Trying again.
Subject: Re: BIG Y-500 - important information on this new product from FTDNA - Version 2
Hello Cousins,
For those few who have already purchased the Big Y test from FTDNA the following
information is very important.
The key words being ... Important: Customers who had the Big Y product have been
automatically switched to the Big Y-500. This information comes from the Release Notes to
Group Administered Projects (GAP). Matches over 111 Y-DNA (Y-STR) markers will not show
matches in the FTDNA system at this time. See details below. (updated via version 2)
FTDNA indicates that up to 450 Y-STR new markers will be available, but some people
because of various reasons un-defined may receive less. I assume it is a quality issue in
reporting. Those Y-STR markers not meeting FTDNA standards will likely not be reported.
(updated via version 2)
I checked my FTDNA dashboard (aka my personal results pages) for Big Y Results and see
that it has been changed to Big Y500 results. I see that my new panel 6 contains Y-STR
markers labeled with their DYS marker numbers. Panel 6 contains FTDNA markers 112 to 561.
This is 449 new Y-DNA markers normally not seen until now for me.* (updated via version
2)
* Those who have processed their Big Y raw data outside of FTDNA had access to them
previously.
How or if we incorporate these new markers into the Carpenter Cousins Y-DNA Project has
yet to be determined. I will advise when appropriate. Information on probability of
matching using this new panel (panel 6) has yet to be provided. As information becomes
more clear, we will advise accordingly.
Please remember that FTDNA has used their own system to provide the Y-STR marker values.
We do not know if these new Y-STRs follow NIST (National Institute and Standards) formats.
Comparing with other DNA testing companies with the same Y-STR value MAY NOT SHOW the same
or identical marker value result. Until further information comes in, allowing proper
comparisons or adjustments, differences on the same Y-STRs tested between different DNA
testing companies on the FTDNA Panel 6 should not be considered a mismatch.
John R. Carpenter
La Mesa, CA USA
Carpenter Cousins Project
http://carpentercousins.com
Carpenter Cousins Y-DNA Project
http://www.carpentercousins.com/carpdna.htm
Carpenter Cousins Y-DNA Project lineage page
http://www.carpentercousins.com/generallineage.htm
FTDNA RELEASE NOTES TO GAPs.
Big Y-500
The Big Y-500 is now available. In addition to everything the Big Y featured, the Big
Y-500 includes testing of up to 450 STRs.
Important: Customers who had the Big Y product have been automatically switched to the Big
Y-500.
Moving forward, customers who purchase a Big Y-500 will also have to purchase or upgrade
to the Y-DNA111 test. However, customers do not have to have a Y-STR test already before
purchasing the Big Y-500 since it contains the Y-111. Big Y without STRs will no longer be
available.
Dashboard
On the dashboard, in the Big Y-500 section, a Y-STR Results button has been added in
addition to the Results and Matches buttons. The Y-STR Results button will direct the user
to the Y-DNA – Standard Y-STR Values page. Big Y-500 will not include matching beyond
Y-111.
Big Y-500 Page
The Big Y-500 - Results page functions exactly as the Big Y - Results page. The only
change to the page is the replacement of Big Y with Big Y-500.
Y-DNA – Standard Y-STR Values Page
Current customers who had the Big Y now have the Big Y-500. Their Panel 6 (112-561) STR
results are now displayed on the Y-DNA – Standard Y-STR Values page.
Panel 6 STRs - (112-561)
For the Panel 6 STRs, customers may not have results for all 450 STRs. When a customer has
a “no call” result for an STR, a "–" is displayed on the Panel for that STR.
Note that we guarantee results for at least 389 of the Panel 6 450 STRs. In the unlikely
event that a customer has results for fewer than 389 of the Panel 6 STRs, we will have to
do a rerun on the test.
CSV Download
The CSV download will display all panels/STR locations regardless of whether the user has
tested for all of the STRs. A "-" will be displayed for all STRs that are not
tested.
Please note - STR Results may be different than other companies score.
At FamilyTreeDNA, we typically count only perfect repeats so some of the Big Y-500 Panel 6
Y-STR allele values will consistently differ from that of other companies. The difference
will be offset by only a few values above or below the results of other companies.