Fall 2008 issue of the Journal of Genetic genealogy released

The Fall 2008 issue of the Journal of Genetic Genealogy (JoGG) has been posted at the JoGG web site (http://www.jogg.info/. As always, JoGG is a free and open access journal.

This issue has the regular columns, plus an interview with John Butler and his NIST Human Identity Team members. The NIST team has also written a review article for the issue on Y-STR nomenclature, along with their recommendations for markers where there are differences between companies. There are other articles that should be of interest to our community-Jim Logan has another article on mtDNA Haplogroup J, Ken Nordtvedt has written about TMRCA and improvements to the traditional model, and Guido Deboeck has summarized Y-DNA data for the Flemish population.

FamilyTreeDNA Holiday Sale

Dear Family Tree DNA Group Administrator,
In keeping with our end-of-the-year tradition, effective November 26th, 2008 we'll institute special pricing at Family Tree DNA for your new-kit-purchasing participants.
The products that will be offered at the special prices are:

 Y-DNA37             $119
 Y-DNA37+mtDNAPlus   $199
 Y-DNA67             $218
 Y-DNA67+mtDNAPlus   $308
 mtDNAPlus           $139
 Full Genomic mtDNA  $395
 SuperDNA            $613

This offer is good until December 31st, 2008 for kits ordered and paid for by that time.
http://www.FamilyTreeDNA.com

"History Unearthed Daily"
+1-713-868-1438

Ancestry.com DNA has a 40% discount on DNA testing till 31 December 2008

40% Discount on DNA Testing
Ancesty.com DNA now has a 40% discount off their DNA testing until December 31, 2008. The new discounted prices as are as follows:

• Paternal Lineage Test (Y-Chromosome 33), Regular price: $149, Sale price: $89.40
• Advanced Paternal Lineage Test (Y-Chromosome 46), Regular price: $199, Sale Price: $119.40
• Maternal Lineage Test (Mitochondrial DNA , Regular price: $179, Sale price: $107.40

MyHeritage And Family Tree DNA Partner To Help People Trace Family History Using DNA

MyHeritage And Family Tree DNA Partner To Help People Trace Family History Using DNA

MyHeritage, one of the world's most popular family Web sites, today announced a partnership with FamilyTreeDNA, the company that pioneered DNA testing for genealogic research. In addition to MyHeritage's innovative Smart Matching and Research technologies, members can now also use information contained in their DNA to find present-day relatives who share a common ancestor from many hundreds of years ago. FamilyTreeDNA users can take advantage of MyHeritage's site to not only further research family history, but also stay connected with current family members around the world.

With close to 220,000 records, FamilyTreeDNA is the largest database of genealogic DNA information in the world. This provides the perfect complement to MyHeritage's current research tools, giving our members another way to learn about where they come from, said Gilad Japhet, founder and CEO of MyHeritage. "We help people around the world discover, connect and communicate with their extended family network and easily research their family history. Now, by working with FamilyTreeDNA, we can offer a solution when the paper trail runs out."

Tel Aviv, Israel and Houston, Texas (PRWEB) November 20, 2008 -- MyHeritage, one of the world's most popular family Web sites, today announced a partnership with FamilyTreeDNA, the company that pioneered DNA testing for genealogic research. In addition to MyHeritage's innovative Smart Matching and Research technologies, members can now also use information contained in their DNA to find present-day relatives who share a common ancestor from many hundreds of years ago. FamilyTreeDNA users can take advantage of MyHeritage's site to not only further research family history, but also stay connected with current family members around the world.

DNA research
Since its founding in 2000, FamilyTreeDNA has tested over 450,000 people, helping customers trace family history when no conventional records are available. The advanced DNA screening technology, among other things, can reveal Native American, African or Jewish descent on paternal or maternal lines, as well as uncover ancestral information for those who were adopted. Through a range of tests, users can obtain information on recent and historical origins, including a migration map on both paternal and maternal lines. MyHeritage's 27 million users will have access to the following three tests:

• Y-DNA25 - a Y-chromosome test for males (US$129)
• mtDNA - a mitochondrial DNA test for males and females (US$129)
• Y-DNA25 + mtDNA - a combined Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA test for males (US$219)

Continued here: http://www.prweb.com/releases/DNAtesting/familynetwork/prweb1636664.htm

The Genetic Privacy of Presidential Candidates

From the New England Journal of Medicine:
The Genetic Privacy of Presidential Candidates
Robert C. Green, M.D., M.P.H., and George J. Annas, J.D., M.P.H.

In the wake of the often bitter presidential election, with its emphasis on negative campaigning and intermittent controversies over the release of candidates' health information, it is not too soon to begin planning for the next presidential campaign. By then, advances in genomics will make it more likely that DNA will be collected and analyzed to assess genetic risk information that could be used for or, more likely, against presidential candidates. Since 1972, when George McGovern was forced to replace his vice-presidential running mate, Thomas Eagleton, after it was revealed that he had been hospitalized for depression, the health status of presidential candidates has been seen by the press as fair game.1 More recently, historians have discovered that some presidential candidates, including Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy, misled the public about their health status and that illness may have adversely affected their ability to perform their duties.

Continued here: http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/359/21/2192