One advantage I find being in the R-U106 project is that there is a unique Y-STR pattern ("21-21") which begins in R-FGC15335 and then continues in a number of branches beneath it. While there are testers in other projects with this pattern, the R-U106 project appears to have the largest number of testers with this pattern. ?Of course, this has to do with being a haplogroup project as compared to a surname or geographical project with each project having its unique focus. ?When I communicate with testers who have this pattern I invite them to join the R-U106 project in addition to whatever other projects they are in. ?They can find surname matches or learn more about common geographical ancestry in other projects. ?
In the R-U106 project they and we can find Y-STR and Y-SNP matches and learn more about our results from a greater pool of other testers with similar results. ?Not to mention the added benefit of the studies and analysis provided us by the project admins. ?While it is a valid idea to have separate projects for the large subgroups, I think there are more resources available and more opportunities for quality study, analysis, and learning by participating together in one major haplogroup project. ?I can learn by being in a large subgroup but I can learn more by being in a haplogroup project where I can ?see my subgroup in relation both to other subgroups and in relation to the R-U106 haplogroup as a whole.
Timothy
Timothy May