If Daniel Boone is my 30th Great Grandfather, how related are we really?

Question

I know that I am 1/2 of each of my parents and 1/4 of each of my grandparents and so on, what I am trying to find out is, how many great grandparents back, before I am no longer closely related? Would I have genetic similarities of 8th great grandparent? Am I more related to a great grandparent on my mother's or father's side? Any information about this would be very helpful.

Answer 1

In OVERALL terms... you are equally related to each side. "Closely related" is a personal term that only you can define. For some persons, they are only closely related to the ancestors that they have knowledge of.  

There are times, when you define things by what you are talking about.  If you only thought about being equally part of your gr gr grandparents, it is true.  

Speaking in terms of genes.. things get a bit different.  Use the "gene" for diabetes as an example. ONE of your ancestors had diabetes, that is something that tends to run in families. It does NOT mean all the desc. will have it.. it is more random. SOME descendants MAY become diabetic. If 10 of your ancestors were all diabetics.. your odds would be very increased. Bear in mind that I am not expert on the genetic angle, but general explanation only.

Answer 2

Daniel Boone was born in 1734.  Allowing for an average of 23 years between generations there have been at most 12 or 13 generations from Daniel Boone to the present.  So he can't possibly be anyone's 30th g-grandfather.  :-)

You are related the equally to both of your parent's lines.  Genetically they are the same.  The only difference is the paternal line can continue the family name through the males.  

Check out:  http://genealogy.about.com/od/dna_geneti... for more information on genealogy and genetics.