Genetics Question?

Question:

Genetics Question?

I had to use a friend's yahoo ID to ask again and anyway it seems that my last question had confused some people so I'll ask it again.

My dad has a spanish ancestor (it is a female) from sometime between the 1500s and 1600s, so am I part spanish?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Yes, but not much.
You are 1/2 of whatever your dad was,
1/4 of what his father was (and 1/4 of his mother)
1/8 of your 1st great grandparents
1/16 of your second GGP's
and so on.

Assuming 33.3 years per generation, if your Spanish ancestor was born 400 years ago, in 1607, she would be 12 generations ago or your 9th great grandmother. Assuming NO other Spanish ancestors, anywhere,
you are 1/4096 Spanish. sure why not. You didn't say if the person was a marriage partner or if they had children. This can be tricky. OK, if it was a direct blood line and the woman gave birth to someone else related before your Father then maybe yes. Not half and half but yes you are just in the tiniest bit like 1% all depends on your ancestors before you and what they were...than average it out.... the 1500/1600s?? I would say no but I am not a geneticist by the way,,, HOW did she become an ancestor & why is there only 1 is this through a marriage? Yes. It may not be very significant. Like I'm a 16th Indian. It will always break down as generations go on but even if it's in the millionth, it still is. The only thing with that really is if the genetics come out. One day your family might have a child that has a strange characteristic none of which the parents display, that could be an old gene that decided to pop up. I had a boyfriend that the dentist told he had prehistoric teeth. Somehow, an old gene popped up, he never grew in adult teeth. But the ones he has now are fine, not too big, not too small. Genetics are crazy. So you could say yes. You are from Spanish decent. Maybe you guys held on to a feature like the curviture of your nose or the shape of your ears. Yes Yes, you are part Spanish, but only genetically. You are not a citizen of Spain.