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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Genetic Privacy of Presidential Candidates

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

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

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

New pricing at FTDNA for Group DNA tests

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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FTDNA DNA test discounts until 30 September 2008

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

"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