A short article on Pathway Genomics by one of the first people to receive results from their testing system is located at http://www.bio-itworld.com/news/12/08/09/pathway-and-me-consumer-genomics-results.html.
Blaine Bettinger previously reported on this firm at his blog, http://www.thegeneticgenealogist.com.
3000 people have been tested.
23andMe has been in a Beta of a new feature, Relative Finder, which will allow people to find links on their chromosomes that they share with other people who have tested at 23andMe. This has the potential to be of great use to genealogists who are limited in tracing their own DNA ancestry to Y DNA and mtDNA if a male, or to mtDNA if a female. While through the judicious selection of other relatives you can extend your Y DNA and mtDNA ancestry to other parts of your pedigree, it is not easy to do so.
With Relative Finder you can look at all of your chromosomes and use links found there to extend or verify your pedigree. I have already made one fairly definite connection and I have several others I am trying to verify. Many people were looking forward to using this new program once it was out of Beta. Now there is a problem.
23andMe has decided to split their service into three editions, an ancestry edition for $399; a health edition for $429, and a complete edition for $499. This pricing is exactly the opposite of what people expected. While some genealogists are interested enough to spend these sums on testing, my experience with Y DNA and mtDNA projects tells me the majority are not. 23andMe will need to make a very strong case about why a genealogist would want to purchase their service at this price.
One service currently available to all 23andMe testers is the ability to browse and download your complete genetic information, This can then be analysed by you or your proxy to obtain additional ancestry or health data. This will only be available to Complete Edition customers after 19 November. It will remain available to all current 23andMe users.
While there have been sales at the Holidays in the past, my recommendation would be to purchase the 23andMe test by 19 November to be sure you will get access to the ancestry, health, and genetic data.
See their announcement here: http://spittoon.23andme.com/2009/11/13/get-just-the-information-you-want-23andme-to-offer-separate-health-and-ancestry-editions/
I was contacted on November 8th by a projected Distant Cousin. When I compared our Family Inheritance charts we share a section on the long arm of CHR 8. Comparing pedigrees, we share descent from William Womack and his wife Mary Jane Allen, both of 17th century VA, and are 10th cousins twice removed.
While it is possible the actual match is to an ancestor unknown to both of us, this couple currently seems to fit the requirements.
This joins an earlier match with another Boone descendant.
Once this is opened to all the 23andMe participants, things should be very interesting.
I decided to look at my Ancestry DNA results today and found someone with an exact match but a different surname. When I looked at his profile it turned out that he is a Perkins by ancestry. His line is traced back to 1824 in Bedfordshire, Eng. This is the first time I have had a Perkins match in England. I had previously been looking at the family of William Perkins, merchant tailor of London, who was from Berkshire, as the possible progenitor of my line. Now to find some more Perkins from Beds to test. Anyone out there from Bedforshire?
Since I have the Somerled R1a1a haplotype a DNA match to a Perkins is pretty indicative of a relationship.
Dear Project Administrator,
2009 is coming to a close and we're finishing it off with an end-of-the-year promotion!
First, though, let me thank you for helping us make our recent Full Mitochondria Sequence sale a resounding success. Despite the challenging economy this was the most successful promotion in our company’s history.
Our Holiday Season promotion will bring back the discount that we offered this summer for the Y-DNA37, since this has been requested by many of our project administrators.
Orders for the above tests need to be placed and paid for by December 31, 2009 to receive the sale price.
IMPORTANT: since this promotion will run through the months of November and December, we encourage you to spread the word starting now, as the natural tendency is for people to order at the last minute, and we will not extend it beyond 12/31/2009. You may use our bulk email feature to notify existing project members about this holiday sale.
In addition here are the newly released permanent prices for the Full Mitochondria Sequence:
Thank you for your continued support. We appreciate your contribution to the sustained growth of the Family Tree DNA matching database, the best genealogical matching tool of its kind.
Bennett Greenspan
President
Family Tree DNA
© All Contents Copyright 2001-2009 Genealogy by Genetics, Ltd.
A video interview with Dr Svante Paabo of the Neanderthal Genome Project:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuIRjtZJGmQ
Here are the instructions to join the Relative Finder Beta.
1) Log in to your account and go to www.23andme.com/you/relfinder/
2) Check the box to Highlight your profile in Relative Finder and join the Public Beta.
3) Once you've joined, you will see all of your potential relatives, but you can only contact other relatives who are in the Beta. You will notice them because they have a blue 'make contact' button and a 'talk bubble' icon in their profile.
4) If you don't have any relatives in the Beta, please be patient -more customers are joining the Beta every day.
Chia
Community Manager at 23andMe
Dear Family Tree DNA customer
I am pleased to make a very special announcement about our Full Mitochondria Sequence test.
As you know, this test has continually dropped in price from its initial introduction at $895 in 2005. These price decreases were related to volume and workflow, translating productivity into economies of scale that allowed us to reduce prices to those customers interested in testing their full mitochondrial sequence.
Now Family Tree DNA is doing it again, but this time we are going to take advantage of new technology that will allow us to run more samples in less time, and the savings are substantial. We expect that this price decrease will hearken a new era of Full Mitochondria Testing for the entire Genealogical community!
We will jumpstart this new era of complete mtDNA testing with an aggressive price in order to build the comparative database to the levels genetic genealogists require to answer precise ancestral and geographic questions.
So now on to the news that you've been waiting for. A new price for the mtFullSequence test will be introduced in November but until then we are offering our current customers a promotional price through October 31st, 2009:
$229 (was $439) for first time mtDNA test takers (the order item is mtFullSequence)
To Order:
Log in to you personal page at www.familytreedna.com
Click "Special Offers"
Select "mtFullSequence" from the dropdown order list
Click "Continue" to proceed to the payment screen and complete your order
Orders need to placed and paid for by the end of the day, October 31st, 2009.
Depending upon the time that it takes to process these upgrade orders using our new hardware, we may experience a back order or lag time in November. If this occurs we expect to resolve the backlog in December, so to avoid any delay in attaining your results please place your order early in this sales cycle.
Bennett Greenspan
President
Family Tree DNA
Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation began a project to test the DNA of 100,000 people. They have recently reached that goal and are now testing only selected individuals. SMGF has made available the Y DNA and mtDNA results from those tests. You can search those results using your own DNA results from another company, or by searching for the name of a person on the pedigree charts submitted by the people tested. In addition to the Y DNA and mtDNA, SMGF is supposed to release a database of autosomal marker results to the public. In this regard it seems they are about to be beaten to press by 23andMe.
A video on autosomal testing is here: http://www.smgf.org/education/animations/autosomal.jspx
Recently 23andMe started a beta test of a new product, Relative Finder, that will allow persons in their databases to compare autosomal test results and will give you results for genetic cousins with whom you share blocks of genes. The autosomes are all the chromosomes, including the X chromosome, other than the Y chromosome and mtDNA. It appears they will allow people to get in touch with their matches to compare pedigrees. This will allow you to find more genetic cousins than is possible testing only your direct Y DNA or mtDNA line. This also allows females to have matches out side of their mtDNA lines.
The beta test period ends on 30 September 2009. If you are interested in testing, email me and I will put you in touch with some project coordinators who have special codes that give a very low price on the full 23andMe genetic test.
In addition to the Relative Finder program, 23andMe also will provide information on possible health or medical conditions.
This test does not replace the current Y DNA and mtDNA offerings from companies like Family Tree DNA but they supplement that data. FTDNA's database is much larger than that of 23andMe and provides more in-depth testing of Y STR, SNP, and mtDNA full genomes than does 23andMe. Serious genetic genealogists will want to use all of these tests.
Here is the abstract from the American Society of Human Genetics session on Relative Finder's technology: http://www.ashg.org/2009meeting/abstracts/fulltext/f10169.htm
We can look forward to a time when we can check the autosomal markers in databases at SMGF and 23andMe, as well as the Y DNA and mtDNA databases at SMGF and FTDNA.
By Scott Norton:
"Using DNA tests to break through brick walls in family history is pretty easy. It's like Bingo: you match the numbers and you win. Your goal is to match the numbers of your DNA test with others and compare pedigrees. Most of the people I've helped have opened new doors, and some have made a real breakthrough. Here are step-by-step instructions to make DNA work for you. (If you need advice or direction about DNA and Family History, there is information at the end of this article.)"
Continued at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2009/09/dna-bingo-how-to-win-big-by-scott-norton.html
You will need to be a member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society to access these articles online. They are available in printed copies of NEXUS or New England Ancestors at large public libraries:
Online and in print:
Spring 2009 -
Genetics & Genealogy - DNA Analysis Identifies the Origins of Captain Benjamin Frank Noyes
Winter 2009 -
Genetics & Genealogy - The Dunham DNA Project
Holiday 2008 -
Genetics and Genealogy - Results of a Y-Chromosome DNA Study on Surnames Sisson and Sissons
Fall 2008 -
Genetics and Genealogy - Revised Conclusions from the Rice-Royce Y-DNA Study
Summer 2008 -
Genetics and Genealogy - The DNA Study of Robert Pepper of Roxbury
Spring 2008 -
Genetics & Genealogy - DNA Results Produce a Probable Ancestor for Ephraim Cox of Rowan County, North Carolina
Holiday 2007 -
Genetics & Genealogy - The Coddington DNA Study Project
Fall 2007 -
Genetics & Genealogy - My “Marginal” Mega mtDNA Match
Summer 2007 -
Genetics & Genealogy - Locating DNA Study Participants
Spring 2007 -
Genetics and Genealogy - The Rev. Thomas Carter: DNA Project
Winter 2007 -
Genetics & Genealogy - Verifying My Lineage with DNA
Holiday 2006 -
Genetics & Genealogy - Pushing the Limits of Y-DNA
Fall 2006 -
Genetics & Genealogy - Ledbetter Y-Chromosome DNA Project, part 2
Summer 2006 -
Genetics & Genealogy - Ledbetter Y-Chromosome DNA Project, part 1
Spring 2006 -
Genetics and Genealogy - Interpreting Mutations in Y-DNA Studies
Winter 2006 -
Genetics & Genealogy - Using My Y-DNA “Ladder” to Scale My Brickwall
Holiday 2005 -
Genetics & Genealogy - Dancing with DNA: The Triumphs and Tribulations of a Y Chromosome DNA Project
Summer 2005 -
Genetics & Genealogy - The Y-DNA Signature of Edward Riggs of Roxbury
Spring 2005 -
Genetics & Genealogy - DNA Testing Results Settle a Long-Standing Question in the Seeley Family
Fall 2005 -
Genetics & Genealogy - Y-DNA Secures Identity of Rice Mohawk Native American with Edmund Rice Haplotype
Winter 2005 -
Genetics & Genealogy - Cobb Family Genetics: A Case Study Using DNA
Holiday 2004 -
Genetics & Genealogy - Using Mitochondrial DNA in Genealogy
Fall 2004 -
Genetics & Genealogy - The Origins of Samuel Rose of Manchester, Vermont
Online Only:
Mental and Neurological Diseases
Edwin M. Knights Jr., M.D.
February 15, 2006
Results of Recent Survey on Genetic Genealogy
Edwin M. Knights Jr., M.D.
January 30, 2006
Genetic/Genomic Jargon
Edwin M. Knights Jr., M.D.
January 20, 2006
Inheritance and Cardiovascular Disease
Edwin M. Knights Jr., M.D.
January 11, 2006
Researching Your Mayflower Ancestors: Part VI: Proving your line: Preparing lineage papers that will pass the test
Alicia Crane Williams
April 18, 2006
Genetic Involvement in Common Disorders
Edwin M. Knights Jr., M.D.
November 30, 2005
Genetic Diseases of the Blood
Edwin M. Knights Jr.
March 23, 2006
Human Genetics: The Keys to Our Existence
Edwin M. Knights Jr., M.D.
April 3, 2007
Dealing With New Developments
Edwin M. Knights Jr., M.D.
February 23, 2007
Confronted With Cancer
Edwin M. Knights Jr., M.D.
January 29, 2007
DNA Banking for Medical Information
Edwin M. Knights Jr., M.D.
September 23, 2006
The Gene / Genealogy Forum IV: A Timeline of Genetic Research
Edwin M. Knights Jr., M.D.
July 13, 2004
The Gene / Genealogy Forum III
Edwin M. Knights Jr., M.D.
May 6, 2004
The Gene / Genealogy Forum II: The Genius of the Genes
Edwin M. Knights Jr., M.D.
January 22, 2003
The Gene / Genealogy Forum: Following the Genetic Trails in Genealogy
Edwin M. Knights Jr., M.D.
December 18, 2003
Mitochondrial DNA: A Genetic and Genealogical Study
Thomas H. Roderick, Mary-Claire King, and Robert Charles Anderson
November 27, 1992
Roots and Branches: Genealogy and Genetics
Miriam Weiner, C.G.
November 26, 1988
Family Tree Dna: http://www.ftdna.com/ 12, 25, 37, 67 Y DNA markers and advanced markers; X chromosome; CODIS; R1a1 Deep Clade; mtDNA full genome sequence, H16. DNA Heritage: http://www.dnaheritage.com/ 43 Marker Y DNA test; R1a1 Trace Genetics: http://www.tracegenetics.com/ R1a Deep Clade tests. Coriell Institute: http://www.coriell.org/ Full genome scan for medical conditions. 23andMe: http://www.23andme.com/ Scan for medical conditions and genealogical information. Sorenson Molecular Genetics Foundation: http://www.smgf.org/ 37 marker Y DNA; mtDNA; and autosomal DNA testing.
Tim Janzen, M.D.,has written instructions for extracting Y DNA and he and Ann Turner, M.D., have both written instructions for extracting mtDNA results from SMGF test results.
See, http://www.mennonitedna.com/SMGF_Instructions.html for Y DNA and http://www.mennonitedna.com and http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/GENEALOGY-DNA/2007-11/1195560174 for mtDNA.
FTDNA promotional prices in July:
Y-DNA37 – promotional price $119 (reg. price $149):
Y-DNA67 – promotional price $199 (reg. price $238):
mtDNAPlus – promotional price $119 (reg. price $149):
Dear Group Administrator:
This message has the double purpose of thanking you, and announcing a July offer.
So, first, let me thank you for helping us make our recent Y-37+mtDNA sale the most successful in the history of Family Tree DNA. While our lower Y-DNA37 prices combined with the free mtDNA test played an important role in this success, your efforts had a significant impact in this achievement, which made some projects increase their membership by a two-digit number.
We expect that the kits will begin to be returned for processing this week and that results will start being delivered to your project by the end of July or early August.
In light of this success and in conjunction with many reunions or events where one of us will be speaking, including the Clans Gathering 2009 and the Highland Games in Scotland, we have decided to offer for the month of July a variation of our recent promotion:
Y-DNA37 – promotional price $119 (reg. price $149):
Y-DNA67 – promotional price $199 (reg. price $238):
mtDNAPlus – promotional price $119 (reg. price $149):
These are the best prices, marker for marker, of any company in the market.
IMPORTANT: since this promotion will run through the month of July, we encourage you to spread the word starting now, as the natural tendency is for people to order at the last minute, and we will not extend it beyond this month.
We thank you for your continued support and look forward to the sustained growth of the Family Tree DNA matching database.
Bennett Greenspan
Have you taken a Y DNA test at a company and then found you could not easily compare your results to people in an FTDNA Y DNA surname group? You have two options: Make an entry on YSearch, and still only compare with others at YSearch, or get a new test at FTDNA.
FTNDA has a Promotional price for converting your test at any of these companies, Relative Genetics, DNAHeritage, Ancestry, Oxford Ancestors, or Genebase, to one of the FTDNA, 12, 25, 37 or 67 marker tests. See the PDF page at this website: http://www.familytreedna.com/PDF/PROMO_GAP.pdf
Dear Family Tree DNA Group Administrator,
Last summer we offered a pricing special that was the most successful offering of its kind in our company’s history.
Many project administrators strongly supported our recruitment efforts and both their projects and our database grew significantly.
This year we will offer an early summer special with an unparalleled promotional discount.
Offer summary:
Thank you for your interest in the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation research project! For nearly ten years we have collected DNA samples and pedigree information from generous volunteers around the world. We have recently reached our original collection goal of 100,000 participants and we have now transitioned into the next phase of our project. This next phase consists of targeting specific populations and lineages which are under-represented in the current data, continuing the analysis of samples already collected, and developing applications for genetic genealogy research.
To fully focus our efforts on these objectives SMGF is changing the way we collect samples. SMGF will no longer collect new samples directly through our website. Instead, sample collecting will be handled by affiliate organizations, freeing SMGF resources previously dedicated to sample collecting to support data analysis and innovation. Please click on the links below to learn how to contribute your DNA to SMGF and other ways you can get involved and support our study.
Become an SMGF participant
SMGF is affiliated with GeneTree (www.genetree.com), another organization that shares similar goals and objectives. By purchasing a DNA test from GeneTree, you will:
* Receive a personalized DNA report to assist you in your ancestral and genealogical research
* Be able to use this information to access the genetic genealogy applications and tools developed by SMGF
* Have the option to contribute your genetic and genealogical data to SMGF, becoming part of our online database(s) and ongoing research projects.
Additionally, a portion of the DNA test purchase price will be donated to SMGF to support genetic-genealogy research.
If you already have a DNA test report and are not interested in additional testing at this time, you can create a free GeneTree account at www.genetree.com and manually enter your DNA profile to gain access to genetic-genealogy research applications developed by SMGF, and to search for genetic matches in the SMGF database.
SMGF’s Future Work
SMGF’s next phase includes focus on research and innovation, with continued analysis of the data we have gathered over the past ten years.
* Our ongoing research efforts, including collaborations with leading scientists from around the world, will move the basic science of genetic-genealogy forward by increasing the knowledge of recent and ancient human history.
* We are developing user-friendly tools to aid both seasoned genealogists and newcomers to the field of genetic genealogy. These tools will help interpret personal DNA results in simple and meaningful ways and encourage making connections with genetic cousins and others who might be researching the same family lines.
* We continue our analysis of the DNA and family histories previously donated to us by generous participants, including Y chromosome analysis, mtDNA sequencing, and the addition of genealogically relevant autosomal DNA markers.
Previous SMGF Participants
Thanks to all of our participants for your generous contributions to our research. Those who have already donated DNA and genealogy still have opportunities to support our project and learn more about your personal genetic ancestry.
* We continue our analysis of the DNA and family histories previously donated to us, including Y chromosome analysis and mtDNA sequencing. These results are posted to our online databases in an anonymous form. Please register on our site to be notified of database updates.
* Please be aware that it may take an extended period of time for your data to be posted in the SMGF online databases. As a non-profit organization the rate at which we test donated samples is limited by our resources. Additionally, we do not always process samples in the order they were received, but rather according to research needs. Please be assured that all samples are important to us and we are completing the DNA testing as quickly as our funding and research priorities allow. We appreciate your patience as we continue the DNA testing process.
* You can purchase your personal SMGF DNA test results at a significantly discounted price of $49.50 through www.genetree.com. Simply sign up for a free GeneTree account and then place an order to "unlock" your DNA profile(s). In cases where SMGF has not yet generated DNA test results, an unlock request will expedite this testing.
* If you already have a DNA test report from a previous test, you are welcome to add that profile to your GeneTree account and take advantage of the extra tools and scientific explanations offered there.
Other Areas of Interest
Reaching the 100,000 participants milestone was just one of the objectives of our project. We are still working to enhance our dataset by actively seeking participants for our database with ancestry from a number of countries and lineages (listed below). If you have genealogical information linking you to one of these areas or have connections that could facilitate collections in these areas please contact SMGF at info@smgf.org.
We appreciate your support throughout all the years we have been in operation and hope that you can find helpful information about your ancestry through our online resources. We look forward to making new and exciting contributions to the field of genetic genealogy, and we realize that all of SMGF’s past and future successes are made possible by the generosity of our study participants. Thank you.
If you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
February 11, 2009
Over 500,000 DNA Test Kits Sold:
FAMILY TREE DNA REACHES HISTORIC MILESTONE
"HOUSTON,---Family Tree DNA (http://www.familytreedna.com), the world leader in genetic genealogy, announced today that it has received its 500,000th DNA test order for genealogy and anthropology purposes. This historic milestone comprises Family Tree DNA's own customers as well as the public participation samples in National Geographic and IBM`s Genographic Project (www.nationalgeographic.com/genographic), which are also processed by Family Tree DNA.
Founded in April 2000, Family Tree DNA was the first company to develop the commercial application of DNA testing for genealogical purposes that had previously been available only for academic and scientific research. Almost a decade later, the Houston-based company continues to establish standards and create new milestones in the increasingly popular and rapidly growing field of genetic genealogy, while other companies have come to the market space looking for the business opportunity, but offering tests of lesser value."
Presenting the most popular and wide-ranging DNA-testing service in the field of genetic genealogy, Family Tree DNA prides itself on its commitment to the practice of solid, ethical science. Family Tree DNA is the only company that provides all customers with a guaranteed assignment of ancestral origins and places their records in our secured database 'the largest in the world for matching purposes' which, in turn, means increased chances of finding long lost relatives. In that regard, Family Tree DNA is an important resource for the three million people in the United States who either were adopted or descend from adoptees.
Since its inception, Family Tree DNA has been associated with the Genomics Analysis and Technology Core at the University of Arizona as well as some of the world's leading authorities in the fields of Genetics and Anthropology. In 2006, Family Tree DNA established the state-of-the-art Genomics Research Center at its headquarters in Houston, Texas, where it currently performs R&D and processes over 200 types of advanced DNA tests for its customers.
Family Tree DNA currently has representative offices in Europe and the Middle East.
Family Tree DNA, FTDNA, has made several changes to its website and to the websites of DNA projects it hosts. They expect to complete the changes within a few weeks. If you have problems with your personal FTDNA websites, please use the FEEDBACK link to report the problems.
From the ISOGG List:
The experts for each haplogroup made a yeoman effort to ensure that their haplogroup pages contain the latest information. There were many new updates in December. Find the newest postings at http://www.isogg.org/tree/index.html
You can also view the previous year's trees to see the many changes that have occurred since 2006.
Good job! to the YSNP team.
Alice Fairhurst
