Question about how to read phylogenetic trees in Y-DNA discussions

[autochthon]

So I have to admit I'm confused about the nomenclature surrounding how to read Y-DNA trees. The best illustration of this comes from something someone said in another thread:

"This thread is about P310*, rather than P310 as a whole. Don't confuse P310+ with P310*. P310+ means P310+ without implying anything about downstream SNPs. P310* means P310+ P312- U106-."

Basically, I have no idea what this quote means. Can someone explain the distinction between *, +, and -?

Related confusion: Geno 2.0 says that I'm R-310 (shorthand), with terminal DF19. But the Eupedia R1b tree puts DF19 under P312, and the quote above says that P310 means P312-. And I can't make any sense of that.

I've looked around on Eupedia and the ISOGG wiki to try to figure this out, but to no avail. Can anyone fill me in?

 

[sparkey]

Basically, I have no idea what this quote means. Can someone explain the distinction between *, +, and -?

* = positive for that SNP but no known downstream SNPs
+ = positive for that SNP
- = negative for that SNP

Taking me as an example:
I am I2c, because I am L596+. I am not I2c*, because I carry PF3881, which is downstream of L596. I could be called I2c > PF3881*, because even though there are known downstream SNPs from PF3881 (like L1251), I am negative for them.

Related confusion: Geno 2.0 says that I'm R-310 (shorthand), with terminal DF19. But the Eupedia R1b tree puts DF19 under P312, and the quote above says that P310 means P312-. And I can't make any sense of that.

P310+ doesn't necessarily mean P312-, but P310* means P312-. If you are DF19+, then you are P310+ (and P312+), but you are not P310*.

 

[autochthon]

This clears up the confusion excellently -- my thanks!

 

[Sile]

* = positive for that SNP but no known downstream SNPs
+ = positive for that SNP
- = negative for that SNP

Taking me as an example:
I am I2c, because I am L596+. I am not I2c*, because I carry PF3881, which is downstream of L596. I could be called I2c > PF3881*, because even though there are known downstream SNPs from PF3881 (like L1251), I am negative for them.



P310+ doesn't necessarily mean P312-, but P310* means P312-. If you are DF19+, then you are P310+ (and P312+), but you are not P310*.

should they adopt the system where a bracketed x would indicate it was tested but proven negative, as an example

P310 ( xP312, U106 )

It would be clearer to read