What is I2b* ? 

NOTE: Nomenclature changed from I1b2* to I2b* on 5 May 2008 to refledt the new ISOGG tree. 

 

If you've made it here I'm going to assume that you have some basic knowledge and interest in human Y-DNA research. This page deals with a sub-group of the haplogroup called I which is known at the present time as I2b*. 

The subclade of the Y-DNA haplogroup called I2b* has been previously known as I(x), and I1b2*. It was first described in May 2005 on the Genealogy-DNA list at Rootsweb.com. This consisted of several conversations between Bonnie Schrack and Ken Nordtvedt. Later they were joined by Glen Todd. Here is the original message thread between Bonnie and Ken. Some followup conversations early in the history of the development can be found here, and here.

 It can be defined by using SNP shorthand as M170+, S23+, M223-. I2b*  can be typified as belonging to the I group but having DYS455 = 10, DYS454 = 12, and 19-19 at YCA as modal values. In a recent conversation with Ken Nordtvedt a possibility of a further sub-division based on the value DYS448 was discussed. His view is that a larger sample would be needed to make a proper determination. I have used this value for seperation of the minor groups on the spreadsheet. For group I2b*-A a value of 19 for DYS448. For -B a value of 21, and for -C a value of 20.

When you look at the surnames in the sample it quickly becomes evident that the group appears to almost exclusivly have an origin in Germany and England. Does this represent a Saxon settlement beginning? Once again the rarity of the group in the sampled population makes conclusions impossible at this point. Having said that though, I must say that I find it more interesting to be a part of a small sample than I would to be lost in the "multitudes" of the larger groups.

 

News

Link to the new sheet
A new sub-clade, designated I2b* -D, based on 6 families has been uncovered. The entries are on a sheet here if you wish to have a look at the data. The identification was based on the families all being within the I2b* -A group and having a value of 8 instead of the modal value of 10 at DYS438, and 12 at DYS442 rather than the modal of 11.

To Do List 

[ ] Provide a more detailed definition of what I2b* actually represents
[ ] A little bit more about the history of how it was developed
[ ] Do more sheets surrounding I2b* -B?
[ ] Explore SMGF for entries that would fall into the group
[ ] Expand the site with targeted information regarding the subclade
[ ] Work on the Links section