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The Genographic Project

The Ancestry DNA Project

The Genographic Project is a real time effort to map how humankind populated the earth. It is a five-year research partnership between National Geographic and IBM with support from the Waitt Family Foundation, and public participation through Family Tree DNA. The three main pillars of the project include:

Global field science: The core of the project is the collection DNA samples from indigenous populations, which contains key genetic markers that have remained relatively unaltered over hundreds of generations making them reliable indicators of ancient migratory patterns. Dr. Wells and a group of 10 scientists from prominent international institutions will conduct the field and laboratory research. One additional research center will focus on analyzing DNA from ancient remains. The Waitt Family Foundation is funding this component of the Genographic Project. An international advisory board will oversee the selection of indigenous populations for testing as well as adherence to strict sampling and research protocols.

Public participation and Awareness Campaign: The general public can take part in the project by purchasing a Genographic Project Public Participation Kit and submitting their own cheek swab sample, allowing them to track the overall progress of the project as well as learn their own migratory history. These personal results are stored anonymously to protect the privacy of participants. National Geographic will regularly update the public and the scientific community on project findings, including through the website and through National Geographic's many other media platforms worldwide.

Genographic Legacy Fund: Proceeds from the sale of the Genographic Public Participation Kits helps fund future field research and a legacy project, which will build on National Geographic's 118-year-long focus on world cultures. The Genographic Legacy Fund will support education and cultural preservation projects among participating and other indigenous groups.

  1. Who is the scientist, or scientists, that are heading and overseeing this project?

    The Genographic Project is headed by Spencer Wells, Ph.D.
    Dr. Wells is a geneticist and anthropologist by training. He is a National Geographic explorer-in-residence and is the scientific director of the Genographic Project. Dr. Wells has helped put together a team of renowned scientists around the world to carry out the global field research of the Genographic Project.
    In addition, the Project will have an Advisory Board that will provide advice and oversight on, matters such as funding priorities, ethical issues, and legal compliance over the course of the Project.
    The Advisory Board is comprised of respected leaders across a spectrum of disciplines. Dr. Luca Cavalli-Sforza, a world-renowned geneticist, chairs the board. The board members are:
    – Dr. Luca Cavalli-Sforza (Chair)
    – Terry Garcia (EVP, Mission Programs, National Geographic Society)
    – Nick Donofrio (SVP, Technology and Manufacturing, IBM)
    – John Heubusch (President, Waitt Family Foundation)
    – Lord Colin Renfrew (Archaeologist)
    – Dr. Merrit Ruhlen (Linguist)
    – Dr. Meave Leakey (Paleoanthropologist)
    – Wade Davis (Cultural Anthropologist)
    – Tammy Williams (Indigenous Peoples’ Advocate)
    – Scott Edwards (Evolutionary Geneticist)
    – Simon Longstaff (Ethicist)

  2. How will my privacy be handled?

    Genographic Project public participant samples are assigned a randomly generated, non-sequential Genographic Project ID (GPID) number for processing and analysis. Public participants can access their results anonymously via the secure participant area of the Genographic web site using his or her GPID number. To protect your privacy, National Geographic does not associate any personally identifiable information about you with this randomly assigned password. Therefore, if you lose this password we cannot recover it for you or provide you with any other means of accessing the results of your participation. YOU MUST RETAIN THIS PASSWORD IN ORDER TO ACCESS YOUR GENETIC MIGRATORY PROFILE.

  3. You mention that this is a worlwide project. Will health aspects be part of the project? Will the health or insurance companies have access to any information?

    The samples collected from the indigenous groups as well as the samples submitted by the general public via the Public Participation Kits will be analyzed purely for historical and anthropological data; no medically-relevant data will be collected or analyzed, nor will the the DNA be shared.

  4. What do I get back as a result of my participation?

    The Genographic Project is going to test your sample to determine what migratory routes your deep ancestors (on either your mother’s or father’s side of the family) followed and to which branch of the human family tree you belong. The tests do not tell us anything about your health or about any health problems you or your family may have. Once National Geographic has conducted the DNA analysis, you will be able to access your personal genetic migratory profile by logging on to the Genographic Project’s personal gateway web page at WWW.NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM/GENOGRAPHIC and using your Genographic Project Participant ID number provided to you in your kit. Participation in the Project is of course purely voluntary. By returning the sample, you are consenting to have your DNA sample tested to determine your migratory history. Once this test is completed, you can expand your own genealogical research by electing to do further testing with Family Tree DNA. Unless you elect additional testing to be performed, your sample will be discarded at the conclusion of the project.

  5. How this test will help my genealogical project?

    This test will be for the Y-DNA 12 markers for males and the mtDNA for females. They will address solely your deep ancestral origins and migratory history. If you need the test more markers to help with your genealogical research, you can either start with the Genographic Project and then request additional tests from Family Tree DNA, or you can order a test kit directly from Family Tree DNA. If you are not sure which way to go, you are welcome to call us at 713-868-1438, or e-mail support@familytreedna.com

  6. Will Family Tree DNA continue offering their genealogy tests?

    Definitely, yes. Family Tree DNA will continue providing all of its genealogy-related tests. For a list of all tests you can check here.

  7. I have already tested with Family Tree DNA. How can I join the Genographic Project?

    You are certainly welcome to join the Genographic Project. To do so, you will be able to log into your personal page at Family Tree DNA where you will see a new tab "Genographic Project". You will be able to upload from that link. There is a nominal cost of $15. Proceeds will go directly to the National Geographic Society to support local education and cultural preservation efforts to benefit the participating indigenous populations.

  8. I have already tested with the Genographic Project. How can I join Family Tree DNA?

    Joining Family Tree DNA after you received your results from the Genographic Project is simple. At the bottom of your results page you will see a link "Learn More", which takes you to Family Tree DNA. You will also be offered to join a Surname Project during the process of transferring your data, and obtain additional information related to genealogy at no extra cost. Should you decide to do any of the other genealogy-related tests that we offer, including upgrades to more markers, you will be entitled to a reduced rate and Family Tree DNA won't need to collect your sample again, as Family Tree DNA offers to store your DNA for 25 years as an additional service - free of charge.

  9. Where do I go to order the kit?

    To order a kit from the Genographic Project, please go to the Genographic website
    To order a kit from Family Tree DNA, please follow this link.