DNA - Genealem's Genetic Genealogy

23andMe - Price and format change

2009-11-14T16:52:00.000-08:00

News has begun to travel around the genetic genealogy world that 23andMe is changing its prices ... a major increase...and splitting its health testing services from its genealogical/ancestry services. This more than disturbing to the genetic genealogy world ....

As a very active person in genetic genealogy and as a person who gives more presentations than any other person on DNA as used for genealogy, I am very disturbed by this move. (If anyone is in doubt of my claims to my level of interest and participation, l know multiple thousands of genealogists who are interested in DNA testing. One of my projects has over 3,000 members, and I belong to ISOGG (International Society of Genetic Genealogists: www.isogg.org), doing presentations on their behalf. The ISOGG membership is huge!)

I just gave a presentation that included info on 23andMe last Tuesday as I tested there during their recent sale. I was very excited about this new company as it could help genealogists find cousins in their lineages that were not strictly along the all female or all male lines. We can now use DNA to find cousins for all those in our ancestry between the top and bottom lines of a pedigree chart.

My enthusiasm has greatly waned since last Tuesday (Nov 10th). The reason: 23andMe is keeping their nearly $500 fee for testing (the regular price, not any sale price), but instead of getting information on your health issues AND their Relative Finder section which helps you locate others who have tested and with whom you share a common ancestor (grouping them by level of cousins...3rd, 4th, etc), after November 19th $399 for the Ancestry edition, OR $429 for the Health edition, OR $499 for the Complete edition. The price before November 19th is $399 for the Complete edition. That is a huge increase in price for the service. HUGE!

After my presentation, my group was very excited about 23andMe even though I did not mention price. Then, when all this happened (the announcement of the change), I emailed everyone in ALL of my DNA projects and in all my interest groups to tell them of my disappointment only because it will limit who is able to purchase this type of testing. I had not mentioned the previous prices at all, but did mention that maybe they would have a Holiday price as they did last year. Even if they do now, people will be quite hesitant to pay that much for half of what they will get from now to November 19th.

I will continue to recommend it for people who are interested in finding ancestors beyond the Ydna and mtDNA for sure, but all the time knowing that most of my audience, if not all of it, will not pay that price for either section of 23andMe.

23andMe has something good going, but as it stands, it may only be for the more affluent or the really obsessive genealogist. Many genealogists may not have the time, patience, or depth of research to hunt down the lines to find the common ancestor, but would have been willing at a better price. Now, they will see it as beyond them.

That's very, very sad for the world of genealogy and for genetic genealogists. I know I would have talked many people in my projects into it as they cannot find the paper connection although they have tested their Ydna. This would have helped them determine the possible generation by another means. It also would have helped those who are interested in our surname projects who do not carry the surname and who are women not able to test for a surname project. Currently, I am in conversation with a man who does not carry the Talley surname, but has several Talleys in his family. We think this could be the connection. As a woman who also can't test for the Talley surname, we may have never met. Now, I'm helping him trace his line back to see where we connect, and I think I have it. BUT...is that worth $500 ... not really; not even if I find many lines this way.

SO ... not only this move by 23andMe limits who will buy their tests, but it will limit information on all of our DNA projects. It is really sad. Had I any idea this would be their direction, I would have bought many test during the sale, giving them to my project members and those connected to the project who cannot test for the surname. Many of them cannot find the paper trail to each other and this could have helped. Many of them, like most genealogists, are retired on fixed incomes or have families and must limit their spending on this hobby.

I dearly hope 23andMe is not trying to be a mega company for the sake of gathering a fortune, but be more like those companies who are more (or at least equally) interested in the genealogy world along with their "bottom line." I hope this is not their "Waterloo," but they have just pushed away the largest part of the genealogy world. The average genealogist cannot afford this and will not spend the money on it.

We at ISOGG have tried so hard to get the general public to understand and accept DNA testing for genealogy, helping them with justifying the cost of the Ydna and mtDNA tests. How wonderful it would have been to have them see that more than these two lines of the lineage could be tested to find family. This is truly a step backward for us all.

IF anyone sees a window to better pricing with 23andMe at some time, please post. I am sure many of my project members and interested parties would be interested if the price is right.

just my opinion...
Emily
If you do not hear from me in a timely manner, just write again...I was buried in email. LOL
http://writingyourmemories.blogspot.com/
http://www.rootsweb.com/~orgco2/speaker/EmilyAulicino.html
http://genealem-geneticgenealogy.blogspot.com/
Northwest Regional Coordinator and Speaker for ISOGG (www.isogg.org)
Administrator for thirteen FTDNA DNA Projects

Family Tree DNA Holiday Sale

2009-11-12T15:33:00.000-08:00

Family Tree DNA's current sale which started November 4th and will end December 31st. Please pass this one to members of your family, friends or genealogy group.

If you desire more in depth result from your testing at either Oxford or AncestryDNA, you can convert your previous testing with these companies to Family Tree DNA at a sale price using the conversion kits below.

Email me if you need any help: aulicino@hevanet.com

Products and Pricing

MALE LINE TESTING - FOR GENEALOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY

Y-DNA12
Order Now $109.00

This is a male specific test. Results identify the ethnic and geographic origin of the paternal line. It includes a balanced panel of twelve Y-chromosome Short Tandem Repeat, STR, markers. Additional markers refine the predicted time period in which two individuals are related. It is used to affirm or disprove a genealogical connection on the direct paternal line. A haplogroup is determined and backed by our SNP Assurance Program. When another person shows identical results within our database, if both parties have signed the Family Tree DNA Release Form, then we will inform them of the match. The customer will also receive a certificate and report describing the testing process and the meaning of twelve marker matches.

Y-DNA37
Order Now was $169.00 now $139.00

This is a male specific test. Results identify the ethnic and geographic origin of the paternal line. It includes a balanced panel of thirty-seven Y-chromosome Short Tandem Repeat, STR, markers. This is the recommended test to trace the paternal ancestry of males for genealogy purposes. The additional markers refine the predicted time period in which two individuals are related and eliminate unrelated matches. A perfect match at thirty-seven markers indicates the two individuals share common ancestry in recent times. A haplogroup is determined and backed by our SNP Assurance Program. When another person shows identical results within our database, if both parties have signed the Family Tree DNA Release Form, then we will inform them of the match. The customer will also receive a certificate and report describing the testing process and the meaning of thirty-seven marker matches.

Y-DNA67
Order Now was $298.00 now $248.00

This is a male specific test. Results identify the ethnic and geographic origin of the paternal line. It includes a balanced panel of sixty-seven Y-chromosome Short Tandem Repeat, STR, markers. The additional markers refine the predicted time period in which two individuals are related and eliminate unrelated matches. A perfect match at sixty-seven markers indicates a common ancestor in very recent times. This is the ideal test for matching if a break in the paper trail, such as an adoption, is known or suspected. A haplogroup is determined and backed by our SNP Assurance Program. When another person shows identical results within our database, if both parties have signed the Family Tree DNA Release Form, then we will inform them of the match. The customer will also receive a certificate and report describing the testing process and the meaning of sixty-seven marker matches.

AncestryConversionKit37
Order Now was $149.00 now $129.00

This test allows Ancestry customers to upgrade their Y-DNA test to Family Tree DNA standards at the thirty-seven marker level. It is also good for converting any competitor's results. Please provide us with a copy of your previous results and use the kit to send us a DNA sample. This is a male specific test. Results identify the ethnic and geographic origin of the paternal line. It includes a balanced panel of thirty-seven y-Chromosome Short Tandem Repeat, STR, markers. This is the recommended test to trace the paternal ancestry of males for genealogical purposes. The additional markers refine the predicted time period in which two individuals are related and eliminate unrelated matches. A perfect match at thirty-seven markers indicates the two individuals share common ancestry in recent times. A haplogroup is determined and backed by our SNP Assurance Program. When another person shows identical results within our database, if both parties have signed the Family Tree DNA Release Form, then we will inform them of the match. The customer will also receive a certificate and report describing the testing process and the meaning of thirty-seven marker matches.

OxfordConversionKit37
Order Now was $149.00 now $129.00

This test allows Oxford Ancestry customers to upgrade their Y-DNA test to Family Tree DNA standards at the thirty-seven marker level. Please provide us with a copy of your Oxford Ancestry results and use the kit to send us a DNA sample. This is a male specific test. Results identify the ethnic and geographic origin of the paternal line. It includes a balanced panel of thirty-seven y-Chromosome Short Tandem Repeat, STR, markers. This is the recommended test to trace the paternal ancestry of males for genealogical purposes. The additional markers refine the predicted time period in which two individuals are related and eliminate unrelated matches. A perfect match at thirty-seven markers indicates the two individuals share common ancestry in recent times. A haplogroup is determined and backed by our SNP Assurance Program. When another person shows identical results within our database, if both parties have signed the Family Tree DNA Release Form, then we will inform them of the match. The customer will also receive a certificate and report describing the testing process and the meaning of thirty-seven marker matches.

FEMALE LINE TESTING - FOR GENEALOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY

mtDNA
Order Now $99.00

Both men and women may take this test. It traces the direct maternal line without influence from other lines. This test is for HVR1(16001-16569) of the mitochondrial DNA. A panel of twenty-two SNPs is included for backbone haplogroup placement. Results identify the ethnic and geographic origin of the maternal line. The customer receives a certificate and report generally describing the testing process and the meaning of matches. Results are placed in our database. When another person shows identical results, if both parties have signed the Family Tree DNA Release Form then we will inform them of the match.

mtDNAPlus
Order Now was $169.00 now $139.00

Both men and women may take this test. It traces the direct maternal line without influence from other lines. This test is for HVR1(16001-16569) and HVR2(00001-00574) of the mitochondrial DNA. The addition of HVR2 to results reduces the number of matches. A panel of twenty-two SNPs is included for backbone haplogroup placement. Results identify the ethnic and geographic origin of the maternal line. The customer receives a certificate and report generally describing the testing process and the meaning of high resolution matches. Results are placed in our database. When another person shows identical results, if both parties have signed the Family Tree DNA Release Form then we will inform them of the match.

mtFullSequence
Order Now was $449.00 now $279.00

Both men and women may take this test. It traces the direct maternal line without influence from other lines. This test is for all three regions of the mitochondrial DNA: HVR1(16001-16569), HVR2(00001-00574), and the coding region (00575-16000). The entire mitochondrial genome is tested and this is the last mtDNA test that a person would need to take. A perfect match indicates a common ancestor in recent times. Results identify the ethnic and geographic origin of the maternal line. The customer receives a certificate and report generally describing the testing process and the meaning of matches. Results are placed in our database. When another person shows identical results, if both parties have signed the Family Tree DNA Release Form then we will inform them of the match.

OxfordmtConversionPlus
Order Now was $149.00 now $129.00

This test allows Oxford Ancestry customers to upgrade their mtDNA test to Family Tree DNA standards at the mtDNAPlus (HVR1+HVR2) level. Please provide us with a copy of your Oxford Ancestry results and use the kit to send us a DNA sample. Both men and women may take this test. It traces the direct maternal line without influence from other lines. This test is for HVR1(16001-16569) and HVR2(00001-00574) of the mitochondrial DNA. The addition of HVR2 to results reduces the number of matches. A panel of twenty-two SNPs is included for backbone haplogroup placement. Results identify the ethnic and geographic origin of the maternal line. The customer receives a certificate and report generally describing the testing process and the meaning of high resolution matches. Results are placed in our database. When another person shows identical results, if both parties have signed the Family Tree DNA Release Form then we will inform them of the match.

COMBINED TESTS FOR MALE AND FEMALE LINES - FOR GENEALOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY (Only MALES can test for these)

Y-DNA12+mtDNA
Order Now $199.00

This is the combination of a male specific Y-chromosome test and a maternal lineage mitochondrial test. A discount is provided for ordering the Y-DNA 12 test and the mtDNA test together for one person. A Y-haplogroup is determined and backed by our SNP Assurance Program. For the mtDNA test, a panel of twenty-two SNPs is included for backbone haplogroup placement. When another person shows identical results within our database, if both parties have signed the Family Tree DNA Release Form, then we will inform them of the match. The customer will also receive a certificate and report describing the testing process and the meaning of twelve marker and mtDNA matches.

Y-DNA37+mtDNAPlus
Order Now was $299.00 now $258.00

This is the combination of a male specific Y-chromosome test and a maternal lineage mitochondrial test. A discount is provided for ordering the Y-DNA 37 test and the mtDNAPlus test together for one person. A Y-haplogroup is determined and backed by our SNP Assurance Program. For the mtDNA test, a panel of twenty-two SNPs is included for backbone haplogroup placement. When another person shows identical results within our database, if both parties have signed the Family Tree DNA Release Form, then we will inform them of the match. The customer will also receive a certificate and report describing the testing process and the meaning of thirty-seven marker and mtDNA matches.

COMPREHENSIVE ANCESTRAL TESTS - FOR GENEALOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY

Y-DNA67+mtDNAPlus
Order Now was $399.00 now $348.00

This is the combination of a male specific Y-chromosome test and a maternal lineage mitochondrial test. A discount is provided for ordering the Y-DNA 67 test and the mtDNAPlus test together for one person. A Y-haplogroup is determined and backed by our SNP Assurance Program. For the mtDNA test, a panel of twenty-two SNPs is included for backbone haplogroup placement. When another person shows identical results within our database, if both parties have signed the Family Tree DNA Release Form, then we will inform them of the match. The customer will also receive a certificate and report describing the testing process and the meaning of sixty-seven marker and mtDNA matches.

SuperDNA
Order Now was $695.00 now $557.00

This is the combination of a male specific Y-chromosome test and a maternal lineage mitochondrial test. A discount is provided for ordering the Y-DNA 67 test and the mtDNA full sequence, the most comprehensive and highest resolution mtDNA test, together for one person. Results identify the ethnic and geographic origin of the maternal and paternal lines. A Y-haplogroup is determined and backed by our SNP Assurance Program. The mtDNA full sequence allows placement in a current haplogroup and subclade. When another person shows identical results within our database, if both parties have signed the Family Tree DNA Release Form, then we will inform them of the match. The customer will also receive a certificate and report describing the testing process and the meaning of sixty-seven marker and mtDNA full sequence matches.

Enjoy,
Emily
If you do not hear from me in a timely manner, just write again...I was buried in email. LOL
http://writingyourmemories.blogspot.com/
http://www.rootsweb.com/~orgco2/speaker/EmilyAulicino.html
http://genealem-geneticgenealogy.blogspot.com/
Northwest Regional Coordinator and Speaker for ISOGG (www.isogg.org)
Administrator for thirteen FTDNA DNA Projects

2009-10-18T17:00:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

I'm excited to mention that Family Tree DNA has reduced the upgrades for the mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA) until October 30th, 2009. In the month of November they will be announcing a price reduction for new testers who order the mtDNA. This one is for anyone who has previously ordered either the HVR1 or HVR2 and wish to upgrade to the full sequence.

Please see the archives of this blog for information on using the full sequence for genealogy purposes before ordering. Email me at aulicino@hevanet.com if you have any questions.

The announcement appears below and was sent to administrators and those who previously tested the mtDNA. SO...basically this is a reminder to order, if you are interested and a notice to others of a price reduction coming in November. (I have no idea what that price will be until it is announced.)

Best wishes,
Emily

Dear Family Tree DNA Group Administrator

We would like for you to know first hand the announcement about a big promotion for the Full Mitochondria Sequence that we will be sending in the next days to Family Tree DNA customers in your project. Due to the fact that we will be reaching out directly to your members, we suggest that you DON’T send them a bulk email about it so that they don’t feel overloaded. As always, we appreciate your support...

Bennett Greenspan

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

We are 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 will jumpstart this new era of complete mtDNA testing with a very aggressive price in order to build the comparative database to the levels that genetic genealogists will be able to use to answer precise ancestral and geographic questions.

So now to the news that you are waiting for: before a new price for the full mtDNA test is introduced in November, we will be offering our current customers a promotion at the following prices, valid until October 31st, 2009:

$179 for those who have already tested HVR1 and HVR2
$199 for those who have already tested HVR1

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.

© All Contents Copyright 2001-2009 Genealogy by Genetics, Ltd.

Ireland: A Focus on Genetic Genealogy

2009-07-26T19:47:00.000-07:00

Genetic Genealogy, the use of DNA testing to aid traditional genealogical research, is the most accurate tool a genealogist has. it can prove or disprove a lineage, help genealogists pass through brick walls, assist in locating lost relatives, and aid an adopted person in finding family.

A short history of Genetic Genealogy

Over the last nine years DNA Testing for genealogy has developed from one man's quest to find his ancestors to a world-wide interest for modern genealogists. That one man is Bennett Greenspan, a genealogist, who in 2000 established Family Tree DNA, the largest company focused on genetic genealogy. The company has remained in the forefront ever since. It offers the most genetic markers applicable to genealogy and has the largest database with which to compare a tester's results. This International business has expanded its offices to Europe, has participated in the 2009 Who Do You Think You Are? Conference, and was the only DNA company present at The Gathering 2009 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Since 2000 many other companies have been established with some now gone and new ones taking their places. In those short nine years, Genetic Genealogy has come a long way and is still progressing quickly! Geneticists and genealogists now work together in some realms of this science. The popularity of DNA testing is constantly increasing as more and more genealogists realize its value in their research.

Why is Ireland a major focus?

Currently, the highest concentration for genetic genealogy testing is done by Irish populations. Three major reasons place the focus of DNA Testing on Ireland:

1. The Irish Diaspora

2. Trinity College's paper A Y-Chromosome Signature of Hegemony in Gaelic Ireland (December 2005)

3. National Geographic Society's Genographic Project

Irish Diaspora

Since the seventeenth century Irish families have left Ireland for various reasons, including the Potato Famine, the opportunity of acquiring land not accessible under the inheritance laws at the time, and deportation by the English. Various sources state that Irish emigrants and their descendants are found in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, Mexico, South Africa, Brazil, states of the Caribbean, and continental Europe. It is estimated that over 80 million Irish people live outside Ireland. This number represents over thirteen times the population of the island itself (6.11 million in 2007). This massive exodus has led many genealogists to long for knowledge of their ancestors who once lived in Ireland as well as the hope of finding living cousins.

It is clear that Ireland recognizes her lost cousins and finds value in identifying them as stated by Ireland's former President Mary Robinson in her 1995 address entitled Cherishing the Irish Diaspora: On a Matter of Public Importance, given to the Houses of Oireachtas:

The men and women of our diaspora represent not simply a series of departures and loses. They remain, even while absent, a precious reflection of our own growth and change, a precious reminder of the many strands of identity which compose our story.

Ireland obviously cares about its departed family. Descendants of the emigrants have proudly announced their Irish heritage for all these generations. Sadly, what is lost in time are the ancestors who connect the Irish throughout the world. With the vast numbers of these expatriates around the globe it is understandable why Irish Diasporas plays a prominent role in the focus on Ireland.

Trinity

Trinity College in Dublin is a pioneer in Irish genetics for using the old genealogies in genetic testing. In December 2005 Trinity published its paper on Niall Nóigiallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages) whose dynasty ruled Ireland for six centuries. Irish pedigrees were used to determine the surnames that could be related to descendants of the male lines of Niall which became the Clan O'Neill. Living males with surnames found in Clan O'Neill were located and tested. The study's findings suggested that about one in twelve men share the same Y-chromosome as the 5th-century warlord. Their work indicated that 21.5% of the men in Northwestern Ireland are estimated to have his DNA signature.

Trinity College's study sparked an interest for Irish genealogists everywhere. For scientists to use genealogy and DNA testing to determine who among the living is related to a particular fifth-century clan was a major step in placing Ireland on the Genetic Genealogy map.

National Genographic Project

In April 2005 the Genographic Project was created by the National Geographic Society, IBM, and the Waitt Foundation. This five-year anthropological study was established to test indigenous people throughout the world in order to better map the migration patterns of our most ancient ancestors. Anyone can submit their DNA to this project as ti is one of the few scientific studies that allows the general public to participate. As a result of this venture, many Genetic Genealogists established various geographical projects to provide a permanent place for the public's test results since at the end of this study, the results will be available, but the DNA Will be destroyed, thus not allowing an opportunity for anyone to upgrade their test in the future.

The Ireland Y-DNA Project was created in December 2005 as its administrators saw the need to preserve the Irish DNA that the Genographic Project collects. The Y-DNA Project's roots lie in Ireland as two of the three administrators live there, thus providing the expertise needed to help Irish genealogists. This project is the largest Y-DNA project with over 3,300 testers, not including those from other companies which raise the number closer to 5,000. With the expert help of the administrators and the vast number of testers, the project results are revealing that some DNA signatures are more prominent in certain counties of Ireland. This provides a probable location for a researcher whose family left Ireland years ago to being their search in the mother land. The size of the Ireland Y-DNA Project is testimony to the inter st in the Emerald Isle.

In genetic genealogy the Y-chromosome is used to test the all male line (top line of a pedigree chart with the tester as number one on that chart) as this chromosome is consistent over time. For this reason a living male can be tested to determine the DNA signature of his ancestors in his all male line. The same is true of sections of the mitochondrial (mtDNA) which tests a person's all female line (bottom line of the pedigree chart if the tester is number one on that chart). Men can test both their Ydna and their mtDNA as every mother passes her mtDNA to all her children. However, only the daughters can pass the mtDNA to her children. Women can only their their mtDNA, as naturally, they do not carry their father's Y-chromosome. As Ydna mutates (changes that do no harm the species) more often it is possible to determine matches between testers within genealogical time. The mtDNA is slower to mutate, thus common the common ancestor of testers who match is not always within genealogical time. Testing the mtDNA has been immensely useful in solving specific problems for genealogists. Refer to SUCCESS STORIES at www.isogg.org for examples.

The next article in this series will focus on Irish DNA Success Stories.

Sources:
Family Tree DNA
President Mary Robinson's address
Trinity College paper: A Y-Chromosome Signature of Hegemony in Gaelic Ireland
National Geographic Society's Genographic Project
Ireland Y-DNA Project
FTDNA site for the Ireland Y-DNA Project

Will Genetic Genealogy Lose Its Place?

2009-07-09T12:14:00.000-07:00

Currently legislation is being passed that will curtail the use of DNA testing for genealogy and cause it to be more expensive. Some states have already passed laws controlling companies who market DNA tests to the public and more laws are being established.

As this is a very important topic, I felt it is necessary to share an article written by Doris Wheeler with you so that everyone knows and understands how DNA testing may be jeopardized. Being that DNA testing is the most accurate tool a genealogist has, it is important that all of us understand the impact a few can have on many. There are geneticists that think genealogists do not understand genetics and that we believe everything any company claims (i.e., if you have a certain results for some markers you will get some disease or you can be a track star). There are many genealogists and genetic genealogists who believe that some geneticists as well as people from the medical field do not understand how DNA testing is helpful to genealogy. They wish to protect us from ourselves!

As a result we are seeing government legislation trying to protect the poor, dumb consumer. RIGHT! This type of legislation will greatly harm the genealogist's access to DNA testing thus prohibiting an opportunity to break through their brick walls.

Doris Wheeler addresses this topic clearly and urgest that all of us must become informed. I urge you to take action locally and not let misinformed scientists and legislators control our hobby. Write those editorials, call your legislators. Do what you can to protect the most valuable and accurate source we have for finding our ancestors.

Thank you Doris, for permission to post your article.

The following article was written by Doris Wheeler for her blog Genealogy and DNA at http://genealogyanddna.blogspot.com/

Will Genetic Genealogy Lose Its Place?

A small but vocal group of scientists and legislators are clamoring for government regulation of DNA testing. A few states have already succumbed to this hysteria, and Washington has dipped its toe into the murky waters.

What does this mean to family genealogists like us? It could mean that we would have to have our family doctor submit an order for us to obtain a simple Y-DNA test. And the results would go to him or her. (Could there be a touch of self-interest on the part of the scientific and medical community?) As genealogists, how many of us would be willing to involve our personal doctor in our genealogy quest – and pay for the privilege? What does our family doctor know about genealogy, and does he care? Is he really the best qualified person to interpret results for us? Did you ever think you would have to get your family doctor to approve before you could do genealogy? It all sounds rather silly to me.

One argument in favor of such regulation is that people do not understand what they are getting when they buy a test. But isn’t this true of many things? Isn’t it up to the consumer to research and understand what he is buying? Another is that there are claims being made by some companies that promise far more than they can deliver. But this is a fact of life. It is up to the consumer to evaluate these claims.

I am proud to know that Family Tree DNA (the company I have chosen for all my DNA Projects (see links in the sidebar) is the acknowledged leader in the business of genetic genealogical testing and, in fact, was awarded the Better Business Bureau’s Award for Excellence in customer service. Its website has been designated as the "Best Cutting Edge Web Site" by Family Tree Magazine. Even more important is the fact that Family Tree DNA (and ISOGG, the International Society for Genetic Genealogy) provides references to an extensive library of books, videos and scientific journals for its customers’ edification. It has knowledgeable people on staff (as well as a full complement of scientists) who can and do answer questions in a timely manner. It is deeply involved in scientific research to find new SNPs and STRs that offer new avenues to pursue for those who are interested in both anthropology and genealogy and in getting as much as possible out of their testing experience. (SNPs are the portions of DNA that reflect deep ancestry – thousands of years ago. STRs are the markers used for genealogical purposes.)

Another service provided by FTDNA is its support for “projects.” All project members benefit from that support by having access to significantly reduced prices and special promotions that are only available through projects. Additionally, volunteer project administrators like me are provided with ongoing education so that we can better serve our clients. We seek to educate and to help explain test results so that our clients do understand what they are buying and why, and what the results mean.

While the line between genetic genealogy and genome testing for health reasons is quite sharp, the naysayers are beginning to disregard that line and lump all genetic testing together. That is a sad day for genealogists who are just now beginning to reap the solid rewards of having databases that are large enough to provide answers to sticky questions. Ever larger databases of test results help all of us learn more about our family history and answer the age-old question, “Where do we come from?”. Any disruption of the flow of new testees is a disservice to those who have already tested and to the cause of genealogy for everyone. The jury is still out regarding the viability of genetic testing for disease. Obviously, again, the size of the database is critical and our knowledge will grow only as the database grows. And, in addition to all the reasons given above, there is the simple matter of personal choice that is taken away by increased regulation.

Since the key is an educated public, here are two websites that are highly recommended: www.isogg.org and www.thegeneticgenealogist.com.

Doris Wheeler, 8 Jul 2009

FTDNA -- July Sale!!!

2009-07-03T12:44:00.000-07:00

WOW....FTDNA is offering a sale for the MONTH of July! Read the msg below I received today!

Remember, a person must join a project to get these prices, but I have two that anyone can join (male or female) any time and then move to a more appropriate project (or not) at a later date at no cost. There's never any cost to move to different projects.

Email me if you need help with this or need to know about the two projects anyone can join. (Not every surname has a project AND...females CANNOT join a surname project.)

The email sent from FTDNA...

Dear Group Administrator (That's me! LOL)

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

President

www.familytreedna.com

If you have any questions, just email me.

Emily

If you do not hear from me in a timely manner, just write again...I was buried in email. LOL
http://writingyourmemories.blogspot.com/
http://www.rootsweb.com/~orgco2/speaker/EmilyAulicino.html
http://genealem-geneticgenealogy.blogspot.com/
Northwest Regional Coordinator and Speaker for ISOGG (www.isogg.org)
Administrator for twelve FTDNA DNA Projects

Family Tree DNA Sale Extended!

2009-06-23T15:26:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

The following Family Tree DNA sale has been extended to Jun 30th with payment due by July 7th.

This sale is only for new male testers getting the 37 marker with the HVR1 (mtDNA). The 37 marker test is wonderful for genealogy. The price is $119 plus $4 shipping. Usually the 37 marker alone is $149 plus shipping and the HVR1 is $99. So that is a very good savings. We may not see this sale again.

FTDNA just sent this message to all the Administrators, so I'm passing it to you. You can pass the word around the Internet and within your family.

FTDNA wrote:

In the last few days we have received several e-mails from group administrators asking us to extend our "Unparalleled 50% Promotional Discount" Y-DNA37+mtDNA for $119 (the regular project price is $248 – a reduction of more than 50%!!), as many people are only now becoming aware of the promotion.

We have decided, therefore, to extend it until June 30th, 2009. Kits must be paid by July 7, 2009. In order for the most people take advantage of this promotion, we encourage you to post the following link in your family messages boards, blogs, and mail lists, as well as forward to people when they ask you where to place the order.

As always, that you for your continued support.

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

Emily
23 Jun 2009

2009-06-16T17:27:00.000-07:00

Greetings everyone!

I wanted all of you to get in on this before it's gone in the case you have been waiting for a DNA test sale. I just received this msg. from FTDNA.... It's a VERY nice sale as the 37 marker Ydna test by itself is normally $149. The mtDNA by itself is normally mtDNA (HVR1) $99. That's a nice savings! The deadline as stated below is June 24th and you MUST pay by June 30th. If you order by credit card it is considered paid. If you order on invoice be sure to send in your payment (Check or credit card is accepted with an invoice.) by June 30th.

REMEBER: This price is ONLY for those joining an existing project. If you do not find your surname listed with FTDNA, then use two (either one) I have set up for any and everyone: GFO or use WVGS (You do not have to be a member of either genealogical society to join it.)

Just click on the FTDNA icon at the bottom right of this blog. Then follow the rest of the directions, putting in your surname or one of the above (GFO or WVGS). The rest of the steps are clear.

IF you have problems or do not see the icon on this page, email me at aulicino@hevanet.com

I can order the test for you via invoice so you won't miss the sale.

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"

Which DNA Testing Company Fits Your Needs?

2009-05-23T15:14:00.000-07:00

In the early years of 2000 there were only a few testing companies that tested DNA for genealogists. In the last few years, DNA Testing has become a household term, especially due to the advent of so many television programs using it to miraculously solve crimes within an hour. Many new companies have now appeared on the scene with a varying degree of services. Some have massive advertising campaigns that entice the public to purchase a testing kit even if the public does not fully understand how testing can help and not help genealogy. Others claim they can give you the location and tribe of your ancestors. And, still other companies claim you can discover the gene that will either make you an athlete or tell you of your health issues. News articles have touted the virtues of testing while others liken it to witchcraft and hocus-pocus. Some articles instill fear that the government will have your DNA profile and tag you for some crime.

In some of my past articles, I have explained how different companies test differently for criminal profiling and for health. I have further explained how DNA testing can and cannot help genealogists and how autosomal testing is not helpful to genealogy for the most part.

So, how does the general public sort out this mess?

The following steps will help:

1. Educate yourself about DNA testing.
Before purchasing any test for any reason, the buyer must understand how DNA testing can help and how it cannot help. My previous blog articles can greatly help with this as well as the listing I offer for online tutorial information and through various Genetic Genealogy books.

2. Establish a goal or reason to test.
Ask yourself what it is you wish to determine by testing. What genealogical problem are you trying to solve. Read books and online tutorials to help you determine what tests can assist with your goal. (Email me, if you can't decide.)

3. Learn all you can about the testing companies.
You do not have to know everything about every company, but you should understand not only the difference between the three top companies, and which companies are not helpful to genealogy and your goals.

As you research the major testing companies for yourself, ask these questions:

1. What is the size of the database? Size is important. You will be compared to other testers in order to find matches. You and those testers who match have a common ancestor. You would want to contact them and share lineage information. Would you wish to test with a company who has over 100,000 testers or one who has 10,000 testers? Which has the likelihood of producing more matches for you?

2. Can you contact the testers you match? Matching others, but not being able to share data on your research makes testing and matching a waste of time and money.

3. Can I contact the company easily? You may have a problem or a question. Some companies list no email or phone number to contact them. Some prefer that the administrator of a project contact them. (What if you are not in a project?) Others will answer your question within one business day whether it be by phone or email.

4. How accurate is the testing? No doubt every company will tell you their labs are accurate, and this has been found to be true for giving you your haplotype (your DNA signature). However, some companies will do testing to determine your haplogroup (your twig on the world family tree) while some do not do this testing, called SNP testing. The companies who do not SNP test do take guesses for the haplogroup and have been found to be totally in error. I can cite several cases of this.

Unknowledgeable testers may not discover this error unless they test with another company or find that they do not match with a known relative for the haplogroup.

5. Will my DNA sample be stored so I can upgrade my testing? DNA testing for genealogy began in 2000 and is still evolving. We do not know what the future holds, but we know that more and more tests are available every year. Some companies do not keep your sample so you must pay for another kit to test further. This would be impossible for a tester’s family to do if the tester dies. Other companies keep the sample for many years and allow you to upgrade using the same sample.

6. What tests are available? Tests vary from company to company. Each company does not test the same markers; therefore, comparing someone who matches you from another company isn’t as easy as looking at the results and often doesn’t test enough of the same markers to get a clear picture of how close your match could be. Some companies only offer a few tests and appear to have no plans for changing that. Other companies offer a wide variety as well as combination tests (Ydna and mtDNA as one test for a person). Some companies are always adding new options to better serve their customers.

7. How is the company’s customer service? This may be difficult to answer unless you know others who have tested with a particular company. However, it is not impossible to determine a company’s reputation from their customers if you attempt the following:

a. Join the International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG) at www.isogg.org and ask the other members about their experiences. This society is non-profit and requests that you tell others about genetic genealogy. That is their only requirement … to help spread the word about DNA testing for genealogy. This email list is monitored by experts, but can be overwhelming in volume. Consider getting it in digest form or check it online.

b. In some companies you can go to the website and find the administrator of any project. Email this person to see how the company is treating them. Other companies do not provide this service, however.

c. Email me. I have friends who have dealt with all the major companies, and I have met testers who have used these companies. I can provide you with comments about each of the major companies from both testers and administrators.

8. What is the cost of the tests? Many of us are always looking for a bargain. However, the cost should be the last consideration as this is a product that can be very helpful to our genealogy research and is of great use over time. With it we can prove or disprove our lineages and find matches today or in ten years. A wise consumer will seek a reliable company which provides the best of the above points before placing cost as the top priority.

Cost varies from company to company and will change within a company as sales are often available and as over time the prices are falling due to new techniques and equipment that requires less time in the lab to process. The best approach to this concern is to set your goal for testing, select the test that best fits your needs, and then compare the cost per marker for each company that fits your testing needs. Sales are usually unpredictable since you never know when one will happen. Some companies will allow you to test a few markers and upgrade any time later which helps you afford a larger test sections at a time.

REMEMBER:
"There is hardly anything in the world that someone cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price alone are that person's lawful prey." John Ruskin (1819-1900)

(NOTE: This quote hangs on the wall in every Baskin Robbins ice cream store, but sources indicate the author of this statement is not necessarily John Ruskin.)

Emily
©Aulicino, 23 May 2009
Email: Aulicino@hevanet.com

Family Tree DNA - Y-DNA Upgrade Sale

2009-05-13T17:28:00.001-07:00

Greetings!

Family Tree DNA is having a sale to upgrade any Y-DNA tester at a nicely reduced price. As these sales are often rather rare, you may wish to take advantage.

If you have questions as to why you should upgrade, please check the archives for this blog as there are articles on the advantages of testing particular numbers of markers and how they help genealogy.

The following message is from FTDNA regarding the sale. Remember only NEW testers can go through the link on this blog. Otherwise, go to your personal FTDNA pages to order an upgrade:

Dear Administrator,
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 descendants of adoptees have even found their biological surname lines. Are there any other individuals among these adoptees looking for their connection to this direct paternal line?

To help answer that question, Family Tree DNA is offering, for a limited time, a discount on all Y-DNA upgrades! We will notify each participant in the database who qualifies for this offer by e-mail, and will provide them a direct link they may use to take advantage of the upgrade. There will be no need for participants to contact us directly in order to receive the reduced price; our prices have been adjusted in the system accordingly.

The offer will last from May 14th through May 23nd . On average, the
reduced prices will be 25% lower than the standard upgrade price.
This is a great opportunity to increase the data in your project. Are there members who have been hesitant to upgrade due to price? This discount is an opportunity for them to upgrade and help both their group and potential lost relatives at the same time. When encouraging members to upgrade, you may wish to note that genetic matches allow people to find their biological lines, and not necessarily a specific individual.

This promotion is for upgrades only and does not apply to new kit orders. It’s our way to thank past customers for their patronage.

As always, we appreciate your continued support.
Family Tree DNA
Max Blankfeld Vice-President

5th Annual Internatonal Family Tree DNA Conference 2009

2009-03-18T17:21:00.000-07:00

March 14-15 Administrators of Family Tree DNA projects gathered in Houston to renew friendships, to meet new administrators, to learn more about their craft, and to discover the progress of the company and labs. Attendees from many parts of the US and Canada began to gather on March 12 and FTDNA held its usual reception the evening of the 13th. This always gives everyone the opportunity to see who arrived this year and to rub shoulders with the speakers, the FTDNA staff, and those who came from the University of Arizona. Those of us who attended the WDYTYA (Who Do You Think You Are?) conference in London two weeks before were pleased to relive those experiences.

Once again the programs for the two days were outstanding.

Day One:
Bennett Greenspan, CEO and President, and Max Blankfeld, Vice President opened the meeting with a kind welcome to us all and announcements that FTDNA would attend The Gathering 2009 in Edinburgh, Scotland in July and would return to the Who Do You Think You Are Conference next year in London.

Next was a long awaited speaker, Spencer Wells, the head of the National Genographic Project (a five year anthropological study to help determine the migration pattern of our oldest ancestors), spoke on Deep Ancestry: Inside the Genographic Project. Dr. Wells was unable to attend in 2005 when the FTDNA conference was held at the National Geographic Society in Washington DC as he was in Chad. The government gave the crew a last minute clearance to enter so that indigenous people could be tested for the study. Dr. Wells explained that a century ago Charles Darwin had realized all of us had come from Africa, and he was correct. The Genographic Project was launched in 2005 with three areas: Testing indigenous people around the world, allowing public participation and providing a Legacy Fund to assist the indigenous in education and health. The current results include a collection of 50,000 samples from the indigenous and the public. The Legacy Foundation has reached $3.5 million…that’s many grants for the groups tested. The first publications are beginning to appear on the results.

NOTE: See the project at https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/index.html for more details and how the public can join this scientific study. IF you or anyone you know has tested through the National Genographic Project, you need to move your test results to Family Tree DNA before the study ends so the results will be preserved in the case you some day wish to use the information for genealogy. At the end of the five years, in 2010, the public samples will be destroyed. There is no cost in moving your result to FTDNA. Family Tree DNA handles all the Genographic testing through the University of Arizona Lab.

Side note: Dr. Wells attended the FTDNA reception and as I had expected to meet him, I took the two books I own that he wrote in order to get his autograph…and below is the photo that was taken then. (Thank you Max! LOL)

Emily with Dr. Wells

Family Tree’s Chief Technology Officer, Mark Williams, presented a view of the new Administrator pages entitled Group Administrator Dashboard (GAD). This total rewrite of the Web pages will allow Admins to view all their projects through one dashboard and to custom design their site. Admins can elect which windows to view and how to place them. Several new options will allow various charts to track the number of testers within a time period, haplogroup charts within a grouped list of testers and more. An administrator can order their members page according to several columns such as kit number, name, haplogroup, etc. Several of us helped Beta test this over the last few weeks, but those administrators who attended the conference are allow to further Beta test these pages. For a while both the old system and the new one will run independently of each other. This new approach provides more flexibility in tracking our projects and contacting our testers. Having all our projects on one page with one password along with all the new tools will be most helpful.

Dr. Ricki Lewis, a geneticist presented on Privacy & Ethics of DNA Testing. During lunch at my table she commented that she knows little about Genetic Genealogy, but remained for the sessions to learn more for her next novel. From my notes, her comments were that testing the entire genome is not helpful as there is too much junk DNA, but she feels that sequencing subsets of the genome can be helpful. She views those seeking DNA for health issues and for genealogical purposes start with a different intent. Dr. Lewis states that for health testing you get bad news, and it is done in secrecy. For ancestry testing the purpose is good news and for sharing.

My Note: In general, the purpose of testing for health and for ancestry can be the desire of the general public as Dr. Lewis stated, but genetic genealogists have a great depth of knowledge and desire for more information than the average person. Any genealogist knows it is important to gather and record family health issues, and this is especially important for those who were adopted. For these reasons, genealogists seek information on health issues, at least for themselves. Those who do understand that environment is the biggest factor and not inherited diseases. They understand that in most all cases, the DNA shows the propensity of getting a disease if one doesn’t take care of themselves properly. For example, one person who took a personal genome test found he had a very high probability for prostate cancer. He went to the doctor and they found he did have it. He is alive today as a result of testing for health. Granted, science has not determined which combination of genes causes most of our health issues, but in some cases they know. Genetic genealogists know and understand this.

Genetic genealogists vary from knowing the basics of how DNA testing helps genealogy to being actual geneticists, mathematicians, doctors, anthropologists, scientists, and lawyers. That is to say, they come from every walk of life, with every background, and with a wide variety of knowledge regarding every aspect of genealogy and the use of DNA for family research. Over the last nine years genetic genealogy has existed, the knowledge base of the followers has grown tremendously. With these annual meetings and other seminars, with the availability of online resources, technical papers, and published books, with the establishment of various email groups, anyone wishing to understand genetics with regard to genealogy can do so.

Dr. Lewis rightfully mentioned the ridiculous aspects of some DNA companies claiming that children have a gene that determines their sports ability, etc. Genetic genealogists know how ludicrous this is. Unfortunate the general public takes the extremes: DNA testing is totally bogus or DNA testing for such genes is a god-sent. Both are wrong.

After a wonderful lunch, Bob McLaren, dressed in his kilt and manager of the Clan MacLaren project gave an interesting presentation entitled: Lessons Learned from Running a Large Surname Project. Mr. McLaren discussed ways to display DNA results, how to recruit members, and how to keep them informed. Bob’s project is one of the larger surname projects with 327 members as of July 2008.

Dr. Doron Behar, postdoctoral fellow in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and FTDNA’s chief lab technician for mitochondrial DNA, and William R. Hurst, administrator of the mtDNA Haplogroup K Project and co-admin of the Hurst Surname Project discussed Advances in mtDNA Testing for Genealogy and Anthropology. They informed the audience that 5100 full mitochondrial DNA records were in GenBank with over 250 of those from Family Tree DNA and that FTDNA has over 4100 completed mtDNA. They clarified that Dna Ancestry misses 75% of the SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) that FTDNA tests. (SNPs determine the haplogroup which is a person’s twig on the Phylogenetic Tree which is the world’s family tree.)

NOTE: GenBank is a collection of publicly accessed DNA sequences for many species. An easy explanation of it can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GenBank

The day ended in a Question and Answer panel. We learned that Ysearch will be updated later this year to include more markers; that the Genographic project requires the haplogroup to be known for the Hyper Variable Region 1 (HVR1) so the required SNPs are tested; that Dna Anecestry originally planned to make the DNA they test a part of a paid subscription in the future. (Personally, that’s scary…you pay; they profit via their subscriptions.); and many more topics.

Day two:
Dr. Michael Hammer, Biotechnology Research Scientist at eh University of Arizona and Director of the Genomic Analysis and Technology Core facility, discussed the Advances in TMRCA in a break-out session. TMRCA (Time to the Most Recent Common Ancestor) is a mathematical probability that helps determine the number of generations back to the common paternal grandfather with people who match on DNA testing. Several models are applied and this process can be very useful guideline when the paper trail dead-ends. Of course there is a constant desire to improve this connection and with more testing it will be. FTDNA is currently looking for more males who have tested 67 markers and who are willing to have their male child, parent or grandchild tested. Three male generations, closely related (not cousins) will help determine a better proximity to the time to the most common ancestor. FTDNA is hoping to get volunteers of male halpogroups other than those who are R1b and I. The audience also learned that R1b and I mutation rates are similar and that J should have faster rates.

The other break-out session was Haplogroups: Uses for Your Project by Eileen Krause, Post-Lab Quaility Assurance Manager at FTDNA. Ms. Krause discussed the future of DNA testing and explained how DNA testing has already begun to bridge the gap between the genealogical paper trail, DNA testing and the SNPs that determine haplogroups.

The Ewing Surname Y-DNA Project by Dr. David Ewing, administrator of the Ewing Surname Y-DNA Project and member of Clan Ewing, gave some wonderful examples of how DNA testing solved some genealogical problems, while creating others with further work could resolve. He showed the audience some techniques for analyzing results and how to explain them to project members. Back mutations and Parallel mutations were explained.

Next, Matt Kaplan, associate staff scientist at the University of Arizona in the Division of Biotechnology and doctoral candidate, and Taylor Edwards, Senior Research Specialist at the Genomic Analysis and Technology Core at the University of Arizona and contributes to all aspects of the laboratory work for FTDNA and the Genographic Project, presented on What’s in a Name…the Current State of Y STR Nomenclature 2009. In 2007 John Butler of NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) spoke to the FTDNA conference attendees regarding the standardization of DNA companies. Since that time, Messers. Kaplan and Edwards have worked closely with Dr. Butler to help FTDNA incorporate the changes.

The current rules established by NIST were presented, but the required changes from NIST (below) shows discrepancies in the application of those rules. However, FTDNA will follow the rules.

Currently, three markers that FTDNA test were given as an example of having NIST guidelines.
1. DYS 441 – Add 1 to the current FTDNA nomenclature.
2. DYS 442 – Add 5
3. DYS GATA-H4 – Add 1

These three markers will change on the websites sometime this year. Unfortunately, the certificates previously printed will be wrong after the change.

FTDNA’s goal is to follow the NIST rules, but where NIST has not created a standard, FTDNA must follow the primary literature. These changes will take much time as NIST was created to focus primarily on Forensics and other non-genealogical companies and as more and more markers are being discovered at a rapid pace.

FTDNA vows full disclosure to NIST on their testing process. Their newly found markers are being sent to NIST, and FTDNA will be altering their reports and websites to reflect micro-alleles (partial repeats which will be displayed as decimals. Example: 14.1 instead of 14).

Bennett Greenspan, President of FTDNA, stressed that for all this to work, it is important that ALL other testing labs follow the NIST guidelines. He also suggested that all of us should push for standardization.

After another wonderful lunch, Thomas Krahn, Technical Laboratory Manager of Family Tree DNA’s Genomics Research Center in Houston, presented on A Walk Through the Y Update and NULL Alleles as a break-out session. Mr. Krahn explained that a NULL is the absence of DNA results in a particular marker. The audience learned that there are many possible locations for NULLs, namely, DYS 439, 437, 391, 565, 448, 389, 425, and 448. Some of these appear in particular haplogroups more so than in others.

We also learned the outcome of what tests have gone through the Walk Through the Y program. This testing was geared to finding more SNPs by testing parts of the Y chromosome, with the hopes of finding SNPs particular to family and even in establishing a private SNP. As of now, the project is open to the public through an application available by contacting FTDNA.
Challenges to the Genetic Genealogist by David Ewing and Bob McLaren was another breakout session answered questions regarding how your projects’ genetic information can be integrated with traditional genealogical data. Their presentation included who to test, how to recruit, what marker level to use, and how to make sense of your project results.

The last session of the conference was Updates to the Y-chromosome Tree by Dr. Michael Hammer. We learned that there are 600 SNPs which have been mapped, 20 major haplogroups (A-T), and that the R haplogroup acquired most of the new mutations although seven other groups received new mutations and subclades.

At every conference, Family Tree DNA gives the attendees some gift. At times it is a newly published book, but this year we received an updated Y Phylogenetic Tree. The best part of this tree, besides including the new subclades and SNPs, is that it uses the “short-hand” for subclades, but gives the longer version in the last column. For example, as the current subclades are getting much longer (R1b1b2) many genetic genealogists use the last SNP to indicate the twig (R-M269). However, it is easier to see the route of the twig back to the R branch by seeing the longer version. This Phylogenetic Tree is viewed at Family Tree’s website by clicking on SNPs R Us.

The conference closed with a period of questions and answers.

Various photos from the conference:

Dr. Hammer's TMRCA Presentation

Bennett

Elise and Max

Spencer and Doron

Elise and Thomas

Alice, David and Terry after the conference

Doug Mumma, the first project manager at Family Tree DNA. He began in 2000.

Who Do You Think You Are? Conference 2009: Debuting DNA

2009-03-12T14:57:00.000-07:00

This year companies who do DNA testing for genealogy purposes made their debut at the world’s largest genealogy conference, Who Do You Think You Are? A few companies had booths, but in my passing I never saw more than a couple of people at any one of them with the exception of Family Tree DNA. This biggest question I had was: Where were Oxford Ancestry and Ethnoancestry DNA companies? I had expected them to have booths, also.

Family Tree DNA not only performed DNA testing at their booth, but had a series of speakers for the three days who discussed the basics of testing for genealogists and success stories related to the UK. I had decided to attend the conference as an excuse to get back to London as well as being a part of the world’s largest genealogy conference with its debut of genetic genealogy. However, as FTDNA’s booth was so busy, I spent most of Friday and Saturday helping them answer questions and swabbing testers. As a speaker for genetic genealogy, I knew I could be of assistance. It was wonderful meeting so many people and being able to share my knowledge with them.

As a result, our UK Debutant, Family Tree DNA, accomplished what they expected and plans to return next year. They also received an invitation to join The Gathering 2009, an International Gathering of the Clans in Edinburgh this summer. Oh, how I wish I could be there! (Donations for my attendance are being accepted now! LOL)

Below is a few photos at the Family Tree DNA booth and presentation stage, taken when things were calm enough to take pictures.

Katherine Borges, Maureen Taylor, and Emily

Max Blankfeld

Katherine Hope Borges

Saturday was Scottish Day. This group entertained the line awaiting entrance.

At the end of the day: Doron Behar (mtDNA specialist), Michael Hammer (Heads the University of Arizona lab for FTDNA) and Max Blankfeld (FTDNA V-P)

Who Do You Think You Are? Conference 2009: Researching Records

2009-03-12T14:02:00.000-07:00

Most Americans have little idea what is available at the various archives in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. To assume the records are similar to ours and that the categories are alike is quite false. To the novice it can be quite mind-boggling.

Perhaps the most difficult aspect is the need for many Americans to have very old records available; that is pre 1700s as our families came to the colonies that early. Americans over the years have created a horde of paper records, unlike most countries.

WDTYTA? Conference allowed those who took the time to explore as many of the 200+ booths as possible, a glimpse at what is available. Booth after booth contained various county’s gleanings and surname organizations as well as books and magazines on a large variety of genealogical topics and representatives of the many National Archives.

The National Archives at Kew, the Scottish National Archives, the Irish National Archives, and the National Library of Wales are only a few of the locations that provide, not only online services, but a great deal of assistance to those who visit. Each of these were represented at the conference and it only took a few minutes for me to get the father of my David Storrier of Co, Angus, Scotland and to verify the locations I had were accurate. For just a few pence, I can now go online to search for more and see the primary documents. The National Library of Wales is currently surveying any interested persons to suggest what documents would be of use for their online services. Over the last few years in the U.S., we have seen many states place their birth, death and marriage records online.

My particular lines came to the U.S. in the 1600 and 1700s, leaving the research in the UK and the Republic of Ireland a bit tricky. Only my Gilmore-Storrier line came as late as 1838. Mostly parish records are available in these centuries unless your ancestor was in the military or connected to the government in some way. Luckily for me, my Welsh lines left a pedigree that has been supported by the old manuscripts. However, there is always some missing dates and places.

When all else fails, we can turn to DNA testing to help break those brick walls. Although Americans dearly hope that the British will be as enthusiastic about DNA testing as we are, many of us have either more disposable income or are more frivolous is how we spend our money. It is really hard to say and putting anyone in the same box is not a safe idea.

What I do know from attending the conference and helping at the FTDNA booth is that, like Americans, the British are very interested in solving questions of paternity, are curious about their most ancient roots, and are hoping to dissolve some brick walls…just like the rest of the genealogy and genetic genealogy world.

I’ve know a few genealogists from England and Wales who know a great deal about researching in the United States. Perhaps it is time that those of us who desire to find our ancestors in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland take the time to learn how to research the many archives, public record offices, and family history centers of the area. Searching from a distance is always difficult, but is no reason to throw up our hands, and, of course, traveling to another country to research those records, and visiting the towns where your ancestors lived is a wonderful treat.

©Aulicno, 9 Mar 2009

Who Do You Think You Are? Conference 2009: Creating Connections

2009-03-08T19:08:00.000-07:00

The Who Do You Think You Are? Conference in London last week provided me with the opportunity to meet some very wonderful people in the field of genealogy and genetic genealogy. So much so that I carted seven books all the way to London to be signed by those I would be meeting. That was nearly a third of my luggage space and unknowingly at the time, I carted back another three books! Yes, genealogists are obsessed! LOL

First in the Q on Day 1
L-R Derrell, Emily, Candy, and Maureen Taylor

Besides building bridges across that rather large pond, the time was also spent creating connections. Business cards were flying everywhere, offers of help with repairing old photos, searching various archives, and, in some cases, further business opportunities regarding magazine articles and consulting opportunities. Connections were being made.

Then there was the connections we created
from just getting to know each other a bit more..
and connecting through laughter.

Friday night of the conference, many of us gathered at the Pizza Express restaurant next to the Olympia Center. That first night produced a massive crowd which included three members of the FamilyTree

.........................Debbie, Megan, and Katherine

DNA staff, Max Blankfeld, vice-president; Doron Behar, mtDNA geneticist; and Michael Hammer, head of the testing lab. Other notables were Megan Smolenyak, Chris Pomery, Dick Eastman, Katherine Borges, and DNA administrators: Brian Swann, David Palmer, Debbie Kennett, Lorna McDougall, Susan Spires, Derrell Oakley Teat, Candy Campise, L.A. Chancey, and myself.

Above:
Waiter, Back L-R: David, Chris, Brian, and Lorna
Front L-R: Max and Doron

Back L-R: Chris, Brian, Megan, and Dick
Front L-R: Katherine, Emily and Susan

* * * Both photos courtesy of Candy Campise * * *

L-R Front: Candy and Derrell
Right Rear: L.A.
Rear, standing: Michael
Debbie in blue on left

Saturday night was a late dinner as everyone was saying good-bye and the booth was being disassembled. Those survivors (Max, Doron, Megan, Katherine, Debbie, and I) returned to the Pizza Express and were entertained by our Italian waiter, Paolo, who thought his name boring and wanted to change it to Marco or Massimo. Quickly he became Marco Paolo!

Marco Paolo and Emily

Although the WDYTYA? Conference focuses mostly on genealogy, the following list of Friday night diners spans three continents (as David lives in Hong Kong) and provides some incite of the depth of genetic genealogy interest that the conference amassed. The evening was spent, for some, an opportunity to meet for the first time and for others a chance to kindle old friendships.

Megan Smolenyak
Co-author of Trace Your Roots with DNA

Roots Television: http://www.rootstelevision.com/
Her genealogy site is: http://www.genetealogy.com/

Megan’s blog currently is at: http://megansrootsworld.blogspot.com/, but will be moving to: http://www.rootstelevision.com/blogs/megans-rootsworld.html

Be sure to see the Haley-Baff Reunion on Roots Television
Alec Haley’s book and movie Roots started a genealogical phenomenon in the U.S. regarding. Recently, his nephew Christopher tested his DNA and a Scottish Baff family matched, proving the family’s oral history. Christopher Haley met his Scottish cousin in London this last week. The story can been seen at:
http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_dna3.php?bctid=14655160001&bclid=14621417001

Chris Pomery
Author of DNA and Family History and Family History in the Genes
Sign up for his email newsletter at:
http://www.dnaandfamilyhistory.com/

Dick Eastman
Dick Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter
http://blog.eogn.com/

Katherine Borges
Director of the International Society of Genetic Genealogy
http://www.isogg.org

Brian Swann
ISOGG coordinator for England and Wales. His vision brought Family Tree DNA to the WDYTYA? Conference which lead to many of us in America to travel to London.
Administrator for the Picton DNA Project
See his interview with Dick Eastman at:
http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2008/05/video-brian-swa.html

David Palmer
Palmer DNA Project
www.familytreedna.com/public/palmer/

Debbie Kennett
Cruwys DNA Administrator
http://www.familytreedna.com/public/CruwysDNA/default.aspx
http://www.one-name.org/profiles/cruwys.html
http://www.irishtype3dna.org/DebbieKennett.htm

Lorna McDougall
MacDougall DNA Project
http://www.familytreedna.com/group-join.aspx?Group=MacDougall

Susan Squires
Squires DNA Administrator
http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/squires/

Derrell Oakley Teat
Hodgens DNA Project
www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/h/hodgens/

Candy Campise
Co-Administrator for the Hodgens DNA Project

L.A. Chancey
Chancey-Chauncey DNA Project
www.familytreedna.com/public/Chancey/

Emily Aulicino
My involvement can be seen within this blog.
My Family Tree DNA projects include: Ireland, Campania Region of Italy, Messina Province of Sicily, two genealogical society affiliates (GFO and WVGS), and six surname projects: Conard-Conrad, Derby, Doolin, Lamson, Ogan, and Talley-Tally

Creating connections...just a start, but one never knows where it may lead...

Emily
©Aulicino, 8 Mar 2009

Friday night of the conference, many of us gathered at the Pizza Express restaurant next to the Olympia Center. That first night produced a massive crowd which included three members of the Family Tree DNA staff, Max Blankfeld, vice-president; Doron Behar, mtDNA geneticist; and Michael Hammer, head of the testing lab. Other notables were Megan Smolenyak, Chris Pomery, Dick Eastman, Katherine Borges, and DNA administrators: Brian Swann, David Palmer, Debbie Kennett, Lorna McDougall, Susan Spires, Derrell Oakley Teat, Candy Campise and L.A. Chancey.

Who Do You Think You Are? Conference 2009: Building Bridges

2009-03-05T12:53:00.000-08:00

Many American genealogists cannot seem to bridge the gap between their family and their ancestors from the British Isles. We may know our family is from Ireland or Scotland, but to know the exact location is not often obtainable through our family folklore or our research.

This last week we may have begun closing that gap and building a strong bridge back to the motherland. We all find that preverbial brick wall sooner or later, and we all know that DNA testing can help break through those walls. However, without people testing their DNA in the various parts of the UK, many Americans may never find their roots across the pond. With the advent of Family Tree DNA attending the Who Do You Think You Are? Conference and with the overwhelming interest in their presentations as well as the number of tests sold, we may have just witnessed the strongest pipeline yet to linking both sides of the pond.

Building bridges was what this conference was for me.

Many bloggers have already posted information regarding the conference and some of those who attended WDYTYA are listed below. I do not wish to repeat their stories, but to give you my experiences and perspective. I was most pleased to actually meet some of the people with whom I have been corresponding and who are leaders in our field. To share a meal with them and to enjoy each others company was a pleasure. I thank all of you for what you bring to the genealogy and genetic genealogy table. Each of us has much to give and by doing so you enrich the lives of many.

Maureen Taylor, Photo Detective: http://blog.familytreemagazine.com/photodetectiveblog/?p_PageAlias=photodetective

Dick Eastman:
http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2009/01/who-do-you-thin.html

The third annual Who Do You Think You Are? Conference at the Olympia Center in the Kensington area of London ran from February 27th to March 1st and provided, for the first time, Genetic Genealogy venues. This genealogical fair is the largest in the UK, and no doubt in the world. It is a by-product of the British interest in the BBC show by the same name. While showcasing a celebrity’s lineage, this TV program provides a wonderful view of British history. Being in London, I had the opportunity to see an episode and was delighted when the Thompson line was followed to early Virginia although my particular line landed in Massachusetts. Creating these connections between the countries and providing a historical view-point for the general public can only increase the interest in genealogy as well as genetic genealogy. Building bridges is the key.

Although the use of DNA testing for the genealogical research has only been mentioned in a few previous episodes, we may see more of its use in the American version, due to air this spring on the public broadcasting station, as executive producer Lisa Kudrow of the cast of Friends, has not only been tested by Family Tree DNA, but will be featured in the series along with other famous American actors.

Like several American genealogists, I made the trek to London this last week to participate in the first attempt to build a bridge between the two cultures in the field of Genetic Genealogy. Family Tree DNA brought Max Blankfeld, FTDNA Vice-president; Dr. Doron Behar, mtDNA specialist and an internationally known population geneticist; and Dr. Michael Hammer, geneticist, who runs the testing lab at the University of Arizona for FTDNA. Each of these plus genetic genealogy author Chris Pomery, ISOGG director Katherine Borges, and ISOGG coordinator for England and Wales, Brian Swann gave presentations on various aspects of genetic genealogy. The FTDNA booth was constantly a buzz explaining the benefits of using DNA for genealogy as well as taking many samples for testing. Although not an employee of Family Tree DNA, but an administrator of eleven DNA projects with them and an ISOGG regional coordinator and speaker, I volunteered to assist for the first two conference days as they were swamped. It was a delight meeting so many wonderful people and to have the opportunity to share my knowledge of genetic genealogy with them.

One of my proudest moments was to test Peter Beauclerk-Dewar, author of Royal Bastards: Illegitimate Children of the British Royal Family. Quite by accident, I had wanted to purchase his book earlier, but the store had sold out. When Mr. Beauclerk-Dewar pulled a copy of his book from a bag, I asked him where he had gotten it. His reply that he wrote it was a delight. After DNA testing he went home (just around the corner) to get me a copy. He graciously signed it to me personally and actually sold a few more copies to my traveling companions. Mr. Beaucler-Dewar told me that he had used Family Tree DNA to test some of the people in his book to prove their lineage to royal families, but now he was testing himself! More bridges being built.

Aside from the FTDNA booth and their speakers, over 200 genealogical groups from all over the UK participated. Representatives from various national archives, the National Library of Wales, genealogical groups, family associations, and much more attended. The traveler that I know made the longest journey was ISOGG member David Palmer who lives in Hong Kong. Dr. Doron Behar, previously mentioned, lives in Israel, so there could have been others who came great distances besides those of us in America.

I was delighted to meet Pauline Prynne of Photographs Retouched by Prynne (http://www.retouchedbyprynne.co.uk/) who stayed at the same hotel as I and my friends. We had a delightful time getting to know her at breakfast each morning. Her booth showed some wonderfully restored photos so be sure to check her webpage.

Irish Roots Magazine (http://www.irishrootsmedia.com/) discussed with me their interest in doing an article about the Ireland DNA Project I help administer at Family Tree DNA. It would be delightful to have their support though an article as it may lead to more interest in DNA testing as many Americans cannot locate the birthplace of their Irish ancestors and testing may be the only help. Building more bridges.

I’m also pleased to know that the National Library in Wales is planning to make many of their records available online. Recently, a survey allowed people to choose areas of interest as the library welcomes readers’ views on its exciting plans to make as much as possible of its Welsh collections available online. For any of you with Welsh ancestry, you might visit the following link to take the survey: www.scotinform.co.uk/Onlinesurveys/NLW/3/English/theatreofmemory3.htm?id=O2E79

I was very pleased to visit the Scottish National Archives booth (http://www.nas.gov.uk/) and to find another generation for my Storrier family through their site. I will be checking this resource further as I just know there must be more information.

For those of you who did not make it to London this last week, I urge you to visit the vendors list (http://www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.co.uk/component/option,com_exhibitors/Itemid,29/) and click on the WebPages of the sites that interest you. As Americans we may not know all that is available to us, and this opportunity is possibly the bridge that we need.

Remember: Build Bridges.

Emily Aulicino
©Aulicino, 5 Mar 2009

So...You are a Newbie DNA Administrator

2009-02-06T11:01:00.000-08:00

Once you have tested yourself or your family’s DNA, you may become interested in having your own DNA Project. Perhaps, a project for your family surname does not exist. You are a perfect candidate to start the project. You already know a lot about your family’s surname, you have researched the line and have found that some with your surname may or may not be related. You may have few or no matches when your line was tested, but wish to find others who do match.

If you are not an administrator, this information is still important for you. You may wish to also share it with your project's administrator to encourage them to try these ideas. Also, consider volunteering some of your time to him your admin.

There are many reasons genealogists become administrators for a DNA project, and any reason for creating a project is greatly helpful in the Genetic Genealogy world.

Administrators vary in their interest, knowledge, ability, and time commitment for running a project. One can be as involved as you wish.

A few items are listed below help you with your DNA Project. This does not mean you must do them. These are only “best practices,” and it is up to you to determine how involved you wish to me. Choose what works for you.

For now, I will assume that everyone is starting a Surname Project. However, these ideas will work for any type of project: Geographic, Ethnic, or Haplogroup.

1. Educate Yourself: Read the online tutorials and various books posted in the archives of this blog or go to the various DNA companies as some have wonderful Q&A sections as well as book lists. Also, become a member of the International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG). This non-profit organization has a very useful email list for new administrators as well as some wonderful links and files to help you. The website is: www.isogg.org Ask for any type of help and post any questions you have.

2. Establish an Email Group: To begin, you have had contact with many people who are researching your surname. Gather the emails for those genealogists and interested family members whether they carry the surname or not, and put them into an email list. This can be an email list established on Yahoo or some other online forum. This can be a contact list in your own email program. You want both males and females on this email list…anyone interested in the surname. Email the group rather often with information on DNA testing so they will understand it. Also email when there are people ordering tests or results arrives. This group will be essential in creating scholarships for testers (see below) as well as for finding testers and checking lineages.

3. Create a Website: Most good DNA companies have a website for your project. If not, or if you are a web builder, consider designing your own. If anyone is a new administration for Family Tree DNA, you are welcome to view one of my sites to use that information for yours. See: www.familytreedna.com/public/Talley-Tally

4. Spread the Word: There are various email lists you can join to mention your DNA project exists. Any of the Rootsweb boards and forums allow mention of DNA, but do not mention the company nor any costs. Do not post DNA information on a Rootsweb email list without the permission of the administrator. ISOGG email lists, DNA lists on Rootsweb, and other email lists dedicated to genetic genealogy allow postings about projects.

5. Create Scholarships: When trying to get testers who are not greatly interested in genealogy or genetic testing or when you find people whom you wish to test, but who lack the funds, you must consider creating a scholarship program. Your testing company may have the means to establish one, but if not, hold an email fundraiser. Use one week to gather donations from your email group. In my fund-raisers, I allow any amount to be donated. I also establish a minimum amount and if that is given, I donate a sum. For example, I request a donation of $20 or $30 (gear it to your group), and if that amount is given, I contribute $10. Every administration usually contributes to someone’s testing sooner or later. This money is held aside, and I try to purchase spare tests when there is a sale at the company I use. This way the money goes farther. A test can be stores for years if not allowed to be near heat. I establish a criteria for giving the scholarships, also. Make these guidelines clear to your email list.

6. Convince People to Test: This is a learned skill. See this blog’s Ocober 2008 archives for more detail.

7. Ride the Roller Coaster: Realize that there are periods of success and periods of failures. Your project will grow, but can plateau at times. This is normal. You may struggle to find new testers, but after a while, they will find you as well. During the times of no testers, still remain in contact with your group.

NOTE: Take the time to check this blog’s archives as there are many posts to help the new tester as well as the new administrator.

©Aulicino, 6 Feb 2009

Genetic Genealogy - Q&A Quick Reference for Newbies

2009-02-04T19:28:00.000-08:00

Although my blog has covered most of the following information, having this quick reference to the basics of Genetic Genealogy for those new to this resource could be helpful.

What is Genetic Genealogy?

Genetic genealogy is the use of DNA testing to aid traditional genealogical research. Available to the public in 2000, it can help genealogists to go beyond where their paper trail stops. This is the most accurate tool a genealogist has.

What tests are available for genealogy purposes?

1. Y chromosome DNA (Ydna) – Only part of the Y chromosome is currently tested

2. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) – Depending upon the company, sections of the mitochondria are tested up to and including the full mitochondria (Full Genome Sequence or FGS)

3. Single Nueclotide Polymorphism (SNP) – SNPs are particular markers in the DNA that only mutate once. These markers help geneticist determine the haplogroup (see below).

4. Autosomal (atDNA) – This area of our DNA recombines (re-mixes) giving a person traits similar to their parents or siblings. These markers not only determine the hair color, shape of the nose, etc., but they include information on our health.

These markers are not helpful for genealogy as they change with every conception, thus even siblings will vary from each other on the test. Continuity is needed for genealogical purposes. However, some companies do offer this test and state they can determine the percentage of ethnic groups in a person’s DNA. (See my blog on atDNA)

What is a haplotype?

The results of the DNA test gives each person a certain series of numbers, in the case of males and of letters in the case of females. This is a person’s genetic signature.

What is a haplogroup?

It is your twig on the world family tree, also referred to as the Phylogenetic Tree. In order to find a person who matches your DNA signature, they must also match your haplogroup.

Who can test?

Any living male can test their Y chromosome DNA (Ydna) to obtain a DNA signature (haplotype) for their all male line (top line of a pedigree chart). (Usually, the surname of the tester, unless someone in the all male line was adopted or changed the surname for whatever reason.) Males can also test their mitochondrial DNA.

Any living female can test their mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to obtain a DNA signature for their all female line (bottom line of a pedigree chart). This is their mother’s mother’s, mother, etc. lineage.

How can I test the other parts of my family tree?

If you are a female and you wish to know the haplotype (DNA signature) of your father, you must have a brother test for you or some other male along your all male line who is living.

For any lineage on a pedigree chart that falls between the top and bottom lines of that chart, a surrogate tester must be found. For example: If you wish the haplotype of your maternal grandfather, you must put him as number one on a pedigree chart and test someone living on the top line. In most cases the grandfather is not living, nor are his male siblings or father. Then you must trace an all male line to the present for one of his male siblings. If there are none living, then go back one generation to the grandfather’s father and bring those all male lines to the present and have someone test.

The same is true when testing any female, but you must bring to the present an all female line.

What do I do if there are no matches with my haplotype?

Genetic genealogy is becoming so popular that it is a matter of time before a match will appear. However, compared to the world population we have only begun. You have two choices:
1. Wait until someone tests and matches you.
2. Seek out people whom you think may match you and have them test. For example: If you find people with your surname in a county where your ancestors were, but you cannot connect them though a paper trail, bring down those male (if you want Ydna) or female lines (if you want mtDNA) to the present and convince the person to test. More information on this is in the archives of this blog.

What is a DNA Project?

With the better testing companies, there are various DNA projects. These projects each have one or more administrators who lead the project. Anyone who fits the project criteria may join. The administrators vary greatly in how they run their projects. Anyone can become an administrator, as well. The project is the “housing” area for people who fit the project criteria.

The price of a DNA test is cheaper when going through a project in the most reputable companies.

What types of DNA Projects are there?

This can vary from company to company, but the following are found in the most diverse companies:

1. Surname Project – only males can join

2. Geographical Project – some of these are for males only; some for females and others will allow both. You must fit the geographical criteria. Projects range from counties to countries to continents.

3. Ethnic Projects – these vary according to ethnic groups and can be gender specific

4. Haplogroup Projects – these are gender specific. One cannot join them until after testing as that is the only time you know your haplogroup.

5. Affiliate Projects – some companies allow genealogical societies to form a project. These societies can put the company logo on their website and earn a commission on any sales. Anyone can join these projects and as it would be extremely rare that matches occur, this is only temporary housing for the test results.

In some companies, a tester can join more than one of the above, and can move from one relevant project to another at no cost.

What do I look for in choosing a company for my test?

Consider these features and services when choosing a company:

1. the company has been around for quite some time and is well established
2. good customer service via phone and email; tester can call directly with questions
3. large database of testers. The more people tested the greater the matches.
4. large variety of DNA projects
5. online tutorials and Q&As
6. high level of quality assurance; do they strive for 100% accuracy
7. website for your personal information at no cost to you
8. email contact when matches are found; daily comparison to the database to find matches
9. test can be upgraded to higher levels and as progress is made in genetics
10. long storage of the DNA sample so future upgrades are possible

What questions do you have? Send them to: Aulicino@hevanet.com

©Aulicino, 4 Feb 2009

Full Sequence Genome for mtDNA on Sale

2009-01-25T15:41:00.000-08:00

If you have tested your mtDNA and are in the U Haplogroup, you are eligible for the following sale on the full sequence genome; that is, the entire 16,568 markers in the mitochondria. It was not that long ago that this test cost $995, and has been reduced a few times. The $331 sale price is for an upgrade only. This means you have had to tested the HVR1 or HVR2 with Family Tree DNA to get this price.

The full sequence if you have not tested is $449.

The time frame is limited so order before February 6. Below is the message just sent to members of the U haplogroup.

This offer is being made for a couple of reasons.

1. It is known that in some cases the haplogroup subgroups found when testing the HVR1 do not correlate when the entire mitochondria is tested. For example: I tested my HVR1 and HVR2 and was given the haplogroup of U5a1a. After testing my full mitochondria I became a U5a1*. The asterisk means more data is needed to accurately predict the rest of the subgroups. At this point it does not totally mean I am not a U5a1a, but that more data is really needed to be sure.

2. More data is needed to compile an accurate set of subgroups for haplogroup U. Ten-thousand is not enough, even if it does sound like a lot. There could be many, many subgroups; therefore, much more test data is needed to have enough samples to clearly indicate all the subgroups.

For these reasons and FTDNA’s desire to continually refine the data to provide closer matches to participants, if you are in haplogroup U and have wanted to upgrade to the only test remaining on the all female line of your DNA, this is a great advantage in cost.

If you have any questions, you are welcome to email me or Family Tree DNA.

Family Tree DNA wrote:

Of all the mtDNA results in the Family Tree DNA database, nearly 12% belong to haplogroup U. This represents about 10,000 people whose maternal lineage belongs to this branch of the mtDNA tree of mankind.

Haplogroup U's phylogeny (its family tree) has evolved greatly since the earliest research, in which subgroups were assigned based only the HVR1 sequence. Research into haplogroups and their branches now uses the full sequence mtDNA. The progress towards a complete haplogroup U tree awaits only a broad enough collection of full sequence mtDNA tests.

In order to lend a hand to the research community and to the community of customers interested in their deep ancestral origins, Family Tree DNA is offering a temporary discount on the upgrade from HVR1 or HVR2 results to the full sequence (Mega) test for members of haplogroup U. From today through Friday, February 6th, haplogroup U members may upgrade to the full sequence test for $331.

This sale price is automatically offered to you in your upgrade options. To order, log in to your Family Tree DNA account and click "Order Tests & Upgrades." Next, click "Standard Orders" and select "mtHVR1toMega” or “mtHVR2toMega" from the dropdown order menu. Then click "Continue" to proceed to the payment screen and complete your order.

Family Tree DNA
Best Regards
Bennett Greenspan
President

NOW is the Time to Test Your DNA

2009-01-08T15:41:00.000-08:00

As genealogists, we have missed gathering photos and papers from family members along with the wonderful stories of their lives. We have all had regrets about not asking our relatives for more information on the family, and now those relatives are gone. By not having your lines test their DNA now, you may have the same regrets in years to come.

Why would it be important to have a DNA test done for yourself or for your family member?

Actually, there are several.

1. Interest is Growing and so are Matches
Genetic Genealogy, the use of DNA testing for genealogy, is becoming more popular and, as a result, more useful. The more people who test the greater the number of matches a person can have. These matches in the DNA signature can help break through our genealogy brick walls by showing you who does and who does not belong to your line. For this reason, it is a waste of time and resources to continue hunting the paper trail when DNA testing can help eliminate some of the data you find and help you concentrate on records which are connected to your lines.

My ancestor, Peter Ogan resided with his wife Euphemia in Frederick County Virginia in the middle 1700s. Just before moving to Belmont County Ohio in the very early 1800s, a Samuel Ogan appeared on the tax rolls. (I have only found one other Ogan in this county, a Moses Ogan.) As Samuel also arrived in Belmont County about the same time, and as some of his grandchildren were named Peter and Euphemia, I fell it was very possible that Samuel was a son of my Peter. Circumstantial evidence pointed this way, and we all know that sometimes that is all you get from your research.

Since I am writing a book on my Ogan line, I wanted to bring the family closer to the present. Therefore, I hired a researcher to scour the libraries, archives and newspapers for information on Samuel and his descendants in both Ohio and Indiana where his descendants landed. My Peter’s descendants also went to other counties in Indiana. She found wonderful records and even a CD of one of Samuel’s descendant’s photo album.

A year or so later, I became interested in genetic genealogy and tested a descendant of Samuel. The man did not even come close to being related! Now, out of fear that I may have tested a man whose family line had an adoption or unreported illegitimate birth, I am seeking a second candidate from another son of Samuel. Regardless of the outcome of this second test, I would have never spent that much money tracking paper when I could have researched just enough to find a living DNA donor. I could have paid for four tests for the money wasted in tracing the paper trail! Never again. I will test the line first to see if they do relate to my line.

In the future, wise genealogists will begin with DNA testing before they spend hundreds of dollars tracking lines they “believe” to be theirs.

2. Accurate Research…Maybe
Most genealogists feel they have done an excellent job researching and are convinced their paper trail is correct. At present DNA testing has shown that from 2-5% of the people tested are not of the line they believe themselves to be. One never knows if their ancestor took in the orphaned neighborhood children, if the wife had a son previously which was given the new father’s surname, or if some family member moved away and changed their surname.

Just as genealogy without documentation is mythology, genealogy without DNA testing is not irrefutable proof of a lineage. Granted we cannot test every line for several reasons, but to have solid proof of those we can is proof of accuracy on those lines.

3. DNA Cousins
DNA testing also allows you to find genealogical cousins with whom you can research to find the common ancestor. I have found many cousins throughout the forty plus years I have researched my family. However, in this day of DNA testing, I have found even more, and we definitely know we have a common ancestor. Together we can work on the lines to find that person.

Back to the Ogan family. I found several major groups of Ogans over those forty years. With DNA testing so far two of the known seven large families did not prove to be related, although both of them shared the given names of Peter and Euphemia. Oddly, only one other family besides my Peter had the name Euphemia, but it is good to know to whom you belong and to whom you do not.

4. Lowered Prices
DNA testing has been and will probably continue to go down in price to some degree, or you will get more for the price as all this progresses. However, waiting until the price becomes cheaper does not allow you to break through your brick walls now. No one can predict the length of our lives and our mental capacity. Acting now can help us avoid regrets later. Your descendants will be pleased you did.

5. Missed Chances
There is also the chance that the person you need to test may die unexpectedly. There are many, many cases which emphasis this point. I have had countless stories from people that their last male died just a few months or a few years ago, and they were not tested. Most of them were unexpected deaths or they just did not investigate Genetic Genealogy to see how it could help.

These researchers are saddened to learn their only other possibility is to track down a living person from an all male line that begins much farther back in their lineage. It can be difficult to do this and to convince the person to test. Unfortunately, some genealogists who have tried found the line daughtered-out on other lines or all the males were dead now. Often, a person cannot trace their line back very far, thus limiting the number of people they could locate for testing.

6. Tested After Death
I had a woman contact me about a year ago regarding a DNA sample taken from her father after he died. She requested the funeral home take the sample, but it was misplaced by the funeral home for nearly a year. Her father was the last male in her family. Luckily, the sample was found, and she called me. Upon questioning her I learned that the sample was taken with a tongue depressor, those large Popsicle sticks doctors use, put in a baggie, and stuck in the refrigerator. Well, thank goodness, it landed in the frig all this time!

I contacted the president of Family Tree DNA who suggested she send it right away and that she order only a 12 marker test so she would not be out too much money if the swab did not reveal anything useful. She was very fortunate in that it was a good sample. She later upgraded to add more markers which assisted her in researching her family history.

For this reason, it is important to consider taking a DNA sample from a deceased relative at their death, if you did not do so when they are living. Most funeral homes do not know much about DNA testing and would not have a kit available. In that case, you can order one and keep it in the refrigerator (or, at least, away from heat) to have on hand when needed. I have wanted to encourage funeral homes to offer this service to their client, but it will take the public requesting tests for it to happen, no doubt. Call your funeral home and ask them about this. Give them the name of a genetic genealogist in your area. Email me if you do not know of a genetic genealogist since I have access to a list.

7. Tested, but Gone
I have four testers in two surname projects who have died since testing. I am most thankful and grateful to have the results. I still have two men who have tested, but are “missing.” There is no reply to their emails and at their age, they could be gone.

Although these men did test, the problem is that no one has the control to upgrade their test as needed now or in the future. Please remember to designate at lest two people who can control your sample. Do so in writing and have it notarized. One of these people could be the administrator of the project while another relative who has interest in genealogy. Share this paper with your family and your DNA Project Administrator. Please let the administrator(s) know who will be responsible for your test results and do not forget to give them the codes to access the kit, as well.

Remember: You never know what new discoveries will be made in the future or near future in genetic genealogy. The field is moving rapidly. For this reason, test now and continue following the progress of Genetic Genealogy so you can better use the result in solving your brick wall.

To order a test, click on the Family Tree DNA Logo to the right. Search for your surname or other existing project for the lower prices. If you have any questions, before you order, email me directly at: aulicino@hevanet.com

©Aulicino, 8 Jan 2009

DNA Success Stories

2008-12-31T11:57:00.000-08:00

Success, a relevant term, is defined as an achievement, an accomplishment, a triumph, or a victory. It is measured by some as a great progress and by others as tiny steps. Regardless, it is in the “eye of the beholder.”

In Genetic Genealogy success takes many forms. It can mean finding the ancestors beyond our current brick wall; finding new cousins and persons related to us who can help with the research; finding birth parents or, at least, the biological surname; or determining who isn’t related so we can focus on others branches of the surname.

DNA success has resulted from testing the all male (Ydna) and the all female (mtDNA) lines. Although it is easier to test and research the male lineage, when success is found with the female lines it is huge. Many success stories for both types of tests have been submitted to the International Society of Genetic Genealogy and may be viewed at by clicking on the link SUCCESS STORIES on the left at the website: http://www.isogg.org/

Below are a few examples sent to me recently. Each of the submitters feels their DNA testing has some level of success:

SMITH to DULIN

After twenty-five years of genealogical research at the libraries in Georgia, Georgia Archives, National Archives (Atlanta Branch), South Carolina Archives, North Carolina Archives, Library of Virginia and three trips to the UK and Ireland, I gave up on my Smith surname! However, you know genealogist's never really give up, so I resolved to use DNA as a last resort to discover the ancestry of my maiden name, SMITH. All of my other lines were easy to trace for many generations, but SMITH was impossible.

The next step was to find a living male SMITH in my line to test for me. I am an only child, my father is deceased, I do not have Smith uncles, and there are no male Smith first cousins. Finally, I found a Smith second cousin who agreed to test for me. I paid for a 12 marker test, but those results were insignificant. I upgraded to 25 and found to my surprise that I was not really connected to Smith's. An upgrade to 37 and finally 67 markers indicate that my surname is probably Dulin or Doolin.

I wanted to be sure that I had not discovered some recent NPE (Non-parental event) among just my Smith great, great, grandparents. Thus, I searched and found another Smith second cousin and finally convinced him to encourage a male Smith in his direct line to test. He tested at 67 markers and his Y-DNA indicate Dulin/Doolin as well.

Ah-Ha! How exciting! We must be Dulin's. A name change or a NPE must have occurred in the mid to late 1700's in the US or Ireland.

I searched for Dulin's in George and according to census records, I found several Dulin families living near my Smiths in the early 1800's. That is where I am in my research now. I can't prove any connection to those Dulin's. I know my Smith's are Irish because all my other ancestors in that area of Georgia are from Ireland. One of my trips took me through Doolin, Ireland a few years ago. I wish I had known this then.

Without Y-DNA, I never would have this. I wish I could prove this with a paper trail and maybe someday I will find the common ancestor that ties my Smiths and the Dulin/Dooln lines together, but for now, DNA has proved I am a Dulin/Doolin.

--Charlotte Smith Winsness

TULEY AND TOOLEY

DNA testing has proved some of my theories about the TULEY surname.

1. Phonics matters. Tuley and Tooley are related, but Tuley and Talley are not related.

2. The Indiana Tuley's and the Virginia Tuley's are related, even though the documentation no longer exists, if it ever did.

Now I know only to focus on Tuley and Tooley spellings and their variants.

--Glenn Tuley

PURSUIT TO PROVE ORAL HISTORY

My family has been in the Americas since the 1600’s while others were already here. I consider my self the original “Melting Pot” Scottish, Irish, Dutch, French and Native American.

I started the DNA search because I wanted to see if my Grandmother was indeed Cherokee as she had said. She had told us that her mother had papers and that when her mother died in 1894, she went to Missouri to live with her relatives. Her aunt made her burn her papers in a wood stove. I thought they were just embarrassed; however, after reviewing the trouble Native Americans went through in the mid to later 1800’s I guess she destroyed them for self-preservation. Anyway, I had a direct line from me back through my mother 6 generations to Jane (Jennie) Williams Tally (Her mother appears to have been a Hays so this will follow the Hays Family). I completed my mtDNA; alas, I discovered the unique properties of the mtDNA it went 6,500 years back to Alpine Europe with a haplogroup of J1a. Only one other person, in the whole data base matches me. Not quite what I had expected, but those Europeans were creative.

I found out you have to trace the right ancestor for the results you want. That probably would be John Tally Sr.’s first wife (a Native American probably from the Chickasaw Tribe). Of course there were three boys and no daughters so with out knowing her family and sisters, there is no way to trace her mtDNA.

Though I did not get the mtDNA results I had expected, the research did help me to find relatives 3 more generations back and a lot of wonderful relatives out there in the cyber space who are pursuing the same things, and sharing their information!

I again, am a Corbin, comes from the Latin “Corbi” meaning Raven. It is an old name, several different coats-of- arms from many countries. We were always told we came from Peter Corbin, of Pickens County, SC we had been having trouble making the jump from my Great-Great Grandfather William Riley Corbin to Peter. (We thought it was Peter’s Son David, but we were not sure.). When I joined the surname project for the Corbin’s I connected, again, with wonderful, unknown relatives who helped me clarify this data. I ended up testing my Ydna and, yes it goes back to Peter. Each cousin is from a different son of Peter yet we all match. Haplogroup: R1b1b2a1b4

No one else matched; we only appear to match to each other. We now know for a fact as far back as Peter. This provided the data to all my cousins who descend from James Franklin Corbin. The research also created other avenues to travel (i.e., William Riley Corbin’s wife “Rosanna Barnett” goes all the way back and proven to Jamestown Colony.) We now know she also goes back to Pocahontas. This is my father’s side. The Bunch Family on my mother’s side always said they also went back to Pocahontas, and the Book “Parks/Bunch the Trail West” by Alice Crandall also says this. On a side note, it appears that my male Tally line is also from haplogroup R1b.

--Johnny Corbin

JOHNSON to LAMBERT

DNA testing proved a family rumor true for me. It was rumored that my paternal grandmother had an affair with a man called Lambert, which may have led to my father's birth. My father, however, was given the last name Johnson, after his purported father. I recently got tested and was found to match a Lambert in the pool! I have since found my father's true siblings (though they are not interested in knowing us), and the names of my paternal grandparents.

--Ed Johnson

WILLIAM COUSINS

This story started in Feb. 2005. I submitted a DNA sample from a male WILLIAMS. At that time there were 120 members in that Project. April 2005 a 12/12 match with a WILLIAMS sample in Tennessee. And we had an R1a Haplogroup estimated which was rare in the WILLIAMS Project.

By Sept. 2007 our little group had grown to five members. One was the son of the first DNA match, another was a known cousin of his. But none is a closer match to "my" (or "our") sample than the first one which was 34/37. My paper trail is still stuck in Kentucky, and his is in Tennessee, reaching toward North Carolina.

My county in Kentucky and his county in Tennessee are pretty close together. It is possible that someone 'crossed over', but I have no clue when nor who.

There are some close matches with other surnames, but I see nothing conclusive. One is in England, not the U.S.A.

--Kay Chestnut

Many thanks to the contributors. Their kindness in sharing their DNA adventures may help others understand the usefulness of DNA testing for genealogy. If anyone finds a connection to the families mentioned, I would be happy to forward a message from you to the contributor. (I do not give out emails without permission.)

To submit any DNA success story, please email me directly at Aulicino@hevanet.com

National Genographic DNA Project Sale

2008-12-23T11:16:00.000-08:00

The National Geographic Society just sent me the following email. They are reducing their testing price until January 2nd.

You may know your family’s ROOTS, but do you know your family’s ROUTES? As an important blogger for avid genealogists, we would like to extend a special holiday discount on our Genographic Project Public Participation Kits for you to share with your readers. Many readers of your blog know about their recent genealogy, but do they know about their deep ancestry? This holiday season tell them how they can give their family and friends the chance to join the Genographic Project – a real-time research initiative that uses DNA as a study tool to find out about their deep ancestry.

Have them visit: https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/lan/en/participate.html The kit normally sells for $100 (+shipping and handling), but a special discount code GKHOL08 at checkout takes $10 off the price (valid through January 2, 2009). After sending in DNA with a painless cheek swab, interactive results are delivered anonymously online and detail a personal treasure 'map' of an ancient journey - starting at the cradle of humanity, in Africa, approximately 60,000 years ago. Participating is also a way of ‘giving back’ this holiday season.

Proceeds from the sales of the participation kits go directly to the Genographic Legacy Fund, which supports indigenous and traditional peoples community-led projects aiming to revitalize their languages and cultures. As well, at no additional cost, participants can upload their results to FamilyTreeDNA and participate in surname projects, geographic projects, and DNA marker matches. The Genographic Project seeks to chart new knowledge about the migratory history of the human species and answer age-old questions surrounding the genetic diversity of humanity. The project is a nonprofit, global research partnership of National Geographic and IBM with field support by the Waitt Family Foundation. The three core components of the project are: Field Research, Public Participation and the Legacy Fund. Our website and kits are now available in English, Spanish, French and German! Visit our website, http://nationalgeographic.com/genographic, to learn more about the project and read about some of the exciting new studies being published through the Genographic Consortium, happening as a direct result of project participation worldwide! If you have any questions or are interested in highlighting the Genographic Project Public Participation Kit this holiday season, please do not hesitate to visit our website at www.nationalgeographic.com/genographic

For more information contact: genographic@ngs.org or phone: 202-857-7777

Please find attached a copy of our holiday discount promotional email.

Best,
Lindsey K. Larson

The attached hoiday discount promotional:

Join the more than 300,000 individuals who are discovering their deep ancestry and adding their own leaves to the human family tree.National Geographic and IBM's Genographic Project invites you and your family to take part in an exciting real-time research initiative — using DNA as a study tool — to find out the path of your deep ancestry.

This holiday season, 'give back' while discovering something about your family's ancient migratory routes. The purchase of a Genographic Project Public Participation Kit directly supports the Genographic Legacy Fund, providing grants to indigenous and traditional communities with community-led projects seeking to preserve their culture and language.As a special Genographic Project holiday offer*, click here to order a kit. Use code GKHOL08 at check out to receive $10 off your Genographic Kit. Now available in English, Spanish, French and German. Offer ends January 2, 2009.

Wikipedia: The free online, interactive encyclopedia

2008-12-12T11:02:00.000-08:00

Most everyone knows about Wikipedia, and that the resource is considered as accurate as any encyclopedia since readers continually update and repair any misstatements. There are multitudes of pages on any subject, but here we are interested only in Genetic Genealogy. Although the depth of knowledge for the topic can be extensive, for the novice, this is a real gem.

To see an overview of Genetic Genealogy, either search for Wikipedia + Genetic Genealogy in your Browser or go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_genealogy

This site provides reasons for testing and addresses the concerns people have regarding testing. There are many books and online resources as well.

Below are only a few of the links listed on this page:

Allele
Allele frequency
Electropherogram
Genealogical DNA test
Genetic recombination
Haplogroup
Haplotype
Human mitochondrial DNA haplogroups
Human Y-chromosome DNA haplogroups
Human mitochondrial genetics
Most recent common ancestor
Short tandem repeat (STR)
Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)
Y-STR (Y-chromosome short tandem repeat)
Y-DNA haplogroups by ethnic groups

Be sure to click on the link for Genealogical DNA Testing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genealogical_DNA_test

This section has information on the terms haplotype, haplogroup, SNP, and STRs as well as they types of tests and understanding various tests.

Other topics in this section include:
Autosome
Electropherogram
FamilyTreeDNA
Genetic fingerprinting
Genetic genealogy
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act
Genetic testing
Haplogroup
Haplotype
HARRIS Surname DNA Project
International HapMap Project
List of DNA tested mummies
List of haplogroups of historical and famous figures
List of DYS markers
List of Y-STR public databases
Mitochondrial DNA
Paternity test
Short tandem repeat
Single nucleotide polymorphism

Do not be overwhelmed by the information here; the novice does not need to consume all this information. Information is provided for any level of interest and this site is most helpful for DNA project administrators, as well.

Wikipeida provides one location you can locate a topic for which you desire more information and just click!

The International Society of Genetic Genealogy has also provided much information to help the beginner genetic genealogist. It would be beneficial to join the non-profit group (no cost to you, your information is not given or sold, and the only requirement is to spread the word about genetic testing for genealogy) and subscribe to their email list. I would caution you to view it online or in digest. This email list will help you learn more about how genetic genealogy helps your research, the site provides many files and links to assist you, the email list will allow you to ask any question regarding DNA and get advice from those more knowledgeable. The list is monitored by some experts in the field.

To join ISOGG:

http://www.isogg.org/

Tell them you learned about this from my blog.

For a glossary of terms to help you with genetic genealogy and to use for your interenet searches:

http://www.isogg.org/course/glossary.htm

©aulicino 5 December 2008

Family Tree DNA Announces Holiday Gift

2008-11-25T16:43:00.000-08:00

Greetings Everyone!

Family Tree DNA just sent a post to all of its administrators, and I'm pleased to inform you that the company has announced their annual Holiday gift to all of us. They have reduced their prices until December 31. See the email below.

Please share this information with anyone you know interested in testing. Perhaps you want to get a holiday gift for someone you wish to test. Perhaps you wish to keep a kit on hand for visiting your family. You can order the test now and return it when you find a tester, also. If you are having a family reunion in 2009, now would be the time to order several kits to have on hand. If you do not expose the kit to heat, it will last without a problem.

Let me know if you have any questions.

You can also share these steps for ordering a test. GFO is a local genealogical society that takes Ydna and mtDNA for anyone, and you do not have to be a member. I run this group, also, so I can help your tester. By going through my blog you allow the company to give me a few cents on the dollars you spend. This keeps up my spirits! LOL

To order a DNA test and receive the reduced price you must go through an existing project...
1. Go to: http://genealem-geneticgenealogy.blogspot.com/
2. Go to the bottom right and click on the FTDNA icon.
3. Where it says SEARCH on the right side, type in GFO (or your surname for male testers, if there is an established project at FTDNA for that surname.)
4. On the next page, click on GFO (or the appropriate surname, if there is a current project.) 5. Complete the form. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on JOIN.

Email me if you have questions before you order your test.

NOTE: IF you do not see the FTDNA icon on the right of this blog, email me directly at: aulicino@hevanet.com

Family Tree DNA wrote:

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.

Email me directly if you have any questions.

aulicino, 25 Nov 2008

DNA -- A Foreign Language

2008-11-20T20:26:00.000-08:00

Most people who attend a DNA lecture for the first time walk away with more questions than they may have had before the presentation. That definitely sounds as if understanding DNA is greatly difficult or the presenter cannot deliver the information in an understandable form. In truth, understanding how DNA testing works and how it benefits genealogy is very simple once you learn the language.

If you have taken a foreign language you know that repetition is one of the best ways to retain the knowledge. You also know that you cannot learn a great deal in one session. These are true of understanding Genetic Genealogy, the use of DNA Testing to aid traditional genealogical research.

SO…how do you push this new language into your brain?

Like learning a new language, you must understand some new words. Although there are hundreds of terms associated with DNA, the average person only needs to know a few basic ones.

1. Y-chromosome DNA (Y-dna) – The sex chromosome which determines that a person is male. Men have both their father’s Y-chromosome and their mother’s X chromosome. Women have an X chromosome from their father and one from their mother. The Y-chromosome has passed from father to son virtually unchanged since mankind began. This is why we can test a living male and determine the DNA signature of his all male line (top line of a pedigree chart) back to the beginning. These tests are referred to as Ydna tests. There are several levels of Ydna tests and each designates the number of markers which are tested. For example, Family Tree DNA tests 12, 25, 37, and 67 markers on the Y-chromosome.

2. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) – The mitochondria is outside the nucleus of a cell. It contains 16,568 base pairs. The part of the mitochondria that is tested for genealogy purposes is the non-coding/control region, meaning it rarely changes or mutates. This is the part that is used as a check to make sure the copy process worked. It does have a function. Most people test the parts are called the Hyper Variable Region 1 and 2 (HVR1 and HVR2). Testing the full sequence includes HVR1, HVR2, and the coding region. This is the only definitive mtDNA test. It is scary though because it may reveal medical information. One medical problem that comes from a bad mtDNA mutation is LHON. You can read about LHON here:
http://www.ifond.org/lhon.php3

Both males and females have mitochondria. Only the females can pass it to the next generation, however. That is to say, a mother gives all her children her mitochondrial DNA, but only the daughters can pass it to the next generation. For this reason we can test the mtDNA of a living person and determine the DNA signature of his or her all female line (bottom line on a pedigree chart) back to the beginning. Tests for the mitochondrial are often called mtDNA tests and can either involve the HVR1 or both the HVR1 and HVR2 and are numbered as follows:

Region: Positions
Hyper Variable Region 2: 00001-00574
Coding Region: 00575-16000
Hyper Variable Region 1: 16001-16569
mtDNA forms a circle so 00001 comes after 16569.
(This chart courtesy of Rebekah C.)

3. Autosomal DNA (atDNA) – The 44 non-sex chromosomes. These chromosomes recombine or mix together differently (re-code) with every conception. This is why you look like a sibling or other relative, but not exactly, unless you are identical twins. This part of the DNA is not useful for genealogy, but very useful in determining paternity or sibling relationships. The atDNA also contains your health issues…at least those known currently by scientists.

4. Allele – The term used for the result of a tested marker. In Ydna, the number for the specific marker is the allele (Ex: DYS 393 has a 13). In mtDNA the marker results is the chemical bases. (Ex: 156G)

5. Haplotype – a set of allele values (i.e., the result of a DNA test) for a group of markers. This is your DNA signature. If the test was a Ydna test, then the set of values are a series of numbers, one each for each marker tested. If the test was an mtDNA test, then the results is show with a letter of one of the chemical bases. Only the mutations that occur when the mtDNA is compared to the Cambridge Reference System are designated.

6. Haplogroup – a group of similarly patterned Haplotypes which share a common ancestor as defined by a unique event polymorphism (one type mutation) at a specific locus (location). It is a tester’s twig on the World Family Tree (Phylogenetic Tree). Haplogroup names are a series of letters and numbers, starting with a letter. For example: R1b1b2. This is a Y-dna haplogroup and each letter and number indicates a smaller branch. That is, R is the branch of the World Family Tree and the one following the R is the subset under that R branch. This means there is an R2 as well. Then the next letter, b, is a subset of R1. This means there is an R1a, also.

There are haplogroups for mtDNA which are designed the same way. For example: U5a1a. This means the U branch on the World Family Tree and the twig from it is 5. Therefore, there is a U1 twig, a U2 twig, etc.

NOTE: Do not compare the haplogroups for Ydna with mtDNA…they were developed separately. They are apples and oranges.

7. Phylogenetic Tree – The pedigree chart for every man or every woman in the world…The World Family Tree. Just like genealogists have a pedigree chart, all of mankind and womankind each has a pedigree chart. The chart cannot use surnames as surnames were created after DNA groups were determined; therefore, a series of letters and numbers are used. Geneticists have been able to determine the order of development of these branches and twigs on this tree. Groups on the Phylogentic Tree have "names" such as: R1b2, I2b, K2.

8. DNA Chemical Bases – DNA is made up of four chemical bases: Adenine, Cystosine, Guanine, and Thymine. These are abbreviated A, C, G, and T. They are always in pairs, and they always pair the same way. A pairs with T and C pairs with G.

9. Mutation – a change in any marker. Mutations in the autosomal markers could result in situations damaging to the species, but mutations in the non-coding region do no harm. The markers tested for genealogy are in the non-coding region and include the HVR1 and HVR2 for the mtDNA and specific markers of the Ydna.

10. STR – Short Tandem Repeat. A short pattern of the four chemical bases repeated in tandem (next to each other). The number of times this sequence is repeated determines the allele (result) of the marker. For example: GATAGATAGATA is a pattern repeated three times. Thus the marker result (allele) would be 3. Markers are known to repeat their patterns more times than three, however. Each marker has a range in which it repeats. That is, DYS 393 is known to repeat its pattern from 9-17 times, so the result of that marker in a tested person could be any number from 9-17.

11. SNP (pronounced “snip”) – Single Nucleotide Polymorphism. This is a mutation (change) in the marker of a nucleotide. Nucleotides are unique markers in the genome. For example the chemical basis G (Guanine) may change to a T (Thymine). This is done only once in this nucleotide, and these changes determine what haplogroup a person is. There is no harm to the species with this change. SNPs have unique names, such as M207 or P224. The test is either positive or negative for the particular SNP, and this helps determine where a tester is on the Phylogenetic Tree. A person can have a SNP test to determine the detailed twig on their haplogroup branch. That is, testing various SNPs helps determine if you are a U5 or a U5a1a. The more SNPs tested, the more detailed the haplogroup will be.

12. DYS (DNA Y-chromosome Segment) – a locus (location) on the Y-chromosome. Examples of the names for the markers for the Ydna, include DYS 393; DYS CDYa; and DYS 464c.

13. Cambridge Reference System (CRS) – The first sequence completed for the human mtDNA and is now been corrected or revised and is called the Revised Cambridge Reference System. Everyone uses the acronym CRS, however. The sequence contains 16,568 base pairs and was recorded at Cambridge, England, hence the name. All mtDNA results are compared to the CRS, and only the differences from that comparison are recorded as the test result. You can see the entire sequence by using the link listed below. Marker result for mtDNA gives the number of the marker (from 1 to 16,568) and then the letter of the chemical bases that mutated). For example: 15326G

14. DNA Project – An established group of tested people. DNA Projects include those with a specific surname and its variant spellings for males. For both male and females there are haplogroup projects, geographical projects, and ethnic projects. Not every testing company offers this variety of projects, so investigate the various companies and what they offer before testing.

The benefits from these projects do vary. For a surname project a male can determine if they do descend along their all male line with this surname. Sometimes one finds there was a Non-Parental Event (adoption, illegitimate birth, name change, etc.) For the geographical projects, you may find close relationships to a geographic location which could help direct you in your genealogy research. For haplogroup projects your haplotype (DNA signature) can help those interested in the migration patterns of our most ancient ancestors understand more.
With ethnic groups, a collection of haplotypes also provides more data to further the understanding of various cultural groups. Often project managers analyze the data and develop hypotheses which helps further the study of DNA and how it can help genealogy.

Besides reading the above definitions, Google the terms on the Internet to find variations which will help you better understand as you can view different ways the term is explained.

Once you learn some vocabulary of a foreign language you are ready to form phrases and sentences. The same is true of Genetic Genealogy. Using the above terms, the following sentences are true, and you only need to complete the statement with the above word that fits correctly. Can you answer them without looking at the above list or the answers below?

1. What are the three types of DNA which can be tested?

2. What are the four types of DNA Projects?

3. What is the collective result of a DNA test called besides a DNA signature?

4. What is your twig on the Phylogenetic tree is called?

5. Males can test their all male lines (the top line of their pedigree charts) with which test?

6. Females and males can test their all female line (bottom line bottom line of their pedigree chart) with which test?

7. Which test is least useful test for genealogy, but the best test for paternity?

8. What is the result of testing a specific DNA marker is called?

9. What determines the number (ex: the 25 for DYS 447) in the result of a marker tested for Ydna?

10. What is CRS?

11. What is DYS mean and which test has them?

12. What is a mutation?

13. What is the Phylogenetic Tree?

14. What is the difference between coding (recombining) and non-coding markers? Which are used for genealogy?

Lastly, you are ready to begin reading more about Genetic Genealogy. You can refer to the articles on this blog; however, there are many online tutorials and books which can help you. Remember to treat them like a reference book and not the “Great American Novel.” Mark in the books if you own them. Print out what you want from the online tutorials. Review the information from time to time to keep your new foreign language readily available.

A list of recommended books and online tutorials can be found in the archives of this blog for February 2007, but they are repeated here for your convenience.

Charles Kerchner's Webpage
http://www.kerchner.com/dna-info.htm
This is a wonderful tutorial and array of information on Genetic Genealogy, including book recommendation.

Family Tree DNA Tutorial
http://www.familytreedna.com/dna101.html
This contains a large variety of information on testing. Click on SITE MAP at the bottom of the page to better locate desired information.

Genetealogy.com
http://www.genetealogy.com/index.html
Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak's website with many resources. It also lists surname projects from several testing companies.

Dave Dorsey's Website
http://www.davedorsey.com/dna.html
This site shows how DNA you take your DNA sample for testing

Revised Cambridge Reference Sequence
http://www.mitomap.org/mitoseq.html
This is the 16,568 markers for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)

Family of Women
http://worldfamilies.net/mtDNA.htm
The site has many mtDNAHaplogroup projects and information on them.

Cyndi’s List for DNA
http://www.cyndislist.com/dna.htm
Various links to a wide range of DNA sources

World Families Network
http://www.worldfamilies.net/
Many wonderful resources

International Society of Genetic Genealogist (ISOGG)
http://www.isogg.org/
Email list of Newbies -- anyone interested in Genetic Genealogy can join and ask any question on the email list.
Email list for Administrators with many links and files to help them.
(Join ISOGG today. There is no cost. Tell them you learned of it from Emily's Blog.)

Answers:
1. Ydna, mtDNA and atDNA
2. Surname, Geographical, Ethnic, and Haplogroup
3. Haplotype
4. Haplogroup
5. Ydna
6. mtDNA
7. atDNA
8. allele
9. STRs…the number of times a short pattern of checmical basis repeats itself
10. Cambridge Reference System – the first testing of the entire mitochondria.
11. DNA Y-chromosome Segment. Ydna
12. any change in a marker
13. The World Family Tree
14. Coding markers recombine with every conception while non-coding markers remain virtually the same over time. Non-coding is best for genealogy as you want consistency over time.

Emily
©Aulicino, Nov 2008

Why Test 67 Markers?

2008-11-01T22:11:00.000-07:00

People who wish to test their Ydna often ask which test its best. First you have to determine what your goal is and then find the test that best meets it.

As genealogists, we want our test to further our research; therefore, it is imperative that the test be helpful within a genealogical time frame. The following numbers of markers that are tested give results which are and are not within genealogical time. Although the following are the tests provided by Family Tree DNA, any testing company using about that number of markers will produce a similar result. However, note that at this time, no other company tests 67 markers on the Y chromosome, except Family Tree DNA.

Thus chart indicates the time frame for a match within a set of markers.

DNA TMRCA (Time to the Most Recent Common Ancestor) and Probability to the Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA)

12 marker Ydna test tells you only about your most ancient ancestry....over 600 yrs ago and before surnames. The Genographic Project uses only the 12 marker for males as they are only interested in tracking the migration pattern of our most ancient ancestors. Their project is an anthropological study; not a genealogical one, but in time their data will help us.

25 marker match gives you a 95% probability of having a common ancestor within the last 600 yrs.

37 marker match gives you a 95% probability of having a common ancestor within the last 300 yrs.

67 marker match gives you a 95% probability of having a common ancestor within the last 150-200 yrs.

This means that the 37 marker and the 67 marker are the genealogists’ best choices as they fall withing a genealogical time frame. Prior to 600 years ago some cultures did not establish surnames. Actually, the Irish were probably the oldest culture and they began around 1000 years ago. However, the Welsh, the Jews and many others hae only had surnames for the last few hundred hears..

Although one can order the lesser number of markers (37) and upgrade at any time to a 67 marker test, the cost is a bit more than the difference between the two. There are also good reasons to update to a 67 marker and, in cases, reasons not to bother, at least until it is necessary.

So why upgrade to a 67 marker?

The following information will help the tester determine if a 67 marker is important to your goals.

It is important to know that a Ydna 67 marker test can:

* further refine the estimate of how closely related two individuals are.

* help groups of related testers find mutations which identify sub-branches in the family.

The following scenarios are good reasons to upgrade to a 67 marker:

If you are a member of a group of closely related testers with a good 37 marker match, but there is no paper trial to connect the croup, it may be wise to upgrade as:

* More mutations can result, giving you the opportunity to further subdivide the large group and look for more recent common ancestors.
(See Talley Project at www.familytreedna.com/puiblic/Talley-Tally)

If you are a member of a group with many mutations (more than the usually number…i.e., more than 3 with a 37 marker) and you think you are closely related with the paper trail.

* The marker increase may not increase the mutations.

* The marker mutations may increase, pushing the common ancestor too far away from the group.

* The marker mutations may help bridge the mutations within the group. Often this happens when you find a family who has many mutations and the paper trail supports a good connection. Some families do mutate more often than others. Finding more testers for the family may bridge the gap between those who have greater genetic differences. A 67 marker may also show the testers re closely related as the markers from 38-67 have few to no mutations. The more markers tested the greater number of genetic differences can be accepted for still being a close relationship.

www.familytreedna.com/public/Talley-Tally
http://www.boltancestry.com/boltdnamystery.htm

Probability for Most Recent Common Ancestor
(MRCA)

The following times back to the MRCA when ALL the markers match are based in the latest results of the mutation rate study conducted by the University of Arizona.

For example, with 37/37 match there is a 50% probability that the MRCA was no longer than 2 generations, and a 90% probability that the MRCA was within the last 5 generations.

Compare these with 25 and 12 -- with 25 markers, there is a 50% probability that the MRCA was within the last 3 generations, while with 12 markers, there is a 50% probability that the MRCA was within the last 7 generations.

For a chart showing the Probability for Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA), see: http://www.familytreedna.com/faq2.html

SO, in conclusion, if your test results fits within one of the above scenarios, it may be advantageous to upgrade to a 67 marker.

In time, there may be an increase in available markers to test so upgrading to a 67 marker may be only a step to the future and not the end.

©aulcino@hevanet.com, 1 Nov 2008