On-line Journal of Genetics and Genealogy

FTDNA Extend Holiday Sale through 7 Jan 2012

2012-01-03T20:58:00.002-06:00

Products and Promotions

Holiday Promotion extended to January 7, 2012

Due to popular demand Family Tree DNA extended its Holiday Promotion, which encompasses the widest rage of tests, from new kits to upgrades. Here are the details of the promotion:

New Kits	Current Group Price	SALE PRICE
Y-DNA 37	$149	$119
Y-DNA 67	$239	$199
mtFullSequence	$299	$239
SuperDNA (Y-DNA67 and FMS)	$518	$438
Family Finder	$289	$199
Family Finder + mtPlus	$438	$318
Family Finder + FMS	$559	$439
Family Finder+ Y-DNA37	$438	$318
Comprehensive (FF + FMS + Y-67)	$797	$627

Upgrades
12-25 Marker	$49	$35
12-37 Marker	$99	$69
12-67 Marker	$189	$148
25-37 Marker	$49	$35
25-67 Marker	$148	$114
37-67 Marker	$99	$79
Family Finder	$289	$199
mtHVR1toMega	$269	$229
mtHVR2toMega	$239	$209

Orders must be placed and paid for by January 7, 2012 to receive this offer.
IMPORTANT: This promotion will not be extended beyond January 7, 2012.
Order An Upgrade
Order A New Kit

National Geographic Explorer: How to build and Ancient Man

2011-11-24T13:35:00.001-06:00

CeCe Moore, at Your Genetic Genealogist, has a post on the recent National Geographic Explorer program on the reconstruction of the genetics of a Saqqaq male from Greenland, "How to Build an Ancient Man" This is a followup to the scientific article abstracted here: Gilbert et al., "Paleo-Eskimo mtDNA Genome Reveals Matrilineal Discontinuity in Greenland", Science 27 June 2008: 1787-1789. DOI:10.1126/science.1159750 . The article implies multiple entries into the Americas from Asia.

See the facial reconstruction of Inuq an ancient Saqqaq male from Greenland.

X Chromosome matches from 23andme

2011-09-05T16:07:00.000-05:00

This chart is of my X Chromosome matches from Relative Finder and Ancestry Finder at 23andMe. The length of the line corresponds to the length of the match on the X chromosome. Because I am a male, I got one X chromosome from my mother. She got an amalgam of the X chromosomes from her father and mother. I can only verify my relationship to three of the people on this chart.

SKD is my multiple 1st cousin and the relationship is through our mothers, who were sisters. My 1st cousin and I share 6 of 8 great grandparents. We match at two locations on the X: 1-12, and 91-140.

LB and CF are 3rd cousins 1 remove and 2 removes, a mother and daughter. My 1st cousin and I share 4 of 16 GGreat grandparents with them, Swain, Ball, Kidd, and Stephens. However, my 1st cousin does not match them or me at these locations on the X chromosome, but does match them on other chromosomes as I also do.

With HP, the link may be through the Hays/Hayes family of Overton and Fentress Co., Tennessee. HPs X line is from the same area. The mother of Maliza Stephens was Susan Hayes, and she and her husband, Zorababel Stephens, lived in Overton/Fentress Co., TN. This would subsume the links to LB and CF.

With three others, GA, JO, and CO, a mother and two of her sons, the relationship is unknown. My 1st cousin does share this match with them. We thought the relationship was on the Strunk/Strunck line, but that is not a direct line for them.

It is important to remember that a different cutoff is used for calling a match on the X chromosome between males, a male and a female, and between females:

Males: 200 SNPs, 1cM;
Male to Female: 600 SNPs, 6cM;
Female to Female: 1200 SNPs, 6cM.

This probably explains some match I have with females which do not show as a match for my female 1st cousin.

I am hoping to get some more 1st cousin matches to help to isolate matches to particular lines.

Here is a link to my pedigree charts:
Steven C Perkins 13 Generation Pedigree Charts

FTDNA 7th Genetic Genealogy Conference

2011-08-18T11:35:00.002-05:00

Family Tree DNA's 7th Genetic Genealogy Conference

The 7th Genetic Genealogy Conference for Family Tree DNA Group Administrators November 5-6, 2011
To be held at the Sheraton North Houston 15700 John F. Kennedy Boulevard Houston, TX 77032 (281) 442-5100
Book a Room at the Sheraton North Houston at a Discount
*The Sheraton website has a known issue with the Chrome browser. To visit their site please try another browser.

Featured Speakers

Doron Behar, PhD
Michael Hammer, PhD
Steve Morse, author of the website "One Step Pages"
Spencer Wells, PhD

X chromosome inheritance at 23andMe through Relative Finder and Ancestry Finder

2011-08-03T22:58:00.002-05:00

The link above goes to a page that has charts for determining which ancestors contributed to your X chromosome. For a male, only his mother contributes an X chromosome. For a female both her mother and her father contribute X chromosomes. Parts of those chromosomes will be inactivated but the X can still be used for genealogical purposes.

I have 24 people who match me on the X chromosome at 23andMe through Relative Finder and Ancestry Finder. Neither FTDNA nor SMGF have published their X chromosome databases. GEDMATCH allows FTDNA customers to match their X chromosomes to other GEDMATCH participants. I haven't heard of anyone else having as many matches, but I am sure there must be someone who does. At this time I can only confirm three of the matches with one 1st cousin and with a 3rd cousin once removed and her daughter. I share a surname in the 1600s in Germany with a mother and her two sons. But since that surname is not contributing to the X chromosome before 1830, the assumption is that there is a closer link than that surname.

There are 5 and 6 generation charts for both males and females on the page. Below are the people, with their ancestor chart number, who would be on my 6 Generation Chart on the linked page with the percentage of X chromosome contribution expected from each.

1, myself
-------------
2 Denval Perkins 0%
3 Mary Ruth Ball 100%
------------
6 George Matt Ball 50%
7 Rosa Genetta Swain 50%
------------
12 Peter Coleman Ball 0%
13 Frances Strunk 50%
14 Thomas J Swain 25%
15 Elizabeth Kidd 25%
------------
26 Manoah Strunk 25%
27 Susana Cortina Davis 25%
28 Jesse D. Swain 0%
29 Elizabeth Ball 25%
30 John Kidd 12.5%
31 Maliza Stephens 12.5%
-------------
52 Abraham Strunk 0%
53 Abigail Pennington 25%
54 John Davis 12.5%
55 Frances Creekmore 12.5%
58 William Ball 12.5%
59 Charlotte May 12.5%
60 Elias Kidd 0%
61 Margaret Bagley 12.5%
62 Zorababel Stephens 6.25%
63 Susan Hayes 6.25%

Percentages are averages and usually can range from 0-100.

Having this chart filled out based on your sex can assist in identifying your X chromosome matches.

23andMe DNA test discount certificate: $50.00 off until 9 August 2011

2011-08-03T22:16:00.000-05:00

To use this coupon, visit our online store and add an order to your cart. Click "I have a discount code" and enter the code below.
$50 Off

Coupon code: YG7XDH

Share with your friends!

(Valid for new customers only)

This works with either the $99 plus 12 months at $9 subscription, or with the $399 service without a subscription.

Comparison of 23andme Relative Finder, Ancestry Finder and FTDNA Family Finder results

2011-08-02T20:46:00.000-05:00

I'll repeat a post I made at 23andme on comparing success rates at both:

======================================

Colonial American ancestry: Jamestown, Boston, Cambridge, Hartford, New Haven Colony, New Amsterdam, New Sweden, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. Then spread out to North Carolina, South Carolina, both pre-Rev War; then Tennessee and Kentucky, post-Rev War.

at 23andme I have 1050 RF matches and have confirmed 7 of those.
at FTDNA I have 175 FF matches and have confirmed 10 of those.
Two of my confirmed matches have tested both 23andme RF and FTDNA FF.
I have 20 separate X Chromosome matches in RF and AF. That counts repeated people only once.
I have no immediate matches at FTDNA. I have 54 close matches and 121 speculative matches. My closest confirmed matches are two 4th cousins.
I have two known 1st cousins at 23andme and two unresponsive 2nd cousins. My closest confirmed match at 23andme is with a 3rd cousin once removed and her daughter.

=======================

If you haven't done any tests I recommend starting at 23andme and then, when FTDNA opens the program, transferring your results to FTDNA. That way you get genealogical matches from both companies, you get mtDNA haplogroup and if a male, Y DNA haplogroup, and X chromosome matches at 23andme plus health info.

At FTDNA you get genealogy matches and when they get it ready, X chromosome matches. You have to pay separately for the Y DNA haplotype and haplogroup and the same for mtDNA. So from a cost perspective it is lower cost to start at 23andme and transfer to FTDNA UNLESS you also want detailed Y DNA /mtDNA readings.

Roots Into the Future: New Project at 23andMe for African American, Black, and African research

2011-07-26T11:16:00.002-05:00

Roots Into the Future:

10,000 FREE DNA Test kits for persons of Sub-Saharan African Ancestry

A recent article in Wired Magazine highlighted how the genome revolution has been skipping most people in the world: 96% of participants in recent genomic studies trace most of their ancestry to Europe. Why? Statistical analysis is simpler in groups tracing ancestry to just one continental region so fewer individuals are needed to make discoveries. Although African Americans typically trace about 20% of their ancestry to Europe, studies to verify previous findings in this population have not been done for many diseases. Our understanding of how DNA influences disease risk in people with mostly non-European ancestry has a lot of catching up to do.
23andMe hopes to bridge this growing divide through Roots into the Future, a research initiative addressing the needs of the African American community. Our partners in the research initiative include Dr. Henry Louis Gates and the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute at Harvard, as well as advisors from academia, industry and the 23andMe community. Our goal is to enroll 10,000 participants who self-identify as African American, Black, or African in order to rapidly accelerate genetic research in the African American community.

Continues at http://spittoon.23andme.com/2011/07/26/roots-into-the-future/

See the Roots Into the Future website: https://www.23andme.com/roots/

23andColm: Some analysis you can do with your 23andMe result file

2011-07-21T21:02:00.001-05:00

Colm O'Dushlaine, a genetics researcher, has been documenting his use of various tools to analyze his 23andme results. See this web site: https://sites.google.com/a/codushlaine.com/colm-o-dushlaine/23andcolm

The entry for Day 11 has a link to his EthnoAncestry Total Genomic Ancestry Classification report for those wondering what one looks like.

You can do the same analysis he is doing if you have access to UNIX/LINUX or can find a variant of the programs used for your operating system.

Update on 23andMe and FTDNA DNA matches

2011-07-07T21:37:00.001-05:00

Today I have 160 matches at FTDNA in the Family Finder autosomal DNA database.

I have 998 matches in the 23andMe Relative Finder autosomal DNA database and around 700 unique matches in the Ancestry Finder database. 23andMe includes X chromosome matches which are not yet posted by FTDNA.

While I have more matches in the 23andme database, I have made more identifications of the ancestral couple in the FTDNA database. Testing with both companies remains the optimum strategy for finding genealogical connections.

Even though I have 10 surname projects at FTDNA, for autosomal and X chromosome DNA testing I recommend using 23andme first, and when they make it available, transferring your genome results to FTDNA to get matches against their database. This will cost the least for people in the USA.

The only other company I currently recommend is the Sorensen Molecular Genealogy Foundation, http://smgf.org/ They test Y DNA, mtDNA, autosomal DNA and X chromosome DNA. You can get tested for no cost if you meet their research requirements and submit a pedigree chart. However, there is no guarantee they will post your results on their system. They have made the Y DNA and mtDNA databases freely accessible on their website. It is anticipated they will do the same for autosomal and X chromosome DNA. They also sell access through GeneTree, http://www.genetree.com/ People who do not qualify for free DNA testing at SMGF, can pay for testing at GeneTree.

At this time, I am using DNA testing to verify my documented genealogy. I think it can be a very good check against one's paper genealogy.

FTDNA Summer DNA tests Sale

2011-06-15T20:17:00.000-05:00

You must already be a customer of FTDNA to get these UPGRADE prices!

Family Tree DNA

Dear Project Administrator,

Since last summer's upgrade sale was such huge success, we thought we'd repeat history! Project Administrators like you played a very important role in last year's success by broadcasting the sale to project members. As your project members upgrade, the resolution of results and comparisons we provide greatly improves. So, please spread the word and we'll make this year's upgrade sale even bigger!

From June 15, 2011 through June 22, 2011, we will reduce the following prices.

         Summer Upgrade Sale
Family Finder  Was $289  Now $199
Y-DNA 12 to 25  Was $49  Now $35
Y-DNA 12 to 37  Was $99  Now $69
Y-DNA 12 to 67  Was $189  Now $148
Y-DNA 25 to 37  Was $49  Now $35
Y-DNA 25 to 67  Was $148  Now $114
Y-DNA 37 to 67  Was $99  Now $79
mt to FMS  Was $269  Now $229
mtPlus to FMS  Was $239  Now $199

To order an upgrade at these special prices your members can log into their personal pages with their kit number and password. Click on the "Special Offers" link found on the left-hand navigation bar. ALL ORDERS MUST BE PLACED AND PAID FOR BY MIDNIGHT, JUNE 22, 2011, TO RECEIVE THE SALE PRICE.

Family Tree DNA
© 2011 Genealogy by Genetics.

DNAGuide software demonstration

2011-06-04T20:59:00.000-05:00

I have come across an interesting short slide set on DNAGuide software by Alice Rathjen.

A presentation she made at April 28th at World DNA Day and Genome Day in Dalian, China is available on her blog DNA Times.

Analysing 23andMe Relative Finder results: Always take a second look.

2011-05-30T00:33:00.004-05:00

See corrected text below: NOT my Father's mtDNA haplotype.

Several months ago I got a a 22cM 23andMe Relative Finder match with A. Her surname was one in my paternal grandmother's ancestry. She was a predicted 4th cousin with a range of 3rd to 7th. We compared ancestry charts and determined we shared two lines on her Father's side. We were both half 5th cousins once removed and half 6th cousins on that surname. I was descended from a husband and one wife and she was descended from the other wife on two lines.

This week I noticed her father's results had arrived and I did not have a match with him. Since a 22cM match seemed too large to be Identical by State and/or fit into those situations where one has a match with a child but not a parent, I looked at the link to her updated Ancestry tree and found that she and I had a 5th cousin relationship on her Mother's side also through my paternal grandmother.

~~In this case she was a direct female line descendant of my Father's direct female line ancestor, so her mtDNA was the same as my paternal grandmother and my Father.~~ This ~~filled in one of my missing mtDNA haplogroups and~~ indicated that the first relationships found probably were not the ones that passed on the genetic match.

We do share some other surnames but can't find a relationship yet on those other lines. Even if there are relationships on the other lines they would be further back than the closest one we now have.

Please let me know of any problems with my analysis.

DNA haplogroups of European Royalty

2011-04-17T09:51:00.000-05:00

The following list of DNA haplogroups of European Royalty is found on the EUpedia site: http://www.eupedia.com/forum/showthread.php?25236-Haplogroups-of-European-kings-and-queens

I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the posting, but it may be of interest to genetic genealogists.

FTDNA 36 Hour Sale

2011-04-14T16:25:00.000-05:00

If you have any problems contact FTDNA at info@ftdna.com or call the number on their web page linked above.

Family Tree DNA 36 hour sale on DNA tests

2011-04-14T14:04:00.001-05:00

From the FTDNA Facebook Page:
Coupon Code: DNADAY2011
Share · Public Event
http://www.familytreedna.com
Created By Family Tree DNA

DNA Day is April 15th! Starting at 12:00 PM on April 14th, join the celebration!

New customers:
Y-DNA12……. $59
Y-DNA37……. $129
...mtDNA………. $59
Family Finder… $199
Family Finder + Y-DNA12….. $258
Family Finder + mtDNA…….. $258
Family Finder + mtFullSequence + Y-DNA67 …. $657

Upgrades:
Y-DNA12 add-on ….. $59
Y-DNA12 to 37…….. $69
Y-DNA37 to 67…….. $79
Y-DNA12 to 67…….. $148
mtDNA add-on …….. $59
mtFull Sequence upgrade ….. $199

To take advantage of these promotional prices use the coupon code: DNADAY2011

The coupon code will expire on Friday at midnight (CST).

Please note, the Y-DNA67 to 111 upgrade will remain at the introductory rate of $101 (no coupon necessary) until the end of this promotion. The price will be $129 going forward.

Payment must be received at the time of the order. Valid only on products listed. No substitutions. This promotion was announced in advance, therefore no adjustments will be made on previous purchases. Offer valid from 12:00 PM CST on Thursday, April 14, until 11:59 PM CST on April 15, 2011.

This promotion is not valid in combination with any other promotions. Family Tree DNA reserves the right to cancel any order due to unauthorized or ineligible use of discounts and to modify or cancel these promotional discounts due to system error or unforeseen problems. Subject to change without notice.

Family Tree DNA switches autosomal DNA tests to the Illumina chip

2011-04-10T22:31:00.000-05:00

In February FTDNA announced that they were switching to the Illumina OMNI test chip for their Family Finder autosomal DNA test. Since then people have been gradually getting their test results from the new chip. At this time I have 122 matches from the old Affimatrix chip and 110 from the Illumina chip. They are not all the same and I will be comparing the results from each chip.

In the past I have advised people to do their first autosomal DNA test at 23andme.com since they had a lower cost and they compared the X chromosome, which FTDNA does not currently do. In addition, males got their Y DNA haplogroup and their mtDNA haplogroup. Females got the mtDNA haplogroup. Since FTDNA had announced that they would compare 23andme results to FTDNA Family Finder results, this seemed to be the most cost-effective testing protocol to follow. The switch by FTDNA should make the comparison of results much easier since 23andme also uses an Illumina test chip.

Early DNA Day Sale at 23andMe.com

2011-04-10T22:10:00.000-05:00

23andMe will have a 1 day sale starting at 12:00 am P.S.T. on 11 April, 2011, ending that day at 11:59 pm PST. The sale price will be $108.00 for the test and one year of access to your test results. After one year, you will need to pay $9.00 per month to continue to have additional genealogical and health results added to your test results.

The current price is $199.00 for the test, plus $9.00 per month for at least 12 months to access to your results.

Matches at 23andMe.com and at FTDNA.com

2011-03-09T13:15:00.000-06:00

My matches at 23andMe:
Relative Finder: 753
New in the last 7 days (19)
New in the last 30 days (78)
Sharing Genomes (198)
Public Matches (59)
Contact Sent (478)
Inbound Contact (0)
Contact Accepted (179)
Contact Declined (28)
Matches to Contact (25)
Introduction Canceled (0)

FTDNA:
Family Finder:
Affymetrix: 122
Illumina: 56

At 23andMe I have a known 1st cousin, a predicted 2nd cousin who has not responded to emails, and then several confirmed 3rd cousins, 6th cousins and 10th cousins.

At FTDNA I have no higher than predicted 3rd cousin matches and the highest confirmed match is with a 4th cousin.

Genetic Diversity among the Founders of Newfoundland

2011-02-21T07:43:00.000-06:00

Mitogenomic and microsatellite variation in descendants of the founder population of Newfoundland: high genetic diversity in an historically isolated population.
Pope et al. (2011)

Abstract:
The island of Newfoundland, the first of England's overseas colonies, was settled from the 17th century onward by restricted numbers of English, Irish, and French immigrants, in small ``outport'' communities that have maintained geographic, religious, and linguistic isolation to the latest generations.
To measure the extent of modification and loss of genetic variation through founder effect, drift, and inbreeding in this historically isolated population, we analyzed the complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genomes and 14 microsatellite loci from each of 27 individuals with matrilineal ancestries extending to the colonial period. Every individual has a unique mtDNA genome sequence. All but one of these genomes are assignable to one of five major (H,J,K,T, and U) or minor (I) European haplogroups. The possibility of homoplasy at single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites that define subtypes within the H haplogroup is discussed. Observed haplogroup proportions do not differ significantly from those of western Europeans or between English and Irish Newfoundlanders. The exceptional individual is a member of haplogroup A2, who appears to be the descendant of a Mi'kmaq First Nations mother and a French father, a common marriage pattern in the early settlement of Newfoundland.
Microsatellite diversity is high (HE = 0.763), unstructured with respect to mtDNA haplotype or ethnicity, and there is no evidence of linkage disequilibrium. There is a small but significant degree of inbreeding (FIS = 0.0174). Collection of whole mtDNA genome data was facilitated by the use of microarray sequencing, and we describe a simple algorithm that is 99.67% efficient for sequence recovery.

http://www.mun.ca/biology/scarr/Pope,_Carr,_Smith,_&_Marshall_2011_Genome_54,110.pdf

My new 23andMe matches since version 3 results have started coming in

2011-01-29T20:28:00.001-06:00

Late Tuesday I had 594 matches in Relative Finder at 23andMe. On Wednesday I had 624, and on Thursday I had 655. Friday I added 2 more and 2 more again today, Saturday, 29 January, for a total of 659. Only one match has been at the 3rd cousin level. The rest have been in the 4th to 5th cousin range with a few "Distant Cousins" thrown in. One person had 5 links to me and one person had a single 50cm link. So far 3 people have accepted contact and shared genomes.

I'll post periodic updates as more matches come in.

Comparison of Verison 3 results to Version 2 at 23andme

2011-01-25T14:30:00.001-06:00

CeCe Moore has reported on her quick comparison of her version 3 results to her version 2 results from 23andMe. According to an analysis by Jim McMillan there are approximately 30K SNPs that were in version 2 that are not in version 3.

Here is the link:Update on 23andMe's v3 results: Relative Finder comparison and ~30,000 v2 locations missing from v3

Combining document genealogy with genetic genealogy: "The man who wasn't John CharlesBrown "

2011-01-22T23:04:00.000-06:00

One of the goals of this site is to show how to use genetic genealogy to assist with document genealogy. Randy Majors has a recent post that does just that. Read it on his website: The man who wasn't John Charles Brown

We may have more in common with friends than we think we do:

2011-01-19T22:21:00.003-06:00

Correlated genotypes in friendship networks

Full text: http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2011/01/07/1011687108.full.pdf+html

    James H. Fowlera,b,1,
    Jaime E. Settleb, and
    Nicholas A. Christakisc,d

+ Author Affiliations

    aDivision of Medical Genetics,
    bDepartment of Political Science, University of 
California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093;
    cDepartment of Medicine and Department of Health 
Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115; 
and
    dDepartment of Sociology, Faculty of Arts and 
Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138

    Edited by Gene E. Robinson, University of Illinois, 
Urbana, IL, and approved December 15, 2010 
(received for review August 6, 2010)

Abstract
It is well known that humans tend to associate with other humans who have similar characteristics, but it is unclear whether this tendency has consequences for the distribution of genotypes in a population. Although geneticists have shown that populations tend to stratify genetically, this process results from geographic sorting or assortative mating, and it is unknown whether genotypes may be correlated as a consequence of nonreproductive associations or other processes. Here, we study six available genotypes from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to test for genetic similarity between friends. Maps of the friendship networks show clustering of genotypes and, after we apply strict controls for population stratification, the results show that one genotype is positively correlated (homophily) and one genotype is negatively correlated (heterophily). A replication study in an independent sample from the Framingham Heart Study verifies that DRD2 exhibits significant homophily and that CYP2A6 exhibits significant heterophily. These unique results show that homophily and heterophily obtain on a genetic (indeed, an allelic) level, which has implications for the study of population genetics and social behavior. In particular, the results suggest that association tests should include friends’ genes and that theories of evolution should take into account the fact that humans might, in some sense, be metagenomic with respect to the humans around them.

Footnotes:

    1To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: 
jhfowler@ucsd.edu.
    Author contributions: J.H.F., J.E.S., and N.A.C. 
designed research, performed research, analyzed data, 
and wrote the paper.
    The authors declare no conflict of interest.
    This article is a PNAS Direct Submission.
    This article contains supporting information online at 
www.pnas.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1073/pnas.1011687108/
-/DCSupplemental.

Freely available online through the PNAS open access option.

See this comment at Genetic Future by Daniel McArthur: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/01/on-sharing-genes-with-friends/

2nd cousin at 23andMe

2010-12-28T06:21:00.000-06:00

I have done the autosomal testing at 23andMe. They report results and give you notice of matches in Relative Finder. Apart from my 1st cousin, the closest match I have is with a predicted 2nd Cousin. We have 14 matching segments. The usual definition of a 2nd cousin is some one who shares a Great grandparent with you.

My Great Grandparents are the following couples:
Jesse Perkins and Elizabeth Jane Creekmore;
Andrew J. Walker and Rutha Manning;
Peter Coleman Ball and Frances Jane Strunk;
Thomas J. Swain and Mary E. Kidd.

All are from the Wayne, Whitley and McCreary county area of Kentucky.

If you descend from any of them please contact me with you pedigree. Especially if you have tested at 23andMe, ;^)

Genetic Genealogy testing: Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation

2010-12-14T13:23:00.000-06:00

We often focus on the commercial DNA testing companies and forget about the non-profit Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, http://smgf.org/ They were the first organization to use DNA testing for genealogy. They began with testing of blood and then moved on to testing with a mouth-wash method. One of their goals was to build a collection 100,000 samples. This was reached a few years ago. These samples have been tested for Y chromosome DNA, mitochondrial mtDNA, and autosomal DNA from Chromosomes 1 through 22 and the X chromosome. At this time the Y DNA and mtDNA results are available for searching by entering your results or by using a surname to search the genealogical charts the participants sent with their samples. The autosomal database has not yet been released for searching.

Did I mention the test is free of charge?

One drawback to the testing is that there is no guarantee that your results will make it into the public databases where you can retrieve them at no charge. However, you can get your results from GeneTree, http://www.genetree.com for a nominal charge.

At this time SMGF is accepting samples from the following populations:

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.

Ireland
Japan
Sweden
France
Germany
Belgium
All Eastern European countries
Lebanon
Syria
Jordan
Egypt
North Africa
Switzerland
Denmark
Spain
Portugal

Family Tree DNA's annual end-of-year promotion

2010-12-01T19:52:00.001-06:00

From Family Tree DNA:

It's time once again for Family Tree DNA's annual end-of-year promotion.

Starting tonight, and until December 31st, we will 
reduce the price of our YDNA37, YDNA67, mtDNAPlus, and 
Family Finder tests.

Price for NEW KITS:  Regular Price  Promotional Price
         YDNA37  $149          $119
         YDNA67  $239          $199
      mtDNAPlus  $159          $129
  Family Finder  $289          $249

Price for UPGRADE:      
  Family Finder  $289          $229

Orders must be in and paid for by Dec. 31, 2010, to receive this offer.

IMPORTANT: since this promotion will run through the month of 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 12/31/2010.

PHYLO: A Human Computing Framework for Comparative Genomics

2010-11-30T11:27:00.002-06:00

Thanks to Ann Turner for the reference to CNET: CRAVE coverage of PHYLO: A Human Computing Framework for Comparative Genomics.

Play a computer game to align genomic sequences. A crowd sourced science program from McGill University and the University of California at Santa Cruz. The results are stored in the Genome Browser at UCSC.

23andme $99.00 Holiday Sale Extended Through Christmas!

2010-11-30T10:12:00.000-06:00

Holiday Sale Extended Through Christmas!
Published by Shwu at 6:00 am under announcements
The holidays just got a bit happier. Our holiday sale price of $99 plus a 12-month subscription to our Personal Genome Service for just $5 per month will now be available through Christmas day (12/25/2010). Be sure to place your order by Wednesday, December 15th if you want to receive your DNA testing kits in time for holiday gift-giving!

http://spittoon.23andme.com/2010/11/30/holiday-sale-extended-through-christmas/

FTDNA upgrade sale

2010-11-27T11:04:00.000-06:00

The following was sent to the FTDNA study administrators:
As we enter the Thanksgiving weekend, we would like to extend to you a one-week promotion for upgrades:

Current Group Price SALE PRICE
      Y12-37   $99 $69
      Y12-67  $189 $149
      Y25-67  $148 $109
      Y37-67   $99 $79

To order this special offer, log in to your personal page and click on the special offers link in the left hand navigation bar. A link to the login page is provided below.

ALL ORDERS MUST BE PLACED AND PAID FOR BY MIDNIGHT DECEMBER 1st 2010 TO RECEIVE THE SALE PRICES.

$99.00 sale at 23andme

2010-11-24T07:51:00.002-06:00

After 10am Pacific time
Enter this code on the order page:
B84YAG
You will also need to pay the monthly service charge of $5.00 for 12 months.

When Genetics and Genealogies Tell Different Stories-Maternal Lineages in Gaspesia [Gaspe Peninsula, Canada]

2010-11-15T21:46:00.001-06:00

Ann Hum Genet. 2010 Nov 8. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-1809.2010.00617.x.

When Genetics and Genealogies Tell Different Stories-Maternal Lineages in Gaspesia.

Moreau C, Vézina H, Jomphe M, Lavoie EM, Roy-Gagnon MH, Labuda D.

Centre de Recherche, CHU Sainte-Justine, Université de Montréal, 3175, Côte Sainte-Catherine, Montréal (Québec),  Canada H3T 1C5 Département des sciences humaines, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 555, boulevard de l'Université, Chicoutimi (Québec), Canada G7H 2B1 Projet BALSAC, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 555, boulevard de l'Université, Chicoutimi (Québec), Canada G7H 2B1 Groupe de recherche interdisciplinaire en démographie et épidémiologie génétique-GRIG, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 555, boulevard de l'Université, Chicoutimi (Québec), Canada G7H 2B1 Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université de Montréal, Pavillon 1420 Mont-Royal, 1430 boul. du Mont-Royal, Outremont (Québec), Canada H2V 4P3 Département de pédiatrie, Université de Montréal, 3175, Côte Sainte-Catherine, Montréal (Québec), Canada H3T 1C5.

Abstract

Data from uniparentally inherited genetic systems were used to trace evolution of human populations. Reconstruction of the past primarily relies on variation in present-day populations, limiting historical inference to lineages that are found among living subjects. Our analysis of four population groups in the Gaspé Peninsula, demonstrates how this may occasionally lead to erroneous interpretations. Mitochondrial DNA analysis of Gaspesians revealed an important admixture with Native Americans. The most likely scenario links this admixture to French-Canadians from the St. Lawrence Valley who moved to Gaspesia in the 19th century. However, in contrast to genetic data, analysis of genealogical record shows that Native American maternal lineages were brought to Gaspesia in the 18th century by Acadians who settled on the south-western coast of the peninsula. Intriguingly, within three generations, virtually all Métis Acadian families separated from their nonadmixed relatives and moved eastward mixing in with other Gaspesian groups, in which Native American maternal lines are present in relatively high frequencies. Over time, the carriers of these lines eventually lost memory of their mixed Amerindian-Acadian origin. Our results show that a reliable reconstruction of population history requires cross-verification of different data sources for consistency, thus favouring multidisciplinary approaches.

PMID: 21058944 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

New 23andMe Relative Finder match connection identified

2010-10-28T00:15:00.001-05:00

Last night I was able to identify the possible pedigree connection between my self and a predicted 5th cousin. She and I are actually 6th cousins, once removed. The connection is in my maternal line but her paternal line with William Kidd and his unknown wife. We have a match on chromosome 17.

I have a 3rd cousin, once removed, who matches me at 4 locations. We share four GG Grandparents, Jesse D. Swain and Mary Elizabeth Ball, and John Kidd and Maliza Stephens. None of our matches are on chromosome 17. She and her daughter have matches on chromosome 6 with my female multi-1st cousin which I do not have, and I have matches with her and her daughter on the X which my female multi-1st cousin does not have.

So the question still remains whether the first match on chromosome 17 is from William Kidd or from his unknown wife. I'm tending toward the unknown wife.

Genetic analysis of the presumptive blood from Louis XVI, king of France

2010-10-14T07:20:00.000-05:00

Articles in Press
FSI Genetics

Genetic analysis of the presumptive blood from Louis XVI, king of France

Carles Lalueza-FoxaCorresponding Author Informationemail address, Elena Giglia, Carla Binid, Francesc Calafellab, Donata Luisellic, Susi Pelottid, Davide Pettenerc

Received 9 July 2010; received in revised form 14 August 2010; accepted 15 September 2010. published online 12 October 2010. Corrected Proof

Abstract

A text on a pyrographically decorated gourd dated to 1793 explains that it contains a handkerchief dipped with the blood of Louis XVI, king of France, after his execution. Biochemical analyses confirmed that the material contained within the gourd was blood. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) and 2 (HVR2), the Y-chromosome STR profile, some autosomal STR markers and a SNP in HERC2 gene associated to blue eyes, were retrieved, and some results independently replicated in two different laboratories. The uncommon mtDNA sequence retrieved can be attributed to a N1b haplotype, while the novel Y-chromosome haplotype belongs to haplogroup G2a. The HERC2 gene showed that the subject analyzed was a heterozygote, which is compatible with a blue-eyed person, as king Louis XVI was. To confirm the identity of the subject, an analysis of the dried heart of his son, Louis XVII, could be undertaken.

Keywords: Louis XVI, Identification, Ancient DNA, Mitochondrial DNA, Y-chromosome, Eye colour

a Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, CSIC-UPF, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
b CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
c Dipartimento diBiologia, Evoluzionistica Sperimentale, Area di Antropologia, Universitàdi, Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy
d Dipartimento di Medicina e Salute Pubblica, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Università di Bologna, Via Irnerio 49, 40126 Bologna, Italy

Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +34 933160845.

PII: S1872-4973(10)00160-2
doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2010.09.007

Ancestry and Disease in the Age of Genomic Medicine

2010-10-14T06:26:00.001-05:00

Review Article
Ancestry and Disease in the Age of Genomic Medicine
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra0911564?query=TOC#t=articleTop

W. Gregory Feero, M.D., Ph.D., Editor, Alan E. Guttmacher, M.D., Editor

Ancestry and Disease in the Age of Genomic Medicine

Charles N. Rotimi, Ph.D., and Lynn B. Jorde, Ph.D.

N Engl J Med 2010; 363:1551-1558 October 14, 2010

Human genetic data are accumulating at an ever-increasing pace, and whole genome sequences of individuals from multiple populations are now publicly available.1-3 The growing inventory of human genetic variation is facilitating an understanding of why susceptibility to common diseases varies among individuals and populations. In addition, we are gaining insights that may improve the efficacy and safety of therapeutic drugs. Such knowledge is relevant to fundamental questions about our origins, differences, and similarities. Here, we provide a brief review of the current knowledge of human genetic variation and how it contributes to our understanding of human evolutionary history, group identity, and health disparities.

Bridging the Divide between Genomic Science and Indigenous Peoples

2010-10-03T22:11:00.001-05:00

Bridging the Divide between Genomic Science and Indigenous Peoples
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-720X.2010.00521.x/abstract

The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, Volume 38, Issue 3, pages 684–696, Fall 2010.

Bette Jacobs, Jason Roffenbender, Jeff Collmann, Kate Cherry, LeManuel Lee Bitsói, Kim Bassett, and Charles H. Evans, Jr.

The new science of genomics endeavors to chart the genomes of individuals around the world, with the dual goals of understanding the role genetic factors play in human health and solving problems of disease and disability. From the perspective of indigenous peoples and developing countries, the promises and perils of genomic science appear against a backdrop of global health disparity and political vulnerability. These conditions pose a dilemma for many communities when attempting to decide about participating in genomic research or any other biomedical research. Genomic research offers the possibility of improved technologies for managing the acute and chronic diseases that plague their members. Yet, the history of particularly biomedical research among people in indigenous and developing nations offers salient examples of unethical practice, misuse of data, and failed promises. This dilemma creates risks for communities who decide either to participate or not to participate in genomic science research. Some argue that the history of poor scientific practice justifies refusal to join genomic research projects. Others argue that disease poses such great threats to the well-being of people in indigenous communities and developing nations that not participating in genomic research risks irrevocable harm. Thus, some communities particularly among indigenous peoples have declined to participate as subjects in genomic research. At the same time, some communities have begun developing new guidelines, procedures, and practices for engaging with the scientific community that offer opportunities to bridge the gap between genomic science and indigenous and/or developing communities. Four new approaches warrant special attention and further support: consulting with local communities; negotiating the complexities of consent; training members of local communities in science and health care; and training scientists to work with indigenous communities. Implicit is a new definition of “rigorous scientific research,” one that includes both community development and scientific progress as legitimate objectives of genomic research. Innovative translational research is needed to develop practical, mutually acceptable methods for crossing the divide between genomic researchers and indigenous communities. This may mean the difference between success and failure in genomic science, and in improving health for all peoples.

Three recent articles using DNA for genealogy

2010-09-28T22:04:00.000-05:00

The following articles use DNA testing in determining the genealogical connections in the families studied:

Daniela Moneta "Virginia Pughs and North Carolina Wests: A Genetic Link from Slavery in Kentucky," National Genealogical Society Quarterly vol.97, pp.179-194 (September 2009).
Alvy Ray Smith, "The Probable Genetic Signature of Thomas¹ Riggs: Immigrant to Gloucester, Massachusetts by 1658," The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, vol.164, pp.85-89(April 2010).
Alvy Ray Smith, "The Probable Genetic Signature of Edward¹ Riggs: Immigrant to Roxbury, Massachusetts, in 1633," The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, vol.164, pp.95-103(April 2010).

In his two articles, Dr Smith introduces his own method of showing genetic ancestry which does not follow any of the usual methods. While some like his method, I find it less informative that the standard marker site, marker value pairs used by the genetic genealogy community.

Genetic Privacy

2010-08-25T14:25:00.002-05:00

The following article is interesting from several angles; the use of the SMGF results in combination with the Family Search database; and the question of maintaining privacy of genetic results. The different orientations of medical researchers with Institutional Review Boards to consider, and of genealogists searching for identifiable links makes for an interesting tension in the research protocols each brings to the reading of this article.

Since I am a multiple relative of Emma Hale, wife of Joseph Smith, I have an interest in the early Mormon families.

http://scpgen.blogspot.com/2009/10/ancestors-of-emma-hale-wife-of-joseph.html

http://scpgen.blogspot.com/2010/06/mormon-or-church-of-jesus-christ-of.html

Comments?

Steven C. Perkins

========================

Copyright © 2009 The American Society of Human Genetics. All rights reserved. The American Journal of Human Genetics, Volume 84, Issue 2, 251-258, 13 February 2009
doi:10.1016/j.ajhg.2009.01.018

Inferential Genotyping of Y Chromosomes in Latter-Day Saints Founders and Comparison to Utah Samples in the HapMap Project

http://www.cell.com/AJHG/retrieve/pii/S0002929709000251 [Link to PDF here]

Jane Gitschier1,*
One concern in human genetics research is maintaining the privacy of study participants. The growth in genealogical registries may contribute to loss of privacy, given that genotypic information is accessible online to facilitate discovery of genetic relationships. Through iterative use of two such web archives, FamilySearch and Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, I was able to discern the likely haplotypes for the Y chromosomes of two men, Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, who were instrumental in the founding of the Latter-Day Saints Church. I then determined whether any of the Utahns who contributed to the HapMap project (the ‘‘CEU’’ set) is related to either man, on the basis of haplotype analysis of the Y chromosome. Although none of the CEU contributors appear to be a male-line relative, I discovered that predictions could be made for the surnames of the CEU participants by a similar process. For 20 of the 30 unrelated CEU samples, at least one exact match was revealed, and for 17 of these, a potential ancestor from Utah or a neighboring state could be identified. For the remaining ten samples, a match was nearly perfect, typically deviating by only one marker repeat unit. The same query performed in two other large databases revealed fewer individual matches and helped to clarify which surname predictions are more likely to be correct. Because large data sets of genotypes from both consenting research subjects and individuals pursuing genetic genealogy will be accessible online, this type of triangulation between databases may compromise the privacy of research subjects.

23andMe Ancestry Finder versus 23andMe Relative Finder

2010-07-29T13:34:00.000-05:00

When I logged into 23andMe last night and went to Relative Finder I had 506 matches. I sent sharing invitations to 5 of the new matches and I sent a separate invitation to a Public Profile match. The remaining match was from someone with multiple people on his profile.

People who appear in Relative Finder share at least 7.5cM of genetic data with you in one location. Once you agree to compare your genome in Ancestry Labs, Family Inheritance: Advanced you may find that you share segments between 5 and 7.5 cM. The matching in Relative Finder occurs automatically for everyone in the 23andMe database. Of course, each person can opt out of Relative Finder.

Ancestry Finder uses the lower 5 cM cutoff and can match you with people who would not automatically appear on Relative Finder IF the person has filled out the optional "Where are you from" survey. The survey asks for location information on you, your parents and your grandparents. This data is used to show where the grandparents of people who match you in Ancestry Finder were born. There are a number of limitations to this data: current country names are used which may not really reflect the ancestry/ethnicity of the match; the data is only as good as the information the person completing the survey knows; just because a match has grandparents from X country it does not mean you do.

Both Relative Finder and Ancestry Finder should be used to research your ancestry. At this time Ancestry Finder is more difficult to use and it is hoped it will be come more like Relative Finder or be merged with it to make it easier to use.

The provision for Public Profiles in both systems has made it easier to determine if some matches might be more useful that others. It also provides the opportunity for committed genetic genealogists to let others know they are willing to share data.

FDA and Senator Hatch hold hearings on DTC DNA testing

2010-07-29T12:56:00.000-05:00

The big news last week were the hearing held on Direct to Consumer (DTC) DNA tests by the FDA and by Senator Hatch. Katherine Hope Borges of the ISOGG made a statement at the FDA hearing which is reproduced at the Huffington Post by Megan Smolenyak. Katherine was the only speaker to address genetic genealogy issues. The rest of the speakers discussed various medical aspects of DNA testing.

Links to follow.

Results at 23andMe and at FTDNA

2010-07-26T13:21:00.001-05:00

Today I have the following results:
23andMe:

497 matches
122 sharing genomes
18 Public profiles
338 contacts sent
128 accepted 22 declines

Closest relationship identified, 3rd cousin once removed, 4 matching segments
Closest waiting for reply, 2nd cousin with 12 matching segments
1 of 9 1st cousins is also on 23andMe, 41 matching segments (share 6 of 8 Great grandparents)

FTDNA:

64 matches
30 emails sent

Closest relationship identified, 4th cousin once removed.

Upgrade sale at FTDNA: 8 July - 19 July 2010

2010-07-08T16:34:00.002-05:00

Dear Family Tree DNA Customer

Over the last several years, due to the unmatched growth of our database, numerous people have confirmed and found new connections with others of their surname, and adoptees and descendents of adoptees have even found their biological surname.

These successes are due in large part to the size and quality of our database, which, with your help, has achieved critical mass. We have made tremendous progress, but we feel that we can do more. If you have tested 12, 25, or 37 markers, an upgrade to 37 or 67 markers could provide the relevant connection that you or your matches have been waiting for.

Family Tree DNA is dedicated to supporting this effort. From July 8th through July 19th, we will reduce all our Y-DNA upgrade prices.

Current Group  SALE Price

Y12-25  $49    $35

Y12-37  $99    $69

Y12-67  $189  $149

Y25-37  $49    $35

Y25-67  $148  $109

Y37-67  $99    $79

To order this special offer, log in to your personal page and click on the special offers link in the left hand navigation bar. A link to the login page is provided below. ALL ORDERS MUST BE PLACED AND PAID FOR BY MIDNIGHT JULY 19th TO RECEIVE THE SALE PRICE.

http://www.familytreedna.com/login.aspx

A notice of this sale has been sent to those customers who qualify for these Y-DNA upgrades.

We would also like to take this opportunity to inform you that registration has begun for The 6th Annual Conference on Genetic Genealogy for Group Administrators, which will be taking place on October 30-31, 2010. You can find more about it here

As always, we appreciate your continued support.

Bennett Greenspan
President
Family Tree DNA
www.familytreedna.com
"History Unearthed Daily"

My statistics at 23andMe and at FTDNA

2010-07-05T23:02:00.001-05:00

I have tested my autosomal chromosomes at both 23andMe and FTDNA.

At 23andMe in Relative Finder I have 464 people with matching chromosome segments. My largest match is with my 1st cousin at 19.79% of our DNA. Most 1st cousins will be around 12.5% but we share 6 of 8 Great Grandparents so we have more matching DNA than most 1st cousins. The lowest amount of DNA I have with someone is .08% and that was the first person I was able to find a match with as 10th cousins once removed. 106 people are currently sharing genomes with me which allows us to see on which chromosome we have a match.

The majority of my matches are on one or another of chromosomes 1 through 22. However I have 9 people who have 10 shared segments with me on the X chromosome which, as a male, I inherited from my mother. By mapping the start and end locations of the shared segments I can see who may share a common X ancestry with me or with each other. In this case my 1st cousin shares 2 segments with me and 1 of those segments with me and two brothers. I partially share a segment with a mother and daughter and 3 other persons. And one of those persons shares half a segment with another person.

When males share an X segment it means they are related through their mothers' ancestry. When a male shares an X segment with a female they can be related on his mother's ancestry and on either her mother's or father's X ancestry.

Unless one or both of your parents also takes the 23andme test, it can be difficult to "phase" your results, in other words, to be able to assign a segment to your mother's or father's ancestry. Until this can be done, you can't know if two people who match you at the same location match your segment strand from either your mother or your father. This means that you can't say that it means they have the same ancestry to each other as they have to you. If your parent's are deceased, you may be able to phase your results by testing siblings of you or your parents.

I have definitely identified 6 relationships at 23andMe. Over 50,000 people have tested at 23andme in the past two years.

At FTDNA in Family Finder I have 53 matches. Because FTDNA didn't start Family Finder until recently, the number of matches is much smaller than at 23andMe. However, since Family Finder only tests for ancestry, it is believed that the people testing will be more knowledgeable about genealogy than those at 23andMe. So far I have also identified 6 connections at FTDNA, the same as at 23andMe but twice as many per number of sharing matches. At this time FTDNA does not show matches on the X chromosome but it has said it will do so in the future.

I have also had autosomal testing done with Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation but they have not yet released their results. They have tested over 100,000 people and have pedigrees attached to most of those.

Ancestry Finder Beta at 23andMe

2010-07-05T22:19:00.001-05:00

There is a new beta program at 23andMe called Ancestry Finder. This program uses the information from the survey on "Where are you From?" to map segments of your autosomal chromosomes to various nationalities. No time line has been given for rolling this out beyond the beta testers.

Some questions have been raised on whether this will be of practical use for Native American or African American testers since the number of persons from each group participating in 23andme is low. There is also some concern from European Americans who have long lines of ancestors born in America that the program will not give them much of interest.

It is hoped that those who have already completed the survey will be allowed to edit their replies to add information on ethnicity to supplement the location information.

A review has been posted at the Your Genetic Genealogist blog.

Family Tree DNA extends SALE till 30 June 2010

2010-06-25T22:16:00.000-05:00

Family Tree DNA has extended the sale for new participants until 30 June 2010. Just find the group for your surname and click "Join this Group" then follow the instructions to get the SALE prices.

FTDNA test sale: June 5th through June 25th

2010-06-06T08:57:00.003-05:00

To get the prices mentioned below, you MUST ORDER through a SURNAME PROJECT at FTDNA. If you are not already in a surname project, you can search for a project using the search box on their web page at http://www.ftdna.com/

Dear Family Tree DNA Group Administrator

Last summer we offered a pricing special that was the most successful offering of its type in our company history. Project administrators got behind the recruitment efforts and for those that did, their projects grew and our database grew, so we'd like to offer a summer special again.
Here are the details:

Y-DNA37 for $119 (Regular price would be $149)
Y-DNA67 for $199 (Regular price would be $239)
Y-DNA37+mtDNA for $159 (Combined test would cost $238)

Bypass the Y-DNA12 and Y-DNA25, and get the best Genealogy tests on the market!

The promotion will start June 5 and will end June 25. Kits need to be paid for by June 30, 2010.

As, always, thank you for your continued support.

E-mail me anytime!

Max Blankfeld Vice-President, Operations and Marketing
http://www.FamilyTreeDNA.com
"History Unearthed Daily"

© All Contents Copyright 2001-2010 Genealogy by Genetics, Ltd.

Do you have Y DNA results at Family Tree DNA? Download them now.

2010-05-13T19:20:00.001-05:00

A recent message at FTDNA:
Important Message From Family Tree DNA!
We are planning an upgrade of all Y-DNA STR (short tandem repeat) related functions. The upgrade will include changes to how STR micro-alleles and palindromic STRs are displayed. It will also change the matching algorithm to utilize an improved calculation for micro-allele and palindromic STR mutations. The result will be more accurate matches and time to a common ancestor calculations. We will provide additional information before the changes are implemented.
For your convenience, we suggest that you download your Y-DNA Results and Y-DNA matches for historical purposes.

A Biologist's Mother's Day Song

2010-05-12T19:47:00.001-05:00

What DNA tests to take?

2010-05-02T12:39:00.003-05:00

Recently a friend asked me, "What DNA tests should he or his brother take?"

Here is my reply.

1) Has he taken any DNA tests already?
2) Is he interested in health trends?
3) Is he only interested in finding ancestors on his Y DNA (father's) or mtDNA (mother's) lines?
4) Is he interested in finding ancestors on all of his lines? Can he or you fill out most of this form?:

http://www.misbach.org/pdfcharts/pedigree_chart.pdf

If he/you can fill that out he/you should take one or both of the autosomal tests (chromosomes 1-22 and the X chromosome), Relative Finder or Family Finder.

If I were starting out now and had a budget of $1000.00

1) I'd take the 37 marker Y DNA test at http://www.familytreedna.com/group-join.aspx?Group=gould for $149.00 and shipping.
2) Then I would get the Complete Edition autosomal test at https://www.23andme.com/store/ for $499.00. Doing this means he will get the Ancestry and Health Editions, will be compared in the Relative Finder autosomal database, his X chromosome matches will be found and he gets to download his test data. His Y DNA haplogroup will be confirmed and his mtDNA haplogroup will be determined.
3) That data can then be transferred to http://www.ftdna.com for comparison to their Family Finder autosomal database for $40.00.
4) If he then wants to get full access to Family Finder the upgrade cost will be $249.00. At this time Family Finder tests chromosomes 1-22 and give matches, and it tests the X chromosme but does not match it to others in their database. You do get to download all your test data and can have it analyzed by other programs. FTDNA removes the data from about 3000 disease informative SNPs.

Total cost, $949.00 plus shipping. The tests can be taken in stages if cost is a problem.

This why I recommended the 23andme test for $99.00. It was a fantastic deal and cut $400.00 off the total cost.

Because you are not twins, if you and your brother took the tests you would probably not match all the same people since each conception shuffles the chromosomes.

That chart above is important. The more people he knows there the greater is the chance to confirm relationships with the DNA testing.

He needs the Y DNA 37 marker test so he gets his Y DNA haplotype to match against others in the surname project and the FTDNA database so you can confirm the line you belong to.

I no longer recommend taking the mtDNA tests at FTDNA unless you are trying to determine if certain females are mother and daughter or maternal sisters or that a male and a female had the same mother.

I have taken all of these tests. They are best for confirming relationships from 1st through 5th cousins, although I have confirmed a 10th cousin once removed through 23andme.

DNA Day Special at 23andMe: $99.00

2010-04-23T06:45:00.005-05:00

TODAY ONLY!

In honor of DNA day, 23andMe is selling the Complete Edition test for $99.00. This will give you their Ancestry and Health Editions with your genomic data files. Usually this costs $499.00.

If you are at all interested in either your genetic ancestry or your health data, I urge you to take advantage of this deal.

As a genetic genealogist I have tested with 23andMe to get access to the Relative Finder database of people who match my autosomal markers. With the downloaded files you will be able to transfer those to Family Tree DNA to get a preliminary reading from their Family Finder autosomal service. I have added a number of people to my genealogical data through these services.

Special price on 23andme Ancestry or Complete Edition autosomal DNA test

2010-03-09T21:42:00.004-06:00

Mar 9, 2010
The Oprah Winfrey Show and a special promotion
We wanted to share some exciting news and alert you to a special promotion starting today.

Airing this afternoon, The Oprah Winfrey Show will feature celebrities discovering their family roots. The show will feature a segment about the PBS documentary, Faces of America, by Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. As you may know, Faces of America used 23andMe’s Ancestry Edition to test the DNA of the guests featured in the series.

To promote the Faces of America segment on Oprah.com, 23andMe is offering viewers of The Oprah Winfrey Show our Ancestry Edition for only $199.00 until 3/31/10.

As members of our valued community, we wanted to make sure you heard about this special promotion. If you know people that may want to take advantage of this significant discount, please direct them to the Faces of America page on our website to order the Ancestry Edition at this special price (this is the only place on the site with this discount, so you need to order from this page). There is no set limit on the number of kits that can be ordered for , but you'll want to act quickly since the offer expires on 3/31/10.

So check out the Oprah show and feel free to spread the word about this special offer!

23andme has said you can get the discount on the Complete Edition by selecting both in your cart, then removing the Ancestry Edition leaving the Complete Edition at a discount.

Oprah.com article on Ancestry:
http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Dr-Henry-Louis-Gates-Jr-Start-Your-Ancestry-Search

23andMe Faces of America promotion:
https://www.23andme.com/partner/foa/

Faces of America on PBS:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/

An explanation of Autosomal DNA

2010-02-17T15:41:00.002-06:00

Here is a video from Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation that explains autosomal DNA.

Family Finder, Relative Finder, deCODEme, SMGF

2010-02-17T15:28:00.003-06:00

In my capacity of running 9 DNA studies and advising people on testing, I have been looking at the information on Family Finder from FTDNA in comparison to 23andMe's Relative Finder Ancestry Edition.

Family Finder is only looking at the non-sex chromosomes and it does not include mtDNA testing. If we include the minimal testing of Y dna and/or mtDNA at the Genographic Project (to get the lowest price) a female would undercut the price of the 23andMe Relative Finder Ancestry Edition test, but would still not have the X chromosome tested, and a male would pay more than Relative Finder Ancestry Edition and still not have the X chromsome tested.

My ancestry is mainly Colonial American from the British Isles with some French, German, and Norwegian. My experience with Relative Finder is that of the 30,000 plus people in the project, I have matches with 307. I have sent out 106 sharing requests with 5 declines, 69 contacts accepted, and 32 contacts with sharing. Of the 32 sharing I have found the common ancestor for 6 of them. 3 of them share on the X chromosome. Hopefully as the database grows I'll have more matches and shares.

I think the companies should require a 5 or 6 generation pedigree chart from the people testing which would be shared with their matches. I think that would really help with the process of finding common ancestors.

This also brings up the question of what happened to the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation's plans to release an autosomal database which would be linked to the pedigrees they collected. Does anyone have any information from SMGF?

While I am getting the Family Finder testing, and have done the 23andme complete edition, exchanged with deCODEme, and the SMGF testing, I am somewhat disappointed in the results so far, and will have to really see some improvements before I can recommend these tests to any but the most dedicated genetic genealogists.

FTDNA announces Family Finder

2010-02-16T09:56:00.004-06:00

FTDNA will be starting an autosomal test called Family Finder in mid-March. Some details are available at this link: http://www.familytreedna.com/landing/family-finder.aspx Pricing information is not currently available nor do we know if new samples will be required. Pricing has been announced as $249.00 and new samples will be needed if you do not have an unused sample on file.

At this time the only other comparable product is Relative Finder from 23andme: http://spittoon.23andme.com/2009/11/19/introducing-relative-finder-the-newest-feature-from-23andme/

New NBC series "Who do you think you are?" premieres in April

2010-01-30T22:51:00.003-06:00

NBC is set to premiere the new reality TV series, Who Do You Think You Are? on April 20, 2009. Former Friends star, Lisa Kudrow is the executive producer of the series. The first celebrities exploring their family histories on the U.S.reality TV show are; Lisa Kudrow, Sarah Jessica Parker and Susan Sarandon, NBC revealed on Tuesday. Additional celebrity names are expected to be announced soon.

Who Do You Think You Are? is produced by Wall to Wall productions in association with Is Or Isn’t Entertainment. Alex Graham and Lucy Carter from Wall to Wall and Lisa Kudrow, Dan Bucatinsky and Don Roos from Is or Isn’t Entertainment are the executive producers. Bryn Freedman, the producer of Intervention is the co-executive producer of this historical series. The new show is based on the hit, award-winning BBC television documentary series created and executive-produced by Alex Graham.

Continued at http://realitytvmagazine.sheknows.com/blog/2009/01/30/new-nbc-series-who-do-you-think-you-are-premieres-in-april/

Faces of America

2010-01-30T22:35:00.001-06:00

Faces of America with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. airs on Wednesdays, February 10 – March 3, 2010 from 8-9 p.m. ET on PBS.

Eva Longoria, Meryl Streep, Mario Batali, Stephen Colbert, Malcolm Gladwell, Yo-Yo Ma, Mike Nichols, Kristi Yamaguchi, Elizabeth Alexander, Queen Noor and Louise Erdrich have all submitted DNA tests for a new PBS television series FACES OF AMERICA.

Faces of America

2010-01-03T09:23:00.002-06:00

Dr Henry Louis Gates new television program, Faces of America will run on PDS on February 10th. See the trailer here: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/

New firm, Pathway Genomics has first results

2009-12-08T19:36:00.003-06:00

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.

CARTaGENE project in Quebec

2009-12-07T20:44:00.002-06:00

Press release on the CARTaGENE project for a genetic map of Quebec: http://www.cartagene.qc.ca/images/stories/pdf_en/cartagene_forum_pressrel.pdf.

3000 people have been tested.

23andMe to split Ancestry from Health

2009-11-15T10:03:00.004-06:00

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/

Success with 23andMe Relative Finder?

2009-11-15T09:46:00.003-06:00

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.

A Success with Ancestry DNA?

2009-11-15T09:39:00.002-06:00

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.

November and December Holiday Sale at FTDNA

2009-11-03T17:19:00.003-06:00

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.

Y-DNA37 – promotional price $119 (reg. price $149)
Y-DNA67 – promotional price $209 (reg. price $239)
mtDNAPlus – promotional price $139 (reg. price $149)
SuperDNA – promotional price $488 (reg. price $665)

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:

New kit (mtDNA Full Sequence) … $279
Upgrade from HVR1 … $229
Upgrade from HVR2 … $209
mtDNA Full Sequence after testing Y-DNA … $249

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

The Neanderthal Genome Project

2009-10-28T23:04:00.002-05:00

A video interview with Dr Svante Paabo of the Neanderthal Genome Project:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuIRjtZJGmQ

Relative Finder Beta is open to all 23andMe users

2009-10-22T21:55:00.002-05:00

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

FTDNA full mtDNA test special

2009-10-20T20:20:00.003-05:00

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

Autosomal connections

2009-09-27T22:09:00.006-05:00

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.

FTDNA server problems

2009-09-18T10:27:00.002-05:00

Last night Family Tree DNA, FTDNA, instituted several changes to the web pages of the DNA projects they host. Unfortunately, they underestimated the bandwidth needed to service those changes. They are currently working to bring more servers online. I suggest that you not try to use the DNA project web pages at FTDNA until later on this weekend.

DNA Bingo: How to win big

2009-09-11T12:25:00.003-05:00

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

Genetics and DNA articles from New England Ancestors website

2009-09-07T11:35:00.004-05:00

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

DNA testing companies I have used

2009-08-31T22:15:00.002-05:00

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.

The Human Family Tree, 30 Aug 2009

2009-08-26T23:00:00.003-05:00

The National Geographic Channel is airing a new program, from the Genographic Project, The Human Family Tree, in the US this Sunday, 30 August 2009. Check your local PBS station for day and time.

Extracting results from SMGF testing

2009-07-14T06:37:00.006-05:00

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 discount prices through July, 2009

2009-07-13T13:53:00.003-05:00

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

Converting a non-FTDNA Y DNA test to an FTDNA test

2009-06-16T20:49:00.004-05:00

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

New Promotiomnal Discount at FTDNA through 24 June 2009

2009-06-16T06:59:00.002-05:00

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:

• Y-DNA37+mtDNA for $119. (The regular project price is $248 – a reduction of more than 50%!!)
• The promotion will begin on June 9, 2009 and will end on June 24, 2009
• Kits ordered in this sale must be paid for by June 30, 2009

This is your new members’ opportunity to skip past the Y-DNA12 and Y-DNA25 tests and get the best Y-DNA Genealogical test on the market in addition to an mtDNA test for an extremely reduced price!
I should also mention that according to one of our competitors’ method of counting markers our 37-marker test could also be called a "41-marker test" as we do test and report markers 464e, 464f, 464g, and DYS19b. Though we test them, it is very rare that individuals have results for these markers. Therefore, by our conservative counting method, our competitor's "33-marker test" is actually a "29-marker test". We mention this to make sure that you understand the difference between these tests and are able to compare "apples to apples".
So... I hope that with this promotion your project can gain many new members.
As always, that you for your continued support.
Max Blankfeld
Vice-President, Operations and Marketing
http://www.FamilyTreeDNA.com
"History Unearthed Daily"

Win a free DNA test kit from 23andme

2009-06-10T11:35:00.003-05:00

A free 23andme DNA test will be given away to one winner in a contaet held by Bagmomma:
http://bagworthy.wordpress.com/2009/06/10/win-a-free-dna-testing-kit-from-23andme/
Good Luck!

Russian Journal of Genetic Genealogy

2009-06-09T07:05:00.002-05:00

The first issue of the Russian Journal of Genetic Genealogy is now published at http://rjgg.molgen.org/index.php/RJGGRE
Articles are in Russian and it is believed that English translations will be provided in the future.

Sorenson suspends most free DNA testing

2009-06-03T06:41:00.003-05:00

From the SMGF "How to get Involved" page:

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.

Ireland
Japan
Sweden
France
Germany
Belgium
All Eastern European countries
Lebanon
Syria
Jordan
Egypt
North Africa
Switzerland
Denmark
Spain
Portugal

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.

FTDNA sells 500,000 test

2009-02-11T13:16:00.003-06:00

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.

http://www.ftdna.com/

New Prices from DNA-Ancestry

2009-01-27T16:06:00.002-06:00

DNA-Ancestry has posted new prices starting at $79.00 for Y DNA and $179 for mtDNA. See the full set of tests and prices here: http://dna.ancestry.com/buyKitGoals.aspx

FTDNA has made changes to the website

2009-01-04T21:55:00.002-06:00

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.

2009 ISOGG Y SNP Tree is Released

2009-01-04T21:52:00.002-06:00

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

"Family Matters", by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

2008-12-04T21:22:00.003-06:00

Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Personal History, “Family Matters,” The New Yorker, December 1, 2008, p. 34
Read the full text of this article. (Registration required.) December 1, 2008 Issue

ABSTRACT: PERSONAL HISTORY about the writer’s exploration of his family tree. The writer’s grandfather, Edward St. Lawrence Gates (known as Pop), had two hobbies— growing tulips and keeping scrapbooks. The writer didn’t know about the second hobby until after Pop Gates’s death, in 1960, when the writer was nine years old. Pop Gates was buried at the Rose Hill Cemetery, in Cumberland, Maryland; the writer’s forebears were among the few blacks allowed in the predominantly white cemetery. Mentions Thorn Rose Cemetery. The writer had been made keenly aware, early in his childhood, that the Gateses had a certain status in Cumberland. After Pop’s burial, the writer’s father took him back to the Gates family home and went upstairs to the closet. There he pulled out dozens of musty leather books with pages covered with news clippings of African-Americans who had died. One obituary, dated Saturday, January 7, 1888, was about the death of Aunt Jane Gates, the writer’s great-great-grandmother. The writer’s career as a historian began that afternoon in 1960, and he became obsessed with his family tree. What he really wanted was a family crest that would tie him to their white ancestors. Mentions J. R. Clifford and W. E. B. Du Bois. Most African-Americans can trace at least one line of their family back to the 1870 census, which was the first taken after the Civil War. As a child, the writer had been told that the Gateses were descended from an Irishman named Samuel Brady, who supposedly owned Jane, fathered her children, and gave her money to purchase her home. In 2005, the writer placed an ad in the Cumberland Times and posted a message on a Brady-family online forum. One of Brady’s direct male descendants and a direct male descendant of Brady’s brother agreed to take a DNA test. The tests established, without a doubt, that Samuel Brady was not the father of Jane Gates’s children. When the writer told his father and his aunt, Helen, what the tests revealed, Aunt Helen said, “I’ve been a Brady eighty-nine years, and I am still a Brady, no matter what that test says.” What about the father of Jane’s children, then? The writer and a team of genealogists compiled a list of all the men with certain surnames in the 1850 and 1860 census for Allegany County, Maryland, and are advertising for their male descendants. Perhaps DNA testing can solve the last remaining mystery in the Gates family line. Until the family crest of the Irishman who fathered Jane Grant’s children graces the writer’s family tree, his family story will remain a tale only half told. Mentions Pop Gates’s scrapbook full of war casualties.

Fall 2008 issue of the Journal of Genetic genealogy released

2008-11-26T14:20:00.004-06:00

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

2008-11-25T20:37:00.006-06:00

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

2008-11-22T18:10:00.005-06:00

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

2008-11-21T11:43:00.004-06:00

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

2008-11-20T14:34:00.003-06:00

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

New pricing at FTDNA for Group DNA tests

2008-10-05T23:04:00.001-05:00

New Pricing at FTDNA:

Group discounted prices
 
Y-DNA 12-marker test $99 + $4 SH

Y-DNA 25-marker test $124 + $4 SH

Y-DNA 37-marker test $149 + $4 SH

Y-DNA 67-marker test $248 + $4 SH

Y-DNA-Refine12to25 (upgrade a 12-marker test to 25-marker test) $49

Y-DNA-Refine12to37 (upgrade a 12-marker test to 37-marker test) $99

Y-DNA-Refine12to67 (upgrade a 12-marker test to 67-marker test) $189

Y-DNA-Refine25to37 (upgrade a 25-marker test to 37-marker test) $49

Y-DNA-Refine25to67 (upgrade a 25-marker test to 67-marker test) $148

Y-DNA-Refine37to67 (upgrade a 37-marker test to 67-marker test) $99

It takes a 68-cent stamp to mail the kit back to the lab.

Please note SH - Shipping & Handling is $6 outside the United States.

Are you my Cousin?

2008-10-05T22:31:00.002-05:00

FROM THE AARP MAGAZINE:

Are You My Cousin?
By Richard Rubin, November & December 2008

How the new DNA technology can solve mysteries in your family tree… and help you discover relatives you never knew you had

    * Trace Your Family Tree—Without Losing Your Mind (March & April 2005)
    * Genealogy Resources (Updated 2008)
    * Studs Terkel’s Tips for Preserving Family History
    * Web Exclusive: A Beginner's Guide to Genealogy on the Web (Updated 2008)
    * Share Your Family History in the AARP.org Online Community

I recently received an e-mail from a cousin of mine out on Long Island—we’ll call him Harry—who was writing to invite me to a family reunion. It was an offer I couldn’t resist, even though, as family reunions go, this one is a bit unusual. For one thing, Harry and I have never met. I didn’t even know he existed before he e-mailed me. In fact, though I know for certain that he and I are related, I don’t know exactly how. Neither does he. For that matter, the entire family gathering is composed of people who know we are related, but little else. The guest list isn’t set—actually, it’s growing all the time—but that’s okay, because we don’t have to rent a space, or figure out how much potato salad to make. This reunion, you see, is happening online. It’s virtual. And perpetual.

Genographic Project Update

2008-09-22T21:42:00.003-05:00

From the Genographic Newsletter:
The Genographic Project has launched the blog Genographica on the Genographic website.
• The Genographic Project website and Public Participation Kit are now available in Spanish. Visit Genographic in Español at nationalgeographic.com/genographic/lan/es
• Genographic Project Director Dr. Spencer Wells will be speaking in Washington, DC, at the Sixth and I Historic Synagogue on Monday, October 27th at 7 p.m. The lecture will be followed by a book signing. http://www.sixthandi.org/Events.htm

The Jewish HapMap Project

2008-09-21T23:48:00.003-05:00

What is the Jewish HapMap Project?

The Jewish HapMap Project is a collaborative endeavor of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine and Jewish communities to understand the structure of the genomes in Jewish populations. It is an outgrowth of the Human HapMap Project.

Continued here: http://www.med.nyu.edu/pediatrics/genetics/research/jewish_origins.html

FTDNA's 5th Annual Conference on Genetic Genealogy Postponed

2008-09-20T22:50:00.006-05:00

Dear Customers,
Here is the latest update regarding the Conference and our lab in Houston:

a) The 5th Annual Conference on Genetic Genealogy will be postponed until February or March 2009, as the Sheraton Hotel has just informed us that they will not be in an appropriate condition to host our conference. The positive aspect of this postponement is that we will try our best to arrange the schedule in order for Spencer Wells to be one of our speakers. As soon as we have the new date we will advise you.

b) Labs: First of all there has been no interruption in the processes related to the standard Y-DNA and mtDNA tests, which are performed in Arizona. The batch was successfully closed this week and transmitted, a couple of days later than normal, due to networking issues that were resolved Friday.

The Genomics Research Center (Houston Lab) processes the full mitochondria, autosomal, and deep clade, as well as the advanced marker tests. These are the only ones subject to delays. We are pleased to announce that due to the outstanding efforts of our lab team and the restoration crew in place at our site, we were able to fully restore the freezing capabilities of our DNA storage robot. Yesterday, we were also able to power one of our sequencing machines. Our lab team is working this weekend and we will be able to advise you of the integrity of the DNA samples stored in Houston by mid-week. As soon as this is confirmed, our Houston lab will resume the work on our customer samples, while we restore the full capabilities of the lab.

As we have additional news, we will keep updating you.

We also want to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation for the hundreds of emails of support and encouragement that we have received during this difficult time. There is no adequate way to express how much this means to us and our entire team. Thank you so much!

As always, many thanks for your continued support!

E-mail us anytime!

Bennett Greenspan
President
bcg [at symbol] familytreedna.com

Max Blankfeld
Vice-President, Operations and Marketing
max [at symbol] familytreedna.com

FTDNA in Houston after IKE

2008-09-15T20:00:00.006-05:00

Dear Customers,
As a follow-up to our letter informing you of the level of preparedness Family Tree DNA established regarding the coming of Hurricane Ike to Houston, we are coming to you now to update you on our status post-Ike.

a) As you may know, all of our standard Y-DNA and mtDNA tests are processed at the lab in Arizona, and therefore, this processing has not been affected at all.
b) Also, as we advised previously, we have taken appropriate measures to safeguard and protect the data and our servers and therefore all computer systems are in place and functioning normally. You may have noticed that our web sites have been up, available, and are running normally as they were before and during the storm.
c) The building where Family Tree DNA's offices and Houston laboratory are located is without power, like most of Houston office buildings, and sustained damage, like so many other Houston office buildings. This means that the building will be closed for the next few days until it is ready for tenants to return. Despite this situation, several members of our staff have worked over the weekend to transfer equipment to other locations so that our normal office operations can resume on Monday, or at the latest on Tuesday, from an alternate location. All postal mail will be picked up normally at our local post office, so that kits can be checked-in and processed normally.
d) The coming days will allow us to have a better assessment of when our Houston lab will resume normal operations, at which point we will be back to you again with additional information about any delays in delivering results for the advanced tests that our lab processes in Houston. (Advanced panels, FGS and Deep Clade Y SNP's)

Please forgive us if in the next few days we don't meet our standard level of customer service as to e-mails and phone calls. We will be back to normal as soon as possible. We appreciate your continued support.
E-mail us anytime!
Bennett Greenspan, Max Blankfeld
President Vice-President, Operations and Marketing
*bcg@familytreedna.com
* max@familytreedna.com
http://www.FamilyTreeDNA.com
"History Unearthed Daily"
713-868-1438

-------------------------------

FTDNA DNA test discounts until 30 September 2008

2008-09-14T22:05:00.002-05:00

FTDNA has announced the following promotional prices for NEW MEMBERS of DNA studies:

Y-DNA12 orders include a FREE mtDNA test (Y-DNA12+mtDNA promotion price of $99; normally $189)
Y-DNA25 orders include a FREE mtDNA test (Y-DNA25+mtDNA promotion price of $148; normally $238)
Y-DNA37 orders price REDUCED to $119 (normally $189)
Y-DNA37+mtDNAPlus orders price REDUCED to $189 (normally $339)
Y-DNA67+mtDNAPlus orders price REDUCED to $288 (normally $409)
mtDNAPlus price REDUCED to $149 (normally $189)

This promotion goes into effect immediately and will be available until September 30th, 11:59PM CST.

The Y DNA test is for males, and both males and females can take the mtDNA test. I recommend that males test their Y DNA and mtDNA to determine their genetic ancestry from their father and from their mother.

You can find out if there is a Surname Project for your surname at http://www.ftdna.com/ and use the search box.

I don't make any money from your tests.

These are the families I am associated with:

Ball:
http://www.ftdna.com/public/Ball/
Creekmore:
http://www.ftdna.com/public/Creekmore/
Kidd:
http://www.ftdna.com/public/Kidd/
Manning:
http://www.ftdna.com/public/Manning/
Parkins and Perkins:
http://www.ftdna.com/public/Parkins-Perkins/
Phipps:
http://www.ftdna.com/public/Phipps-Y-DNA/
Strunk:
http://www.ftdna.com/public/Strunk/
Swain:
http://www.ftdna.com/public/Swain/
Whitecotton:
http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/whitecotton/
Wyatt:
http://www.ftdna.com/public/Wyatt/

To get the special price, go to the home page for your surname and select the "Join this Surname Group" link on the left side of the page and answer the questions.

If your Surname is not one of these, go to http://www.ftdna.com/ and enter your surname in the Search Box. Select the link to your Surname that comes up.

This is a great opportunity if you are interested in testing.

Other fee-based testing companies:
http://www.dnaheritage.com/
http://www.dnaancestry.com/

A free testing company:
http://smgf.org/

Contact me if you have any questions: SCPerkins@gmail.com

The Genetic Map of Europe

2008-09-14T21:47:00.002-05:00

"By NICHOLAS WADE Published: August 13, 2008 Biologists have constructed a genetic map of Europe showing the degree of relatedness between its various populations. All the populations are quite similar, but the differences are sufficient that it should be possible to devise a forensic test to tell which country in Europe an individual probably comes from, said Manfred Kayser, a geneticist at the Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands. The map shows, at right, the location in Europe where each of the sampled populations live and, at left, the genetic relationship between these 23 populations. The map was constructed by Dr. Kayser, Dr. Oscar Lao and others, and appears in an article in Current Biology published online on August 7." Continued at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/13/science/13visual.html

Genealogy gets more Precise

2008-08-11T10:48:00.004-05:00

From _Technology Review_:

Tracing your ancestry via DNA is becoming a popular pastime, thanks to a growing number of consumer tests available over the Internet. At least two-dozen companies sell tests ranging in price from $100 to $900, and public interest is thriving. Most of these tests, however, paint a very rough picture of an individual's ancestral origins: they're limited to the direct maternal or paternal line. But that is beginning to change.
New technologies are allowing scientists to search for markers across the genome that can more precisely predict ancestry. Much of that data is being poured into public databases, supplying much more accurate and detailed information to genetic-testing companies and new consumer tests.

http://www.technologyreview.com/Biotech/21204/?a=f

Discount Y DNA test opportunity

2008-08-02T12:12:00.000-05:00

DNA Heritage has lowered their price for a 43 marker YSTR DNA test by $20 through August 31. Potential DNA Project members may find this discount an inducement to purchase a test. Anyone who ordered a test kit but did not return it can also obtain the discounted test price. http://www.dnaheritage.com/dnapatent.asp

FTDNA discounts for Y DNA upgrades

2008-06-26T07:01:00.002-05:00

FTDNA has announced a discount on the pricing for Y DNA upgrade tests. Elligible participants should have received an email announcing the discount. In the 10 projects I admin or co-admin, there are a large number of returned undelivered emails. If you are part of an FTDNA DNA study, go to your personal web page at FTDNA and make sure your current email address is entered there.