Understanding Results: Walk Through the Y (WTY)

  1. What is the Walk Through the Y (WTY) Test? faq id: 1324
  2. How do I apply for the Walk Through the Y (WTY) Test? faq id: 1488
  3. How do you perform the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test? faq id: 1489
  4. How much of my Y-chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) is tested? faq id: 1490
  5. If part of the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test fails, will you rerun it? faq id: 1491
  6. Can you use my stored DNA sample for the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test? faq id: 1492
  7. What are the possible outcomes from a Walk Through the Y (WTY) test? faq id: 1493
  8. Will the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test find significant mutations for my surname group? faq id: 1494
  9. Will the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test find significant mutations for my haplogroup? Will it find defining SNPs for an STR cluster? faq id: 1495
  10. How many people with the same surname and Y-chromosome lineage should take the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test? faq id: 1496
  11. How many people from a distantly related group of men should take the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test? faq id: 1497
  12. How many people from a haplogroup should take the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test? faq id: 1498
  13. How is Walk Through the Y (WTY) different from traditional Y-chromosome SNP testing? faq id: 1499
  14. Will you add the values for all SNPs tested to my account? faq id: 1500
  15. Can I use the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test as a replacement for an extensive SNP test like the old Deep Clade or the Geno 2.0 test? faq id: 1501
  16. Can the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test tell me a more specific origin for my paternal line? faq id: 1502
  17. Why should I take the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test? faq id: 1503
  18. Is the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test genealogical? faq id: 1504
  19. Can I keep my Walk Through the Y (WTY) test results private? faq id: 1505
  20. Will you or others use my Walk Through the Y (WTY) results for research? faq id: 1506
  21. What does agreeing to make my results public involve? faq id: 1507
  22. Will Family Tree DNA publish the results from my Walk Through the Y (WTY) test? faq id: 1508
  23. I would like to publish a paper using Walk Through the Y (WTY) results. Are there special rules? faq id: 1509
  24. How do I test for a SNP found in another person’s Walk Through the Y (WTY) test? faq id: 1510
  25. When will you add the new SNP to Advanced Orders? faq id: 1511
  26. How do I find relevant information about a new SNP? faq id: 1512
  27. How soon will the Y-Chromosome Consortium (YCC) add a new SNP to their tree? faq id: 1513
  28. What can I do to help with placing a new SNP on the Y-Tree Draft and YCC Trees? faq id: 1514
  29. How do I order a Walk Through the Y (WTY) test? faq id: 1515
  30. Can I order a Walk Through the Y (WTY) test as my first Family Tree DNA test? faq id: 1517
  31. What criteria do you use to accept Walk Through the Y (WTY) test applications? faq id: 1518
  32. What should I do if I do not know the answer to a question on the application? faq id: 1519
  33. How will I know if my application is accepted? faq id: 1520

Questions and Answers

  1. What is the Walk Through the Y (WTY) Test? faq id: 1324

    Walk Through the Y is a test for the discovery of new haplogroup-defining SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) on the Y-chromosome.

    It offers customers the opportunity to participate in testing at the forefront of Y-chromosome DNA research. The Genomic Research Center lab at Family Tree DNA tests several hundred SNPs by sequencing (Sanger) significant portions of the Y-chromosome, obtaining results for SNPs already discovered, but also searching for new ones. The Walk Through the Y test can lead to the discovery of SNPs that help subdivide haplogroups and lead to in-depth studies of family or private SNPs.

  2. How do I apply for the Walk Through the Y (WTY) Test? faq id: 1488

    You may apply to take the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test by filling out the application.

  3. How do you perform the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test? faq id: 1489

    The Walk Through the Y (WTY) test directly sequences your Y-chromosome DNA for known SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms). The lab checks the raw results for new SNPs that are near the known SNP. The test has the following features.

    • It uses Sanger sequencing.
    • Segments are from the non-recombining part of the Y-chromosome.
    • It includes both the forward and reverse primer.
    • It sequences five plates of 96 segments (5x96 = 480).
    • We test over 180 kB of the Y-chromosome.

  4. How much of my Y-chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) is tested? faq id: 1490

    The Walk Through the Y (WTY) test includes over 180 kB.

  5. If part of the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test fails, will you rerun it? faq id: 1491

    No, we will only rerun the test if it fails completely. Failure is less than 50% returned. Thomas Krahn has final say in determining failures.

  6. Can you use my stored DNA sample for the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test? faq id: 1492

    Yes, we can use a stored DNA sample. If an unused vial of DNA is on hand, we will use it and notify the customer. Otherwise, we will send a new collection kit.

    Note: The Walk Through the Y (WTY) test uses large amounts of DNA. Please use the feedback form to contact us if you are concerned that you will exhaust a sample. You will need to include the applicant's kit number.

  7. What are the possible outcomes from a Walk Through the Y (WTY) test? faq id: 1493

    There are several outcomes for Walk Through the Y (WTY) testing. They are:

    • No additional SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphims) are found
    • A private SNP is found
    • A semi-private SNP is found
    • A subclade defining SNP is found
    • A redundant (equivalent to others on the tree) SNP is found

  8. Will the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test find significant mutations for my surname group? faq id: 1494

    The Walk Through the Y (WTY) test may find mutations from genealogical times. You may find these useful for genealogy. However, we cannot guarantee that it will.

  9. Will the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test find significant mutations for my haplogroup? Will it find defining SNPs for an STR cluster? faq id: 1495

    The Walk Through the Y (WTY) test may find historic mutations. These would help define haplogroup and subclades. However, we cannot guarantee that it will.

  10. How many people with the same surname and Y-chromosome lineage should take the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test? faq id: 1496

    Only one person from a surname lineage needs to take the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test.

  11. How many people from a distantly related group of men should take the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test? faq id: 1497

    You may test one male from a distantly related (more than 15 generations) group. Testing additional men may help find subclades. It is most useful to test men with a genetic distance of more than six at Y-DNA67.

  12. How many people from a haplogroup should take the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test? faq id: 1498

    There is not a haplogroup based limit. It is better to focus on the genetic distance to other participants. A Y-chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) haplogroup administrator will know if others with results like yours have already tested.

  13. How is Walk Through the Y (WTY) different from traditional Y-chromosome SNP testing? faq id: 1499

    Traditional Y-chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) SNP testing (the old Deepclade, Backbone SNP, Geno 2.0, etc.) uses known SNPs. The Walk Through the Y (WTY) test searches for new SNPs. This can uncover new diversity.

  14. Will you add the values for all SNPs tested to my account? faq id: 1500

    Your results will be reported on the Other Test Results - Walk Through the Y (WTY) page of your myFTDNA account. However, they will not be shown on the Y-DNA - Haplotree & SNPs page of your myFTDNA account.

  15. Can I use the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test as a replacement for an extensive SNP test like the old Deep Clade or the Geno 2.0 test? faq id: 1501

    No. The Walk Through the Y (WTY) test is also not a replacement for the old Y-DNA Deepclade test or the Geno 2.0 test. The quality control measures are not the same.

  16. Can the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test tell me a more specific origin for my paternal line? faq id: 1502

    The Walk Through the Y (WTY) test does not provide an exact origin. The ancestry data from others testing for the new SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) is needed. This data refines origins information. However, finding new SNPs is the vital first step.

  17. Why should I take the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test? faq id: 1503

    Taking the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test will help advance genealogy and science.

  18. Is the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test genealogical? faq id: 1504

    A SNP that is private or semi-private is relevant to genealogy. Walk Through the Y (WTY) testing is the best way to find such SNPs.

  19. Can I keep my Walk Through the Y (WTY) test results private? faq id: 1505

    Yes, you may choose to keep your raw results private. You may also keep new SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) discovered private.

    We may exclude those who request privacy from specials and promotional sales.

  20. Will you or others use my Walk Through the Y (WTY) results for research? faq id: 1506

    If you agree to make your results public, they may be used for research. However, we cannot guarantee that they will be used.

  21. What does agreeing to make my results public involve? faq id: 1507

    Should you agree to make your Walk Through the Y (WTY) results public, we will:

    • Include your raw results on the Finch2 server.
    • List your GRC number (Genomic Research Center) with the information you supplied in your application.
    • Assign SNP (single nucleotide polymorphisms) discovered L names.
    • Include SNPs discovered in future products.

  22. Will Family Tree DNA publish the results from my Walk Through the Y (WTY) test? faq id: 1508

    Family Tree DNA will submit all public SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) discovered to the NCBI. We cannot guarantee that the NCBI will accept them.

  23. I would like to publish a paper using Walk Through the Y (WTY) results. Are there special rules? faq id: 1509

    Yes. If a customer publishes a new marker, they must add all involved laboratory personnel at our Houston, Texas Genomics Research Center (GRC) as co-authors.

  24. How do I test for a SNP found in another person’s Walk Through the Y (WTY) test? faq id: 1510

    You may order new SNP (single nucleotide polymorphisms) found in Walk Through the Y (WTY) testing on the Order Upgrades page of your account. You will need to go to the Advanced Orders section.

  25. When will you add the new SNP to Advanced Orders? faq id: 1511

    We add new SNP (single nucleotide polymorphims) to Advanced Orders when the lab approves them.

  26. How do I find relevant information about a new SNP? faq id: 1512

    We add information on new SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) to Y-Map and the Y-Tree Draft.

    See also: The Y-Tree FAQ

  27. How soon will the Y-Chromosome Consortium (YCC) add a new SNP to their tree? faq id: 1513

    The Y-Chromosome Consortium (YCC) adds a SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) to their tree when testing proves its position. This requires that multiple people test for the SNP.

    The YCC reviews their tree several times a year.

  28. What can I do to help with placing a new SNP on the Y-Tree Draft and YCC Trees? faq id: 1514

    You may help by getting groups of closely and distantly related men to test for the SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism). It is a good idea to work with surname and haplogroup project administrators.

  29. How do I order a Walk Through the Y (WTY) test? faq id: 1515

    You may order the Walk Through the Y (WTY) test after we approve your application.

  30. Can I order a Walk Through the Y (WTY) test as my first Family Tree DNA test? faq id: 1517

    No, you need to have ordered another DNA test from Family Tree DNA before you apply to take the WTY test.

    See also: I tested my DNA at another company. May I transfer my results to Family Tree DNA?

  31. What criteria do you use to accept Walk Through the Y (WTY) test applications? faq id: 1518

    Thomas Krahn sets criteria for Walk Through the Y (WTY). They are:

    • Previous Y-chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) testing
    • Participation of others from the same haplogroup or subclade
    • Production capacity at the Genomic Research Center (GRC) lab

    Thomas Krahn also makes the final decision. This is not disputable.

  32. What should I do if I do not know the answer to a question on the application? faq id: 1519

    If you do not know the answer to a question, enter `unknown' or `untested.'

  33. How will I know if my application is accepted? faq id: 1520

    We will notify you by e-mail when we have reviewed your application. If we approve it, we will send you ordering instructions.