup R1a in Norway.

A process basically based on e-mail exchange carried on consolidating the project, and the project baseline and objectives were drawn out. Furthermore, a list of references to relevant literature and links to relevant resources on the web came to be shared among the initial participants.

The project began in 2007-11-15 with an initial 3 members.

See also

• Haplogroup R1a
• Haplogroup
  Haplogroup
  In the study of molecular evolution, a haplogroup is a group of similar haplotypes that share a common ancestor having the same single nucleotide polymorphism mutation in both haplotypes. Because a haplogroup consists of similar haplotypes, this is what makes it possible to predict a haplogroup...
  
   (HPG)
• Most recent common ancestor
  Most recent common ancestor
  In genetics, the most recent common ancestor of any set of organisms is the most recent individual from which all organisms in the group are directly descended...
  
   (MRCA)
• Y-DNA

External links

• Dienekes' Anthroplogy Blog omtale av Dupuy et al. artikkel "Geographical heterogeneity of Y-chromosomal linages in Norway" (2005)
• Family Tree DNA hjemmeside
• hjemmesiden til ISOGG -International Society of Genetic Genealogy
• Wikipediaside på engelsk om haplogruppen R1a1
• Danish Demes Regional DNA Project: Y-DNA Haplogroup R1a
• MRCA kalkulator -Most Recent Common Ancestor
• RootsWeb-informasjon om MRCA

• Karlsson, Andreas, et al. "Y-chromosome diversity in Sweden – A long-time perspective" European Journal of Human Genetics (2006) 14, 963–970http://www.nature.com/ejhg/journal/v14/n8/full/5201651a.html

• Holmlund, Gunilla, et al. "Y-chromosome STR haplotypes in Sweden." Forensic science international 160.1 (2006):66-79 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T6W-4GFV5N6-2&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=e5fb19fe4719b3e991e973e865d669cd

• Helgason, Agnar, et al. "Estimating Scandinavian and Gaelic Ancestry in the Male Settlers of Iceland" Am J Hum Genet. 2000 September; 67(3): 697–717 (2000) http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1287529