FAQ Menu

• FAQ Home
• Search FAQs

Search our FAQ

For questions that are not included in the FAQ, please click here to submit your question.

1. What percent of Jews carry the Cohanim gene? faq id: 303
   From studies performed at cemeteries, about 5% of Jews appear to be Cohanim. Furthermore, in a study conducted in Israel where people were asked at random if they were Cohanim, Levites or Israel, of those answering Israel, about 3% tested positive for the Cohanim gene.
2. When should I use a genetic testing service? faq id: 304
   A DNA test works in conjunction with existing genealogical records and our tests help you fill in the gaps where no records exist. To be clear, we can determine descent from your father''s father or your mother''s mother. That means in the case of an individual''s great-grandparent''s generation, we can determine a link to two of your eight great-grandparents. You can, however, easily determine other family links by obtaining DNA samples from your male and female cousins.
3. Will health aspects be analyzed or will insurance companies have access to any information? faq id: 327

   The DNA samples collected will be analyzed purely for anthropological and genealogical data; no medically-relevant data will be collected or analyzed, nor will the the DNA be shared. The tests do not tell us anything about your health or about health problems you or your family may have. In addition to that, in 2008 the Congress approved legislation that was signed by the President, preventing insurance companies to use DNA information to deny insurance coverage (the GINA Act).

4. Will these tests give me a percentage of my ancestry? faq id: 336
   We do not offer a percentage of ancestry test or admixture mapping as Y-DNA and mitochondrial DNA only trace direct lines. The tests we offer can trace the father''s father''s father''s...line of a male or the mother''s mother''s mother''s...line of males and females. You can see what these direct lines look like here: www.familytreedna.com/inheritance-chart.aspx. This will allow you to determine what region of the world the direct line tested is from.
5. Can I test to determine if I have Native American ancestry? faq id: 337

   Native Americans in general belong to one of five mitochondrial  DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups: A, B, C, D or X and all of these are widely distributed throughout the Americas. The mtDNA is transfered from mother to daughter to grand-daughter and so on, without any influence of spouses along that line.

   Likewise, paternal DNA testing, or Y-DNA, can tell if your Native heritage comes to you from your father without the influence of any spouses along that paternal line. If a female wants to know about it, she will need to have the testing done on a near male relative however, such as a brother.

   Family Tree DNA will provide this information for a person testing their mtDNA or Y-DNA.

6. Can I determine if I have African ancestry? faq id: 338

   People of African ancestry in general belong to a haplogroup identified on their direct maternal (mtDNA) or paternal (Y-DNA) lines. The mtDNA is transfered from mother to daughter to grand-daughter and so on, without any influence of spouses along that line. Likewise, paternal DNA testing, or Y-DNA, can tell if your African heritage comes to you from your father without the influence of any spouses along that paternal line. If a female wants to know about it, she will need to have the testing done on a near male relative however, such as a brother. Family Tree DNA will provide this information for a person testing their mtDNA or Y-DNA.

7. Why are projects offered and when should I join? faq id: 339

   Surname or Geographic Projects connect individuals that have the same surname or a variant, or common place of origin. Joining a Surname Project (males only) could be very helpful to verify relationships with individuals that share a similar surname. Y-DNA Geographical Projects are offered to verify a possible point of origin for the direct paternal line. The mtDNA Lineage Project researches individuals that have or suspect having the same direct maternal line. The mtDNA Geographical Projects help to verify a possible point of origin for the direct maternal line. You can join a project before you test or after you receive your results.

8. How do I start a project? faq id: 387

   Starting a project is very easy to do, and involves no additional cost. We have no project set-up fee and we offer free analysis of the results. As a registered surname project at Family Tree DNA, your project will receive project pricing and a set of tools for the Group Administrator plus automatic matching notifications. Email support at familytreedna.com with questions about starting a group project. Remember, DNA is the Gene in Genealogy!

9. Does Family Tree DNA offer unlimited email and phone customer service time? faq id: 566

   Family Tree DNA will offer 90 minutes of customer service per kit. Additional time may be purchased at $60/hour and can be used in 30 minute intervals.

10. What Y-DNA markers does Family Tree DNA test? faq id: 570

    Family Tree DNA tests 67 markers in its standard testing panels. We also offer all of these markers, and several dozen more, in advanced orders, where existing customers can order them individually or in any combination. See the chart below for a list of all markers offered in the standard panels. Because markers available as advanced orders may change over time, we recommend customers check their Order Tests and Upgrades section for the list of currently available markers.

    Locus	DYS #	Locus	DYS #
    1	DYS393	38	DYS531
    2	DYS390	39	DYS578
    3	DYS19	40	DYF395S1a
    4	DYS391	41	DYF395S1b
    5	DYS385a	42	DYS590
    6	DYS385b	43	DYS537
    7	DYS426	44	DYS641
    8	DYS388	45	DYS472
    9	DYS439	46	DYF406S1
    10	DYS389-1	47	DYS511
    11	DYS392	48	DYS425
    12	DYS389-2	49	DYS413a
    13	DYS458	50	DYS413b
    14	DYS459a	51	DYS557
    15	DYS459b	52	DYS594
    16	DYS455	53	DYS436
    17	DYS454	54	DYS490
    18	DYS447	55	DYS534
    19	DYS437	56	DYS450
    20	DYS448	57	DYS444
    21	DYS449	58	DYS481
    22	DYS464a	59	DYS520
    23	DYS464b	60	DYS446
    24	DYS464c	61	DYS617
    25	DYS464d	62	DYS568
    26	DYS460	63	DYS487
    27	Y-GATA-H4	64	DYS572
    28	YCA II a	65	DYS640
    29	YCA II b	66	DYS492
    30	DYS456	67	DYS565
    31	DYS607
    32	DYS576
    33	DYS570
    34	CDY a
    35	CDY b
    36	DYS442
    37	DYS438