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Volume 6, Issue 5
November 19, 2007
About Facts & Genes
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In This Issue
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Editor's Corner
In the News: Family Tree DNA Announcements
Educational Resources: Events & Publications
Genetic Genealogy: Vendor Selection
Genetic Genealogy: Oldest Known Ancestors
Genetic Genealogy: Join a Project
Genetic Genealogy: Site Map
Y DNA: Which Male?
Recruiting Participants: Plan for Holi day Events
Genetic Genealogy: Advanced Tests
Case Studies in Genetic Genealogy
In the Next Issue
Editor's Corner
_____
Welcome to this issue of Facts & Genes. Our monthly newsletter contains
articles about Genetic Genealogy and keeps you informed of the latest
scientific advances in this exciting new field. Facts & Genes is the only
publication devoted to Genetic Genealogy.
We appreciate your feedback about our newsletter. Please note that the email
address to contact the Editor has changed to:
<mailto:editorFG@FamilyTreeDNA.com> EditorFG(a)FamilyTreeDNA.com
At any time, if you have any questions or need any help, contact our
customer support. The following link provides several selections. Using this
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Please use the link below instead of replying to this newsletter.
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Family Tree DNA provides a wide variety of educational resources to h elp
you apply Genetic Genealogy to your family history research. In addition,
email and telephone consultation is available. To begin your education, past
issues of the newsletter are available at our web site. Click on the link
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Send your comments, suggestions, tips, and feedback to:
<mailto:editorFG@FamilyTreeDNA.com> Dexter Montgomery
We hope you enjoy this issue.
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return to table of contents
In the News: Family Tree DNA Announcements
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Family Tree DNA is pleased to announce milestones achieved and new features.
1. The following milestones have been achieved:
Family Tree DNA now has over 108,000 records in our database of Y-DNA
results. We also have over 4,400 Surname Projects, which include over 68,000
surnames. Our mtDNA database has over 55,000 results. Both databases are the
largest of their kind in the world.
2. The 4th International Conference on Genetic Genealogy was held October
20-21, 2007 in Houston, Texas. The conference was considered by many of the
attendees to be the best conference held to date. Comments from attendees
include: "Exciting," "Superb," "MyMap is another first for Family
Tree DNA,"
and "Dr Hammer's presentation was excellent."
Each year at its conference, Family Tree DNA brings the leading experts in
the field, who give presentations on a variety of topics related to the use
of DNA testing for family history and deep ancestral origins. Many attendees
have joined us each year for this exciting and educational event.
Family Tree DNA made a variety of announcements at the conference, which are
covered below.
3. Family Tree DNA Announces an Updated Y Chromosome Haplogroup Tree
At the conference, Dr. Hammer, a world renown geneticist, and a member of
the Family Tree DNA Scientific Advisory Board, presented a report on the new
revised version of the YCC (Y Chromosome Consortium) 2002 Y Chromosome
Haplogroup Tree. This revised tree incorporates all the newly discovered
SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphism), and is submitted for publication in
GenoResearch. Upon publication, Family Tree DNA will use this new structure
for classifying Y-DNA results. The Deep Clade tests will also incorporate
new SNPs as appropriate.
Dr. Hammer began his presentation at the conference with a review of the
history of the discovery of SNPs. The discovery of SNPs took off in 1997
when 19 SNPs were found, and continues to this day, with hundreds of new
SNPs identified so far. The Y Chromosome Consortium (YCC) was created by
1991, and the first official YCC haplogroup tree was issued in 2002.
Between 2004 and 2007 more than 500 new SNPs have been discovered, leading
to the need to revise the Y Chromosome Haplogroup Tree, as well as revise
the estimated dates for the major haplogroups and sub-haplogroups.
The new YCC Y Chromosome Haplogroup Tree contains many revisions to the
prior tree, including changes in its structure and the addition of new
sub-haplogroups.
Upon publication, the new Y Chromosome Haplogroup Tree will be available for
customers to purchase as a wall poster (24"x40"). You can still o rder the
previous chart by logging into your Personal Page, clicking Order Tests and
Upgrades, then Standard Orders, and then selecting Y-DNA Haplogroup Chart.
Please note that the new charts will only be offered once the paper is
published.
4. Family Tree DNA Announces MyMap
At the conference, Family Tree DNA also previewed a prototype of a new
feature that will be available shortly, called myMap. Using this new tool,
customers will be able to see the ancestral location of their matches on a
map. MyMap will be a valuable tool to help identify the ancestral location,
when trying to make the connection to the ancestral homeland. For myMap to
function as designed, participants will need to enter the locations for
their oldest known ancestor. See the article below titled "Genetic
Genealogy: Oldest Known Ancestors" for details.
myMap is an exciting step forward for all genealogists as a new tool to
assist in finding the ancestral location. Additi onal details will be
provided in Facts & Genes when myMap is available.
5. Family Tree DNA Announces Personal Y DNA SNP Exploration: A Walk Through
the Y
At the conference, Family Tree DNA also announced new tests to be provided
by their Houston Genomics Research Center. These new tests will sequence
sections of the Y chromosome. Two or more males with matching or close
results for the standard Y-DNA tests could elect to do this further testing
of their Y chromosome to look for personal SNPs. Once potential personal
SNPs are identified, then other participants could just order these SNPs at
a nominal fee to determine if they have the SNP. These new tests will
provide genetic genealogists for the very first time with the ability to
explore the Y chromosome to discover personal or family SNPs.
These SNPs may be valuable in solving genealogy questions and allowing
customers to investigate deep ancestry. These tests will be of significant
benefit t o those who have many matches, and are looking for further tools
to refine their set of matches. Personal SNPs may be discovered that define
a family or that help to identify an ancestral location.
Personal SNP tests also provide an opportunity for anyone interested to get
involved in scientific discovery.
Further details on these new Y-DNA tests will be available shortly.
6. Family Tree DNA Announces Full Sequence Matching
At the conference, Family Tree DNA announced the launch of mtDNA full
sequence matching. Customers who have tested their full mtDNA sequence can
check their mtDNA Matches and mtDNA Ancestral Origins sections of their
Personal Pages to see if they have any matches at the full sequence level.
Family Tree DNA is the first to offer this exciting new application of full
sequence testing.
With these new developments, Family Tree DNA continues to be the leader in
the field of genetic genealogy, bringing to the customer t ests, tools, and
features to explore their ancestry.
-----
Starting a Surname Project
--------------------------
If you are thinking of starting a Surname Project, now is the time to get
started. Our educational resources, combined with our email and telephone
consultation, help you each step of the way. Feeling confused or overwhelmed
will quickly pass and be replaced with the excitement of new discoveries.
Anyone with experience with family history research can start a Surname
Project. We supply the tools and guidance so your Surname Project is
successful.
There are just two steps to take to become a Group Administrator of a
Surname Project:
1. Find out if a Surname Project exists for your surname. Click on the link
below to search our database of Surname Projects:
<
http://www.familytreeDNA.com/surname.aspx>
http://www.familytreeDNA.com/surname.aspx
2. If a Surname Project has not been established for y our surname, then use
the email contact below to establish a Surname Project or to discuss
establishing a Surname Project:
<mailto:bcg@familytreeDNA.com> bcg(a)familytreeDNA.com for Bennett Greenspan
return to table of contents
Educational Resources: Events & Publications
_____
Educational Articles and Books
DNA Questions and Answers
Family Chronicle Magazine
November/December 2007 Issue
Available at news stands November 1st
http://www.FamilyChronicle.com
ABRAHAM'S CHILDREN: Race, Identity and the DNA of The Chosen People
http://www.abrahamschildren.net
Bestsellin g author Jon Entine vividly brings to life the profound
implications of the Age of Genetics while illuminating one of today's most
controversial topics: the connection between genetics and identity. Entine
weaves a fascinating narrative, using breakthroughs in genetic genealogy to
reconstruct the biblical tradition of the ancient Israelites. What is the
genetic evidence of the Exodus and the legacy of Moses and Aaron? What
happened to the Lost Tribes scattered to the far corners of the world?
ABRAHAM'S CHILDREN takes you on a journey through history and into each
person's personal genealogical history, with riveting narratives, and
chapters on the 'how' and 'why' of genetic genealogy, including the key
role
Family Tree DNA has played in refining the real story of the Jews.
return to table of contents
Genetic Genealogy: Vendor Selection
_____
Selecting a vendor for your DNA test or Surname Project is a very important
step. Often, the vendor selected will determine the success of your project.
If you are a participant, the vendor selected may determine whether you find
matches and whether you maximize your investment in DNA testing, based on
the size of the vendor's database.
Since 2000, Family Tree DNA has been providing DNA tests for genealogists.
This is our only business. We have constantly expanded our products and
services to bring the latest science and tools to our valued customers. Our
track record shows innovation and a commitment to our customers.
FamilyTreeDNA has the largest database, which is growing every day, and
represents participants from over 190 countries.
In any new discipline, you will see vendors come and go. Since 2000, this
has also happened with Genetic Genealogy. New vendors see a financial
opportunity and enter the market. As we have seen, some then leave the
market. Of these, some may wait a while, perhaps for the market to be more
profitable, and then make another entrance. Are these vendors interested in
the best solutions for Genetic Genealogists?
You will find other vendors who provide paternity testing and see an
opportunity for more revenue, so they offer a few tests for genealogists.
Their primary business is paternity testing, and the genealogy tests only
provide additional revenue from the machines they already have.
Family Tree DNA has consistently innovated and is committed to Genetic
Genealogy. As a pioneer, we are the first to bring you new features and
tools. We don't come and go based on convenience or profit.
When deciding where to test, or which v endor to select for your project,
consider these questions:
Would you trust your project to a vendor who comes and goes?
Would you trust your project to a vendor when Genetic Genealogy is not their
primary business?
return to table of contents
Genetic Genealogy: Oldest Known Ancestors
_____
For those who have taken a Y-DNA or mtDNA test, you can enter information
about your oldest direct line male and/or direct line female ancestor. To
enter this information, go to your Personal Page, and click "User
Preferences."
Move down the page until you see the section "Displaying the Most Distant Kn
own Ancestor." Enter your information in the box shown. The information
about the most distant ancestor is an optional display on the project web
site and can be valuable to the Group Administrator in interpreting your
results.
In addition, if you can identify the location of the Most Distant Ancestor,
you can add this information, which is very important for a new tool coming
soon, called myMap. To add your ancestor to the map, you must enter the
latitude and longitude for the ancestor in decimal format. A link is
provided that will determine the latitude and longitude for a location
provided. You can find this link above the boxes where you enter the
latitude and longitude.
Adding your ancestor's location for the myMap tool is very important.
In addition, your Group Administrator can select an option on the Family
Project Website Page to display the map of the location of most distant
ancestors at the project web site. If you are a Group Administrato r, go to
your Group Administration Page. Then click on Family Project Web site. This
page is used to set up and maintain your web site. Move down the page, below
the boxes, where you will see:
Display Ancestor's (Alleles) Map:
Display Ancestor's (mtDNA) Map:
Click on the box to the right of the first line so that a check mark appears
to display the Y-DNA most distant ancestor map. Click on the box to the
right of the second line so that a check mark appears to display the mtDNA
most distant ancestor map.
The Group Administrator can also view a map of the most distant ancestor or
of the participants' location by going to the Group Administration Page and
clicking "View Member Distribution Map."
Those who have tested are encouraged to add their most distant ancestor
information today!
return to tab le of contents
Genetic Genealogy: Join a Project
_____
For those who took a Y-DNA test, and a Surname Project didn't exist for your
surname at the time, we suggest that you periodically check to see if a
Surname Project has been established. Joining this project can increase the
benefit you receive from your Y-DNA test.
To find out if a Surname Project exists for your surname, click the blue
Join button on your Personal Page and enter the surname in the search box.
If a project is now set up, you can follow the directions to join the
Surname Project.
To search for a Surname Project without logging into your Personal Page,
click on the link below:
<
http://www.familytreeDNA.com/surname.aspx>
http://www.familytreeDNA.com/surname.aspx
If you are female, some Surname Projects will also welcome you, and perhaps
you can find a male in your tree to participate.
return to table of contents
Genetic Genealogy: Site Map
_____
In the previous issue of Facts & Genes, Family Tree DNA announced the
implementation of a site map at our web site to make it easier to find an
item among our many resources. The site map can be accessed from the link
below or from the footer on each page.
<
http://www.ftDNA.com/sitemap.html> http://www.ftDNA.com/sitemap.html
The site map tool makes it easy to find what you are looking for amo ng all
our resources, whether it is a tutorial, or past issues of the newsletter.
The next time you need to find something at our web site, just click on the
site map link at the bottom of the web page.
return to table of contents
Y DNA: Which Male?
_____
For a Y-DNA test, we encourage you to test the oldest living male relative
available. For example, if you are male, have a son, and your father is
living, we would recommend that you test your father. Each generation is an
opportunity for a mutation to occur. Testing your father instead of yourself
eliminates one generation. Mutations are random events that oc cur
infrequently, though they do occur.
You can add multiple emails to a test kit, so multiple persons can share the
experience. If you test your father instead of yourself, just add your email
to the kit. Be sure to consider adding the email addresses for your female
relatives who also want to share the experience.
Another factor to consider for your family tree is whether there are any
males that are the last in your tree for their surname. For example, perhaps
your mother's brother is the last male in the tree with his surname. In
these cases, it is very important to test him, even if your primary interest
is your father's surname. Testing your mother's brother preserves the result
for his surname for his tree. When he is gone, it is too late.
The importance of the last male also applies to Surname Projects. We
recommend that any trees that have only one surviving male should be a
priority for testing. Donations can always be raised to fund a test, and
when working with a budget, start with 12 markers and upgrade later.
return to table of contents
Recruiting Participants: Plan for Holiday Events
_____
The holiday season is quickly approaching, and it is never to early to plan
for these events. Family gatherings are an opportunity to share information
about your DNA test and to recruit participants.
You can be prepared for these events by having test kits on hand. You can
order these test kits using the invoice method, and then remit payment when
they are returned. An invoice will be in the test kit.
If you are attending an event and a family member is interested in
participating, you can pull out a test kit and begin the process of
collecting the sample.
When the test kit is returned, the payment details can be written on the
invoice, such as the credit card information. If the test cost is being
split, these details can also be written on the invoice. A US Dollar check
can be enclosed. If you are applying some of the General Fund to the
purchase of a kit, this information can also be written on the invoice or
emailed to Family Tree DNA (juliew(a)familytreeDNA.com). Please note that
General Funds can only be applied by the Group Administrator. Details such
as the participant name can also be written on the invoice.
You can order test kits to have on hand at no charge. To order one, enter an
order on the standard order page for the project. Group Administrators who
want to order one test kit, will click "Add a New Member" in their Group
Administration Page. If a Group Administrator wants more than one kit, click
"Order Multiple Kits for Distribution" in their Group Administration Page.
It will be important once the test kit is assigned to a participant to get
the name, postal address, and email address of the participant entered into
the kit record at Family Tree DNA so the participant receives his
certificate and map in the mail as well as email notifications of matches.
return to table of contents
Genetic Genealogy: Advanced Tests
_____
This month's featured Advanced Test is the Y-STR DNA-FP Panel 1 (General
purpose Y-chromosome STR panel).
This Advanced Test is used to have r esults compatible to the YHRD database
and is very similar to the Y-DNA12. We only recommend this panel for filling
missing markers or for re-testing inconsistent results.
To order an Advanced Test from your Personal Page, click "Order Tests and
Upgrades" and then click "Advanced Orders." Go down the page until you
find
the Y-STR DNA-FP Panel 1.
return to table of contents
Case Studies in Genetic Genealogy
_____
In each issue of the newsletter, we present a situation which you may
encounter as you utilize Genetic Genealogy testing for your family history
research, followed by our recommendation.
Case Study
==========
Your company has supplied me with the results for a Y-DNA test. My aunt, who
is the family genealogist, told me that my tree traces back to Henry XXXX
who lived in Massachusetts in 1635. How did your company obtain the DNA from
Henry XXXX?
Recommendation
==============
We did not obtain DNA from your distant ancestor Henry. The genealogy
research in the paper records showed that your distant direct line male
ancestor was Henry. If Henry had two sons, each of which had sons, and
further generations had sons, then their descendents would each have
inherited Henry's Y-DNA. If you descend from one of these sons and a distant
cousin, Bob, descends from Henry's other son, then by testing your Y-DNA you
and Bob can confirm that you are a match. This verifies the genealogy
research and establishes the ancestral result for Henry.
return to table of contents
In the Next Issue
_____
We hope you have enjoyed this issue of Facts & Genes. Please feel free to
contact the editor with your comments, feedback, questions to be addressed,
as well as suggestions for future articles. If you are a Group Administrator
and can help others with tips or suggestions, please contact:
<mailto:editorFG@FamilyTreeDNA.com> editorFG(a)FamilyTreeDNA.com for Dexter
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