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  • Don’t we all go back to Africa?
    Yes, all of our Y-DNA lineages trace back to a common ancestor who lived in Africa over 60,000 years ago. Some lineages migrated out of Africa about 60,000 years ago, while others remained. Lineages that historically remained in Africa include Y-DNA haplogroups A, B, and parts of E. Lineages that historically migrated out of Africa developed into t ...
    faq id: 437 in Test Results -- Y-DNA        Keywords: African, origins
  • What is the Y-DNA Haplogroup Chart?
    The Y-DNA haplogroup chart is a graphic representation of the Y-DNA phylogenetic tree. (A Phylogeny is a theoretical  diagram of how evolution took place for a specific species).  It shows the Y-DNA haplogroups according to the Y Chromosome Consortium’s classification. Haplogroup names and major clades are labeled with large capital letters. Sub-de ...
    faq id: 438 in Test Results -- Y-DNA        Keywords: haplogroups, chart
  • What do the letters and numbers under “SNP Tests” mean?
    If you have tested your haplogroup or deep clade, you will see a series of letters and numbers listed under the “SNP Tests” category on your Haplogroup and Y-DNA DYS Values pages. These are the individual mutations that define the haplogroups you were tested for. If you see a plus (+) sign after a SNP, then that indicates that you are positive for ...
    faq id: 439 in Test Results -- Y-DNA        Keywords: SNPs, haplogroups
  • What do the numbers in the Y-DNA DYS section mean?
    The numbers found on this page are the key to comparisons made between males in our database. The Y-DNA markers are displayed in this section. You will see that the first column is for the loci, the second for the DYS number (that's D esignated Y chromosome S egment) and the third for alleles (which are the values we use for comparison). This is ho ...
    faq id: 440 in Test Results -- Y-DNA        Keywords: numbers, DYS, values
  • What is a locus?
    Loucs come from the Latin word for 'place'.  When testing participants’ Y-DNA, the lab examines the same locations in the Y-DNA sequence for everyone. These locations are called loci.(Locus is singular whereas Loci is plural) You can have 12 loci tested, 25 loci tested, 37 loci tested or 67 loci tested. Whichever test you have, those same locations ...
    faq id: 441 in Test Results -- Y-DNA        Keywords: locus, loci
  • What is a DYS number?
    The DYS number (that's D esignated Y  chromosome S egment) is the name for the marker at a particular location. Location #1, the first location that is tested, is named DYS # 393.
    faq id: 442 in Test Results -- Y-DNA        Keywords: DYS, number
  • What is an allele?
    An allele is a DNA sequence that repeats at a certain location (or place) on the Y chromosome. The allele value is the number of times the sequence repeats. Pronounced uh-LEEL.  For example if the repeat is GATA and you find GATAGATAGATAGATA then the allele's value is 4 in this example and it's used to compare your value to other men who have ben t ...
    faq id: 443 in Test Results -- Y-DNA        Keywords: alleles, values
  • Why is my haplogroup listed in red on the Surnames Projects web page?
    Your haplogroup is listed in red because it has been predicted by comparing your 12 marker results to a database of individuals who have had additional testing to confirm their haplogroup assignment. Because males who share the same allele values share a common male ancestor, and this ancestor can only belong to one haplogroup, males who have the s ...
    faq id: 444 in Test Results -- Y-DNA        Keywords: haplogroups, red
  • Why is my 389-2 result different in Family Tree DNA from the Genographic Project?
    Marker 389 is a special marker because we can test it in two parts, both of which are very useful for genealogy. The first test looks at the first part of marker 389, and we call the marker tested 389-1. The second test looks at the entire marker, including the first section. In order to find out the results for the second half of the marker by its ...
    faq id: 446 in Test Results -- Y-DNA        Keywords: 389-2, 389-1, genographic, different, markers
  • What does each marker mean?
    The markers themselves do not have any particular meaning. The value of testing these markers comes from comparing them to a database. Family Tree DNA has the largest database of this kind in the world. Males with the same or similar results share a common male ancestor in the past.  The more markers tested and the stronger the profile between tow ...
    faq id: 447 in Test Results -- Y-DNA        Keywords: markers
  • What is a SNP?
    A SNP, or Single Nucleotide Polymorphism, is a change in your Y-DNA sequence at a location other than those in the 12, 25, 37, and 67 marker tests. SNPS are unique to specific haplogroups so SNP tests such as the Backbone and Deep SNP tests are used to identify haplogroups and their subclades respectively.  Haplogroups, defined by SNP's are the bra ...
    faq id: 448 in Test Results -- Y-DNA        Keywords: SNPs, haplogroups
  • What are mutations? Are they bad?!
    Mutations are natural copying errors. A good analogy is to think of a copy machine which is making many copies of a page. Every once in a while it will make a mistake; an 'e' might look more like an ''o, for example. This is a "mutation." If you then take that page with the 'o' and copy it, it will pass on its "mutation" to all of its descendent co ...
    faq id: 449 in Test Results -- Y-DNA        Keywords: mutations
  • How many generations ago does the Y-DNA test trace?
    Because Y-DNA is passed down from the father to the son intact for many generations, the answer is that the test can cover both recent and distant generations. On the recent side, the Recent Ancestral Origins section will point towards possible countries of origin. If you have few matches, this list will not be statistically representative, and you ...
    faq id: 450 in Test Results -- Y-DNA        Keywords: generations, time, trace
  • Why doesn’t this show me percentages?
    You received your Y-DNA from your father, who got it from his father, who got it from his father, and so on. Since mothers do not have Y-chromosomes to pass down in any generation, testing the Y-DNA allows us to trace your paternal line (http://www.familytreedna.com/inheritance-chart.aspx), but no other. This means that any ancestry from your mothe ...
    faq id: 451 in Test Results -- Y-DNA        Keywords: percentages, results
  • How many markers have I tested?
    You can determine how many markers you have results for by going to the Y-DNA DYS Values section. Here you will see the results for all the markers you have tested. If you have a Pending Lab Results section check here to see if you have other markers that are in the process of being tested.  Outstanding results are also listed on the Pending Result ...
    faq id: 452 in Test Results -- Y-DNA        Keywords: markers, tested
  • What is a Deep Clade test?
    A haplogroup test will test a single SNP to determine which haplogroup, or major branch of the Y-DNA phylogenetic tree, your paternal line belongs to. For a more detailed explanation of haplogroups, please check here: http://www.familytreedna.com/understanding-haplogroups.aspx. Once your haplogroup is known or predicted, you can use a Deep SNP tes ...
    faq id: 453 in Test Results -- Y-DNA        Keywords: deep, snps
  • What is a Y-DNA Backbone test?
    A Backbone test determines which haplogroup, or major branch of the Y-DNA tree, your paternal line belongs to. It tests the “backbone” of the tree or the SNPs that determine the major branches. For a more detailed explanation of haplogroups, please check here: http://www.familytreedna.com/understanding-haplogroups.aspx. In order to provide our cus ...
    faq id: 454 in Test Results -- Y-DNA        Keywords: backbones, haplogroups, snps
  • Do I need a haplogroup test?
    Most individuals do not need a test to confirm their haplogroup. In some rare cases, a Y-DNA signature may be unique in our database. You can determine your haplogroup information from the Haplogroup section. In order to provide our customers with the highest level of haplogroup confidence, Family Tree DNA provides a SNP Assurance Program. In thi ...
    faq id: 455 in Test Results -- Y-DNA        Keywords: haplogroups, snps
  • How do I test my haplogroup to determine the sub-branch of the tree of mankind i descend from??
    If you decide to test your haplogroup you can order the test either online or over the phone at 713-868-1438. To order your test online, go to the Haplotree section or to the link that says Order Upgrades and Refinements from your personal page. Here you will be able to read about the available test as well as order this test for yourself. In orde ...
    faq id: 456 in Test Results -- Y-DNA        Keywords: haplogroups, orders
  • Should I test more markers?
    You should test more markers when you want to compare additional markers against others with similar results to you. The additional markers do not provide information about the geographic or deep origin of your paternal line. They are used to compare against others and refine your matches for genealogical purposes. They can also help refine the mat ...
    faq id: 457 in Test Results -- Y-DNA        Keywords: markers, tests
  • Should I order the Y-DNA Haplogroup Chart?
    The Y-DNA haplogroup chart is a graphic representation of the Y-DNA phylogenetic tree. It shows the Y-DNA haplogroups according to the Y Chromosome Consortium’s (YCC) classification. For more information on the chart see What is the Y-DNA Haplogroup chart? Should you want your own copy of this chart you may order one from the “Order Tests” link.  T ...
    faq id: 458 in Order Questions        Keywords: y-DNA, haplogroups, chart
  • How do I order a kit?
    Once you have decided which kit to order, you can place your order through the Family Tree DNA website at http://www.familytreedna.com/products.aspx or by speaking to any representative at our office at (713) 868-1438. To order through a surname project, please go to the main website at http://www.ftdna.com and enter in the name of the surname proj ...
    faq id: 459 in Order Questions        Keywords: orders
  • Once I’ve placed my order, how long will the kit take to reach me?
    Once the order has been placed, kits are mailed regular first class mail the next business day from our Houston, TX location. United States Postal Service transit time for first class mail is usually 3-5 business days, but may vary depending on your location (domestically it should not take longer than ten business days).  Please keep in mind that ...
    faq id: 460 in Order Questions        Keywords: order
  • Can I have my kit delivered sooner?
    Of course! We do have a Federal Express next day or three day delivery mailing option. To order a kit for express delivery, you must place the order over the phone at (713) 868-1438 and request that the kit be sent using next day or three day delivery. Next day deliver is $25 and three day is $15.
    faq id: 461 in Order Questions        Keywords: delivery, Federal Express, shipment
  • My kit was lost in the mail, what do I do?
    If your kit does not arrive within 10 business days of placing your order, please call our office at (713) 868-1438 or email us at info@familytreedna.com. Have your kit number ready and we will have a replacement kit sent to you the next day.  (Your kit number was included in the email we sent you after you placed your on-line order).
    faq id: 462 in Order Questions        Keywords: lost, replacements