How does Y-chromosome DNA help with the challenges of Jewish Genealogy?
Unlike many other populations, the Jewish people adopted hereditary surnames relatively recently. Surnames changed during recent emigrations and surname spellings were modified to fit with local norms. By testing the Y-chromosome DNA the linkage can be recovered along a direct paternal line. If, for example, you currently have the surname Brown but have a family tradition that your ancestors and your cousins who moved to Australia and South Africa were Plikhs. By testing yourself and potential cousins with the Plikh surname you can establish the validity of your family tradition.
