MB is less than 2% Neanderthal

An extended family member of MB, a far-out one, was recently contacted by a half-sibling that she never knew she had. Out of the blue. A totally unexpected contact. In short, a shock. The half-sibling had irrefutable DNA evidence that she was, indeed, a half-sister. Their common dad had kept a life-long secret, and as both he and his wife have already passed away, nobody is available to answer any questions for family members.

Did her natural mom know? There will be no answer to that knawing question. The half-sister made contact following the occasion of her own mom’s passing and some DNA research following that event. Much knowledge has therefore disappeared into the ether of time and through the passing of those who might have shed some light.

DNA.

MB took a DNA test in recent months, but not for any reason of any half or any other fraction of any sibling. Or for any paternity reasons! MB’s purpose was to merely see where he came from, long time back. We should know where we come from, MB was thinking. Was MB of Irish royalty, perhaps, or of some European noble breeding. Royal blood, or perhaps genius blood?

Or not?

Back in November, MB wandered into a section of Nakheel Mall in Riyadh that was new to him. That’s the nature of Middle East malls; they are so vast that one can visit ten or more times, and there will still be areas that one hasn’t before seen. MB happened to park his car in a car park location that was new to him, as the usual spot was unavailable, and hence he entered through a new entrance door, not before used. On entering, MB’s eye fell on a laboratory of some sort, which is an unusual component of a shopping mall thought MB. As all the signage on the lab was in Arabic text, which MB was unable to read. MB could only discern that it was a lab from its English title ‘Biolab’, which was the only word written in both English & Arabic. MB made a mental note to investigate further when he was leaving.

Two hours later, MB did just that. Just inside the lab entrance was some additional signage, and MB caught sight of the phrase DNA Test (in English!), which piqued MB’s interest no end, as it was something MB had often considered doing but just never got around to.

The Irish Gaelic spelling of MB’s family name is ‘De Barra’ (‘Barry’ in English) which has a French feel to it, n’est pas? So, MB was possibly of French Norman origin; the Normans conquering England after the Battle of Hastings in 1066 AD, and in 1170 AD invading Ireland through Wexford port. They settled mostly in the province of Munster, one of the four provinces of Ireland, and from where MB hails.

To digress for a moment, but only to flesh out a little of the possible background of MB’s ancestors……………The Normans, in the face of Richard De Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembrook (aka ‘Strongbow’) had received an invitation from an under-pressure Irish Chieftain called Dermot MacMurrough, and westwards they sailed to the shores of the Emerald Isle. Robert De Barry and Phillip De Barry were prominent Norman Knights of that Irish invasion, from a Norman ‘Barry’ family who had settled in Wales after the invasion of UK. And so started the English/Norman presence in Ireland and which continues today through the 6 counties (aka ‘Northern Ireland’ – part of the UK), part of the 9-county ancient Irish province of Ulster.

On some more recent digging, MB discovered that the Normans of those days were a people comprising the original inhabitants of Normandy in Western France and the Vikings who had invaded France and who had signed a peace treaty with the French in 911 AD. If followers have seen the TV series ‘Vikings’, they will remember the Viking warrior Rollo and his fighters invading Paris. Rollo eventually made peace with the French, married a French woman, forced the treaty on the locals, was awarded much land, and was then one of the driving forces in establishing the Norman entity in France, which would soon conquer westwards.

So Norman/Viking was one possible outcome for MB.

In the alternative, there was also the possibility that MB was of 100% original Irish stock, his surname also being the same (or a derivation to be more precise) of an ancient Irish tribe called O’Beargha, who were of Limerick origin, where MB is specifically from, Limerick being one of the six component counties of the Munster Province. As both MB’s parents are Irish, with no known foreign relatives for the few generations back that MB has some knowledge of, then ancient Irish was another possible outcome.

The Saudi Biolab lads and lassies explained to MB that the test result would provide details of MB’s origin, but would also provide some knowledge of a medical nature, such as MB’s propensity to suffer from certain ailments or conditions. An added bonus, thought MB.

Approximately two months went by, as MB had previously been advised, when MB noticed an SMS message on his phone late one afternoon, with the title ‘Biolab’. It contained a link to the DNA report that would soon reveal all.

The first 6 pages were entirely in Arabic script, and as MB scrolled the pages, he wondered if he had forgotten to specify an English language version of the results. But on arrival at Pg 7, MB relaxed as Pages 7 to 12 revealed all, in English.

MB has, and future generations will have, a propensity to like sweet things. Too true. MB is one of the greatest chocoholics in the Universe.

MB is unlikely to suffer any nocturnal snooring. A certain partner of MB’s disagrees with that one, and MB is sure she is joking! MB’s DNA signature revealed multiple information about such diverse matters as facial aging, tooth morphology, baldness, eye colour, alcohol/caffeine/nicotine dependence, mental agility (the results said ‘average’ but that obviously needs a recheck!), insomnia, blood pressure, blood group probability (result was ‘B’ – correct), body mass index, and a host of other information that may be of some use to MB’s kids or grandkids in the future if they are looking for the source of their ailments or the probability of suffering from particular conditions. All in all, a fascinating report.

One unexpected inclusion in the report was the percentage of Neanderthal DNA that MB carries – less than 2%. The Neanderthals died out approx. 40,000 years ago, but there was some interbreeding with modern humans before the last one was buried, and to this day, we all carry some small DNA percentage, a consequence of that historical fact.

And what of MB’s origin and the question of Norman or Irish origin? Well, the answer was provided to MB’s satisfaction. MB’s DNA proves he is 100% European with 42.4% coming from central Europe (France and Germany) and 57.6% coming from the UK & Ireland. So, MB is of Norman stock for sure, with a little unexpected German percentage, where the Romans had bloody battles with the fierce warrior tribes of Germania.

MB’s family crest contains the motto – Boutez en Avent (‘Push Forward’). In future, when MB pushes forward, he will do so, secure in the knowledge that he is doing so with the power of Viking/Norman, Germanic, Welsh and Irish DNA behind him. What a mixture!

Not to mention a little Neanderthal!