it's all in the genes

I've always been fascinated by genetics. As the auburn-haired, freckle-faced girl with a blonde-hair, blue eyed brother who looked like a gingerbread boy in summer, I was curious how neither or us looked like our parents or each other; but, at the same time, we looked alike.

In fifth or sixth grade, we studied Gregor Mendel's laws of genetics. I drew Punnet squares like crazy. So many genetic outcomes could be predicted this way.

Living on a farm, I had pets like Aussies and different color cattle for examples of the inheritance of color as well as genes like merles and dilutes.

Maggie, my blue merle Australian Shepherd

A dilute cow and calf with a black calf 

With all the changes in DNA and genetics, I was pleased when ancestry testing became available to consumers at a reasonable price. For several years, I was apprehensive about trying. Finally, I had a little money to throw away. I bought two tests through 23andme.com. One for my brother and one for my husband.

After a few anxious weeks, it was fascinating to see what nationalities made up our ancestries.

My surprise was the 12% Scandinavian blood. After a little thought, I chocked it up to the large amount of Scots blood we have.

Even with the information from this website, I'm still no closer to figuring out who my genealogy brick wall, John D. Lee (1802, Robeson County, NC).

Who is this guy? ARGH!!!!

I've been talking with my dad and we're thinking of trying another DNA test. I've always wanted to participate in the Lee DNA Project and now in the Lumbee Indian DNA project on familytreedna.com



I would love to know how this John Lee was connected to the family of Jesse Lee, who is buried near Fairmont, NC.

John's children, grandchildren and other descendants share the names of Jesse and his children. Both my great grandfather and brother are named Jesse, as a matter of fact.

I often have my doubts that our John Lee was the son of a Lee man at all. I really think he was the son of a Lee daughter. The DNA samples we submitted through 23andme.com traces ancestry through the Y chromosome. Out of the 1,000+ relatives I'm connected to on 23andme, only 50 are Lees. You can't honestly make me believe that a name as common as Lee, with as many people out there looking for connections to noteworthy individuals like Lighthouse Harry Lee, Robert E. Lee, Harper Lee, etc., would only have that many Lees who are possibly (and, if so, very distantly) related to me.

I hope I live long enough to find out who John D. Lee really was. I'll post updates if and when we try again.