DNA Day Sales

April 25th is National DNA Day and the genetic genealogy companies had or are having sales on DNA tests.

Check the following sites for the details:

Genetic Genealogy:

• AncestryDNA Ancestry and Health.
  
• Family Tree DNA Separate tests for Ancestry, and Paternal or Maternal lines. Ends 26 April 2020.
  
• LivingDNA Ancestry.
  
• MyHeritage Ancestry. Ends 30 April 2020.
  
• 23andMe Ancestry. Ends 26 April 2020.
  

Whole Genome Sequencing (Mainly for health and science. Not yet useful for genetic genealogy):

• Nebula Genomics
  
• Dante Labs Ends 27 April 2020.
  
• Full GenomesDifferent coverage levels for WGS, also Y DNA tests.
  

I have tested with all of these companies.

Genetic Genealogy DNA test sales: FTDNA; 23andMe; AncestryDNA; MyHeritage

The largest USA based DNA testing companies have Holiday sales going on at this time:

Family Tree DNA:
• Family Finder $59, usually $89
• Y-DNA $129, usually $169
• mt-DNA $169, usually $199
• Big Y $475 (includes Y-DNA test for 111 markers)

If you have already tested at FTDNA you will be receiving Discount Coupons that can further reduce these sale prices.

23andMe:
23andMe is charging $49.00 if you buy 2 Ancestry Service kits. The normal cost of the Ancestry Service is $99.00.

AncestryDNA:

AncestryDNA costs $79.00, a $20 discount from their regular price of $99.00. Rumor is that Ancestry will have a Black Friday price of $49.00.

MyHeritage:

This weekend, 24 Nov-27 Nov, MyHeritage is offering their normally priced $99.00 DNA test for $49.00 with free shipping for 3 or more kits.

Check all of the companies on Black Friday and Cyber Monday for possible lower costs.

23andMe Job Advert: Senior Scientist - Analytical Method Validation

Found this at GenomeWeb:

Job Advert: Senior Scientist - Analytical Method Validation

Senior Scientist - Analytical Method Validation
Organization:
23andMe
Job Location:
Mountain View, CA
Salary:
Competitive package and free genotyping for you and a friend!
Benefits:
Benefits, stock options, and CalTrain Go Pass!

Job Description:
23andMe is pushing the envelope for low cost and high accuracy genetic testing. We are looking for experienced scientists who are excited by the opportunity to demonstrate the accuracy of our tests, both current and future. 



This position will:
- Design studies to validate the accuracy of new genotyping/sequencing technologies against existing gold standards
- Perform statistical regression modeling to establish equivalence and explain variance in observed data
- Investigate, explain, and propose solutions for observed discordances
- Develop and track project plans and generate detailed records and documentation for our quality system and regulatory submission.
- Coordinate with lab team and organizations to obtain relevant reference data and samples
- Participate in ongoing regulatory efforts, both domestic and international

Requirements:
The ideal candidate should have:
- a PhD in biology, chemistry, statistics or related discipline
- 2+ years experience with developing in-vitro diagnostic devices used in a clinical setting
- familiarity with genetic testing technologies such as microarrays, Sanger sequencing, and Next Generation sequencing
- experience preparing and submitting to FDA (eg. 510(k), PMA) and international (eg. CE Mark) a strong plus

Contact Information:
Apply at https://www.23andme.com/about/jobs/

About Our Organization:
23andMe is the leading personal genetics company. We are dedicated to helping individuals understand their own genetic information through DNA analysis technologies and web-based interactive tools. Our mission is to personalize healthcare by making and supporting meaningful discoveries through genetic research. Combining web development, computer science, genetics, social media, and informatics, 23andMe is at the forefront of a new era in personal genetics.

Survey on genetic genealogy DNA testing at New England Historic Genealogical Society

This weeks NEHGS newsletter, The Weekly Genealogist has a survey on the types of genetic genealogy testing you have done. The link to the survey is on this web page:

http://www.americanancestors.org/wg-vol-16-no-34/

Be sure to access before Wednesday, 28 August.

Genetic Genealogy Ireland 2013

p>Dear List Members

This may be of interest to you, your collaborators, and your fellow genealogists. Ireland is to have its first genetic genealogy conference! Genetic Genealogy Ireland 2013 is a 3-day series of lectures and presentations and is scheduled to run at Back to Our Past (BTOP) at the RDS (Royal Dublin Society) in Ballsbridge, Dublin from Oct 18-20. BTOP is the Irish equivalent of the Who Do You Think You Are event in London.

This is the third year of the Back to Our Past exhibition which last year attracted 20,000 visitors and over 250 exhibitors. This year FamilyTreeDNA have decided to have a stand at the exhibition and will be offering DNA testing at discounted prices. This is the first time that DNA testing will be offered directly to the Irish public at the exhibition.

FamilyTreeDNA have also offered to sponsor a series of lectures in a similar way to how they sponsor lectures at Who Do You Think You Are in London. These lectures are being organised under the auspices of ISOGG and details will be published on the dedicated Genetic Genealogy Ireland 2013 website. Several confirmed speakers already have their profiles on the website and more will be added in time. Speakers come from a broad range of disciplines and include professional genealogists, geneticists, scientists, historians, and DNA Project Administrators. The diversity of topics will include many of particular interest to the Irish public, and indeed anyone with Irish ancestors, such as DNA projects related to the Irish Clans and individual Irish surnames.

So if you happen to find yourself in Dublin in October, come along to this exciting event! Entrance to the entire exhibition and conference only costs 5 euro (£4 pounds, $7 dollars) if booked in advance online.

Please feel free to forward this to other Mailing Lists or anyone else who might be interested.

Warm regards

Maurice

Dr Maurice Gleeson MB

Genetic Genealogy Ireland 2013
Member, International Society of Genetic Genealogy

DNA testing for genetic genealogy: some new prices

Family Tree DNA, FTDNA, has changed the price of the 12 marker Y chromosome test to $49.00 as of 1 April 2013. This is the first test a male might take in determining his male line genetic ancestry. 12 marker test should be upgraded to 37, 67, or 111 markers for greater accuracy in determining the correct male line. This test gives a haplotype and a haplogroup for your male ancestry.

FTDNA has announced they will have a lower priced mitochondrial, mtDNA, test later this year.

The cost of their autosomal DNA test, Family Finder, has not been reduced. The test can be taken by both males and females and can find genetic connections back around 6 generations. At the 6th cousin level you will share less than 1% of your DNA with a 6th cousin.

23andMe has reduced the cost of their autosomal DNA test, Relative Finder, to $99.00. People outside of the United States should look at the shipping cost before placing the order. The reduction from $299.00 has made this a more affordable test. The results of the Relative Finder test are similar to Family Finder.

AncestryDNA, a part of Ancestry.com, has reduced the cost of their autosomal DNA test to $99.00. It is not available to persons outside of the USA. Using the pedigrees uploaded to Ancestry.com and a phasing formula developed by them, they are able to match DNA segments to pedigrees in their database. However, unlike FTDNA and 23andme, they do not provide a chromosome browser so you can see where your matches are on each chromosome. This means you could find a pedigree match but that person may not be the one you share DNA with.

Article Genetic Genealogy Comes of Age: Perspectives on the Use of Deep-Rooted Pedigrees in Human Population Genetics.

The full article is available:

http://www.researchgate.net/publication/235730192_Genetic_Genealogy_Comes_of_Age_Perspectives_on_the_Use_of_Deep-Rooted_Pedigrees_in_Human_Population_Genetics?ev=prf_pub

Article

Genetic Genealogy Comes of Age: Perspectives on the Use of Deep-Rooted Pedigrees in Human Population Genetics.

M H D Larmuseau, A Van Geystelen, M van Oven, R Decorte

UZ Leuven, Laboratory of Forensic Genetics and Molecular Archaeology, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Forensic Medicine, Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven, Department of Biology, Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, Leuven, Belgium.
American Journal of Physical Anthropology (impact factor: 2.82). 02/2013; DOI:10.1002/ajpa.22233
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT

In this article, we promote the implementation of extensive genealogical data in population genetic studies. Genealogical records can provide valuable information on the origin of DNA donors in a population genetic study, going beyond the commonly collected data such as residence, birthplace, language, and self-reported ethnicity. Recent studies demonstrated that extended genealogical data added to surname analysis can be crucial to detect signals of (past) population stratification and to interpret the population structure in a more objective manner. Moreover, when in-depth pedigree data are combined with haploid markers, it is even possible to disentangle signals of temporal differentiation within a population genetic structure during the last centuries. Obtaining genealogical data for all DNA donors in a population genetic study is a labor-intensive task but the vastly growing (genetic) genealogical databases, due to the broad interest of the public, are making this job more time-efficient if there is a guarantee for sufficient data quality. At the end, we discuss the advantages and pitfalls of using genealogy within sampling campaigns and we provide guidelines for future population genetic studies.

Am J Phys Anthropol, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Geno 2.0 sample received

I mailed my Geno 2.0 sample over 1 month ago and today I see it has been received and is now in DNA Isolation before being tested.

More information on the Geno 2.0 project is available on this web page:

News

An interview from last weeks conference in Florence is on JustinTV:

http://audioboo.fm/boos/1049857-presenters-about-to-share-findings-on-the-genographic-project-florens2012-natgeoexplorers

Full Identical by Descent match with a 3rd Cousin

Normally, one expects to find either Half Identical by Descent (HIBD) or Full Identical by Descent (FIBD) matches with your genetic relatives. Generally only close relatives through double 1st cousins are expected to have FIBD matches. I have a FIBD with one of my multiple 3rd cousins. The Family Inheritance chart from 23andMe is below:

The FIBD segment is on Chromosome 19. I do not have an FIBD match at that location with my multiple 1st cousin who has a similar relationship to the 3rd cousin.

I am interested in learning of any other FIBD matches with cousins beyond the 1st cousin level.

New York Times: Meet your Cousin, The First Lady

Article on the Ancestry of First Lady Michelle Robinson Obama using DNA and document genealogy:

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/us/dna-gives-new-insights-into-michelle-obamas-roots.html?src=me&ref=general

Genetic Genealogy course from the National Genealogical Society

From

What’s Happening at the 

National Genealogical Society, 13 June 2012:

New NGS Course: Genetic Genealogy, The Basics

NGS proudly announces the release of its newest American Genealogy Studies course, Genetic Genealogy: The Basics. The course was developed by Dr. Thomas H. Shawker who is a physician with the National Institutes of Health, a nationally recognized lecturer on genetics, and chairman of the NGS Genetic Genealogy Committee.

Dr. Shawker shares his medical expertise in this six-lesson self-paced course. Topics covered in the course include

·    the structure of the DNA molecule, how it is organized, how it replicates, and how it functions;
·         human chromosomes and how the Y chromosome is inherited;
·         the two types of DNA markers used in genetic genealogy;
·         haplotypes and haplogroups;
·    evaluation of a Y chromosome surname project and a discussion on how to evaluate the test results of the participants; and
·    the structure of the mitochondrial DNA molecule, how it is inherited, and how it can be used in genealogy. 

Genetic Genealogy, The Basics is designed for independent study. Students check their work with an answer key that immediately follows each self-test. The course is available on a PC- or MAC-compatible CD in a PDF format. The tuition is $45.00 for members and $70.00 for non-members.

Please visit the course web page at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/genetic_genealogy for more information and to register for the course.

Status of the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, SMGF,genetic genealogy DNA Databases and GeneTree

Like many other people I participated in the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, Y DNA, mtDNA and autosomal DNA testing program.  Recently some of the principal people involved in that program moved to Ancestry.com and their DNA Ancestry program.  I wrote to the SMGF to ask about the status of their databases. With their permission, their reply is printed below :

Hello Steven,

Yes, the databases have been transferred to Ancestry.com. GeneTree will not be continuing; they have stopped taking orders and in the near future www.genetree.com will be taken down. There are not plans to automatically 'convert' GeneTree accounts into Ancestry.com accounts, so GeneTree customers will need to move their information over to Ancestry on an individual basis.

As far as the autosomal database is concerned, our autosomal tests were generated with older technology, making them incompatible with current industry standards. Therefore, they are not included in the autosomal service offered by AncestryDNA. We also don't plan on making them available via smgf.org.
Best regards,

SMGF

As of today, 1 June 2012, the Y DNA and mtDNA databases are still available at the SMGF site: http://smgf.org/ If you have tested I suggest you go and download your results and your matches. It is my understanding that people will be able to remove their results from the Ancestry.com databases if they so desire.

FTDNA 7th Genetic Genealogy Conference

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

Genetic Diversity among the Founders of Newfoundland

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

Comparison of Verison 3 results to Version 2 at 23andme

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

Faces of America

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/

CARTaGENE project in Quebec

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.

Genetics and DNA articles from New England Ancestors website

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

Russian Journal of Genetic Genealogy

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.

Fall 2008 issue of the Journal of Genetic genealogy released

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

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