2nd cousin at 23andMe

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

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

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.

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

PHYLO: A Human Computing Framework for Comparative Genomics

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!

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

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

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]

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.

No claim to original US government works
Annals of Human Genetics © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd/University College London.

PMID: 21058944 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

New 23andMe Relative Finder match connection identified

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

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

© 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.