Update on 23andMe and FTDNA DNA matches

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.