LOGAN DNA
Can DNA Help With Your Genealogy?
​DNA can help you identify genetic relatives, test possible family connections, and sometimes provide clues that take your research beyond your earliest documented ancestor.
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The trick is knowing which test can answer which question.
THREE TYPES OF DNA TESTS
AUTOSOMAL DNA
Looks across many family lines
Autosomal DNA is inherited from both parents and is the most common type of genealogy DNA test.
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It can help you:
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Find genetic relatives
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Compare family trees with DNA matches
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Investigate recent family connections
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Support or challenge relationships suggested by records.​​
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Think: Who are my genetic cousins?
mtDNA
Follows the direct maternal line
Mitochondrial DNA, or mtDNA, is passed from a mother to her children. Both sons and daughters receive it, but only daughters pass it to the next generation.
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Because mtDNA changes slowly over time, it can be useful for investigating a direct maternal line far into the past.
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Test results may also identify a maternal haplogroup associated with ancient human migrations.
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Think: What can I learn about my mother's mother's mother's line?
Y-DNA
Follows the direct paternal line
Y-DNA is passed from father to son. This makes it especially useful for investigating direct paternal lines and surname studies.
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For Logan research, Y-DNA can help determine whether men from different Logan family lines share a paternal ancestor.
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Think: Could these Logan men descend from the same paternal line?
THE LOGAN DNA PROJECT
The Logan DNA Project was established by the Pre1800Logans research group in 2001 and is hosted through FamilyTreeDNA. The project uses Y-DNA to investigate and compare paternal Logan family lines.
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The project is coordinated by volunteer Logan researchers, including members of Clan Logan Society International.
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Because Y-DNA passes from father to son, participation requires an appropriate male tester from the Logan paternal line being studied.
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If you are a male Logan: you may be able to test your own Y-DNA.
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If you are not: you may still be able to participate by identifying a suitable male Logan relative from the paternal line you want to investigate.
How Y-DNA Follows a Paternal Logan Line
In this example, green represents an unbroken father-to-son Logan line. Sons B and C remain on that direct paternal line and could be appropriate Y-DNA testers. Sons A and D descend through a daughter, so they did not inherit John Logan's Y chromosome.
DNA results work best when combined with documentary research. A DNA match or another person's online tree should be treated as a clue until the relationship is supported by reliable evidence.