Facts & Genes

Deep Clade $ale

Orders need to be placed and paid for by September 4, 2009

Recent interest in Deep Clade testing on our featured Haplogroups (E, G, H, I, J ,N, O, Q, & R) has been brisk as more and more people take advantage of the newly discovered SNPs, both from SNP chips and Family Tree DNA’s “Walk Through The Y-Chromosome" program.

As we more tightly determine the specific terminal SNP for each person, your history and migration patterns becomes a little clearer. This information can also be used to improve Y-DNA matching. Later this year we will employ SmartMatching on the Y chromosome matches. With SmartMatching, we can eliminate evolutionary convergence. For example, if you are confirmed to belong to haplogroup J1e, and you match another person confirmed to be J2 or J1a, you cannot have been related to them within many thousands of years. SmartMatching eliminates these matches from your list as they are excluded as potential relatives within a genealogical time frame. When we employ SmartMatching on the Y chromosome your number of matches may decrease, but the quality of the matches that remain will increase.

Determining your Y-DNA Deep Clade haplogroup assignment will help you to benefit more from the SmartMatching system. As part of the summers’ final promotion we are discounting all Deep Clade tests and all extensions/upgrades for Y-DNA SNPs at 20% off the standard price. These prices have already been adjusted into the system. For example, the sale price for the Deep R Clade test is $71.20, compared to the regular price of $89. The sale price for the Deep Clade Extension test, which is the upgrade for those who have previously tested their Deep Clade, starts at $31.20 rather than $39.

You can order your Deep Clade test from your Haplotree section or from the Order Tests & Upgrades link on your MyFTDNA page.

Learn More about SNP's

Introducing Factoids

Many of you have asked us if we could provide a panel of “cocktail conversational factoids." Because we have a state of the art lab in Houston, we can now produce these for you in a panel or individually. Intriguing, right? Look for the "Factoids" link in the menu on the left side of your personal page.

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Family Tree DNA is pleased to announce milestones achieved and new features.

1.Family Tree DNA now has over 257,000 test result records in our database. We have over 162,000 records of Y-DNA results and over 5,500 Surname Projects, which include over 87,000 surnames. Our mtDNA database has over 95,000 results.

2. We have processed over 500,000 Y-DNA and mtDNA tests since our inception in 2000. This number includes Family Tree DNA’s own customers as well as the public participation samples in National Geographic and IBM‘s Genographic Project, which are also processed by Family Tree DNA.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our Group administrators and customers for their continued support!

3. Our IT submitted a significant enhancement to My Maps. You can now enter the ancestral location in natural language, such as Dublin, Ireland, instead of using longitude and latitude. This significantly simplifies the process.

If you haven't entered your direct male line and/or direct female line ancestral locations for a DNA test results, please take the time to do this today. See the article below titled "Genetic Genealogy: Oldest Known Ancestors for Mapping" for more information, and how utilizing this feature can benefit your genealogy research.

4. A recent success story was covered in the Wall Street Journal on May 2nd, 2009.

One of our customers, Richard Hill, was successful in his 30 year search to discover his birth father, and a key element of that success was testing at Family Tree DNA due to the size of our database, which enabled him to find a match. Read more about Richard's successful search, in the article titled "Family Secrets: An Adopted Man's 26-Year Quest for His Father." Watch a video of Richard Hill on our site.

5. Knowledge Base – a wealth of information is now available without the need to make a phone call or send an e-mail. Have a question? Finding the answer is now quick and easy. This new feature is covered in detail in the article below titled "Genetic Genealogy: Using Knowledge Base."

6. Family Tree DNA sponsored a 3 day series of DNA Workshops in London, England, at the "Who Do You Think You Are?" (WDYTYA) National History Show, February 27-March 1, 2009. The workshops were an outstanding success, with most presentations over capacity, resulting in some of the audience sitting on the floor. Two top scientists on Family Tree DNA's scientific advisory board gave presentations, Dr Michael Hammer and Dr Doron Behar. A variety of subjects were covered by other presenters, which included Max Blankfeld from Family Tree DNA and Katherine Borges, from ISOGG (International Society of Genetic Genealogists).

Next year, Family Tree DNA will again sponsor the DNA Workshops at the WDYTYA show, and the seating capacity will be increased.

7. The 5th International Conference on Genetic Genealogy was held March 14-15, 2009 in Houston, Texas. The conference featured educational presentations from a variety of speakers, including Spencer Wells of the Genographic Project.

Each year at the conference, Family Tree DNA brings the leading experts in the field, who give presentations on a variety of topics related to the use of DNA testing for family history and deep ancestral origins. Many attendees have joined us each year for this exciting and educational event.

Family Tree DNA also previewed many exciting features that are coming for both participants and Group Administrators. One of these enhanced features is now available, and covered later in the newsletter.

The International Conference on Genetic Genealogy for Group Administrators is open to genealogists from all over the world who currently manage Group Projects at Family Tree DNA and want to learn more about DNA testing for genealogy and anthropology.

The 6th International Conference on Genetic Genealogy will be held in 2010, and announced in the newsletter. If you are a Family Tree DNA Group Project Administrator, this conference is an excellent opportunity to increase your knowledge and network with other Group Administrators. If you are thinking of starting a Group Project, now is the time to start your project, so that you are eligible to attend the conference.

8. Feedback: If at any time you have a web site problem or suggestion, click the Feedback link in the header bar on your personal page, and send your feedback. All input sent via Feedback goes directly the IT department for immediate review.

Please use the Feedback feature only to report problems or suggestions. General questions submitted through this form will not be addressed.

Your ideas and suggestions, can contribute to building the features and functionality of the Family Tree DNA web site.

The Feedback form can also be found by clicking "Contact Us" at the bottom of your personal page.

9. New features on your personal page: The word "New" now appears next to new features and selections added to your personal page. Be sure to visit your personal page periodically, to see what is new.

10. There are now no limits to the number of projects that a participant can join. This provides every participant with the maximum opportunity to explore their DNA result and gain as much knowledge as possible from their investment in DNA testing.

The place to start is to belong to a Surname Project, if one exists for your surname. If you are female, and therefore took a mtDNA test, some Surname Projects will welcome you. You may want to join a Surname Project for your current surname, your maiden name, or the surname of your most distant direct female ancestor.

Whether you are male or female, if a Surname Project doesn't exist for your surname, check periodically. New projects are started every day. You may starting one yourself.

The second step to explore your result is to join geographical, haplogroup, and any special purpose projects that apply.

To join a project, log into your personal page. Then click the selection in the menu on the left, Join Projects, and follow the directions.

11. The Genographic Project announced at the 5th International Conference on Genetic Genealogy that the Genographic Project has gathered 45,000-50,000 indigenous samples. Spencer Wells stated that he expects that indigenous sampling will be done in 2010 or early 2011.

12. The Gathering 2009 - Houston based Family Tree DNA, the pioneer and largest DNA testing company, was a sponsor and official DNA testing organization at The Gathering 2009, which saw 130 Clans participating in Highland Games during the weekend of the 25th and 26th of July at the Holyrood Park in Edinburgh. View the photos.

Pictured above: Bennet Greenspan, Deisi Blankfeld, Robin Greenspan, The First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond MP MSP, and Max Blankfeld.

Starting a Surname Project

If you are thinking about starting a Surname Project, now is a great time to get started. Our educational resources and email and telephone consultation help you each step of the way. Feeling confused or overwhelmed will quickly pass, and be replaced with the excitement of new discoveries.

Anyone with some experience with family history research can start a Surname Project. We supply the tools and guidance to help you make your Surname Project successful.

There are just two steps to take to become a Group Administrator of a Surname Project:

1. Find out if a Surname Project exists for your surname. Click on this link to search our database of Surname Projects.

2. If a Surname Project has not been established for your surname, then use the email contact to establish or ask questions about establishing a Surname Project.

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In the next several weeks, Family Tree DNA will apply several upgrades to our mtDNA database. These upgrades will update everyone to the same mtDNA sequence nomenclature and haplogroup nomenclature. If you have tested your mtDNA, you may see minor changes take place to your motif and haplogroup, and, by extension, to your matches. These represent an upgrade due to developments in science, and will improve the value of your matches. Additional updates may continue to take place in the future as science continues to advance. Updates to your results do not indicate that your original results were wrong; only that improvements in our knowledge due to scientific advancements have allowed us to improve upon your original results and apply these updates to your account.

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Watch The Human Family Tree on National Geographic Channel Sunday, August 30th 9 pm et/pt

On a single day on a single street, with the DNA of just a couple of hundred random people, National Geographic Channel sets out to trace the ancestral footsteps of all humanity. Narrated by Kevin Bacon, The Human Family Tree travels to one of the most diverse corners of the world -- Queens, N.Y. -- to demonstrate how we all share common ancestors who embarked on very different journeys. Regardless of race, nationality or religion, all of us can trace our ancient origin back to the cradle of humanity, East Africa. What did our collective journey look like, and where did it take your specific ancestors? At what point in our past did we first cross paths with the supposed strangers living in our neighborhood? Now, in The Human Family Tree, the people of this quintessential American melting pot find out that their connections go much deeper than a common ZIP code. Watch the trailer.

DISCOUNT ON THE GENOGRAPHIC KIT

Click here to purchase a Genographic Public Participation Kit and receive 10% off the retail price from today through September 15, 2009. Or use discount code GENHUFA09 at checkout at the National Geographic online store only.

You will be able to compare your results with those featured in The Human Family Tree by logging into your results page after the film premieres on the National Geographic Channel, August 30th at 9 pm et/pt.

MIGRATION STORIES - SHARE YOUR STORY - NEED A GPID TO PARTICIPATE

For those who have taken part in the Genographic Project here is a new opportunity to participate and share your story. Now that you are exploring two compelling questions--Where do you really come from? And how did you get to where you live today?--we want to know more. How has learning your deep genetic ancestry affected your life?

Share your migration story (and send in photos or video), and we may publish it on the National Geographic website! Submit your migration story, photos, and video at migration-stories.nationalgeographic.com.

FOR NEW YORK CITY RESIDENTS

There will be a free world premiere screening of The Human Family Tree in Astoria Park in Queens, New York on Monday, August 24 at 8 PM. For more information and directions, click here.

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Using Knowledge Base
Have a question? Family Tree DNA has implemented a new feature, called Knowledge Base, that will help you find the answer you are looking for quickly.

Anytime you have a question, simply click "FAQ," which is found at the top and the bottom of every page.

You can select a topic to look at the questions and answers, or you can search the Knowledge Base of Frequently Asked Questions by typing your query in the search box in the upper left of the page and clicking search.

For example, if you want to see all the questions and answers relating to the newsletter, type newsletter in the search box, and click search. The search results screen shows you the questions and the beginning of the answer. Simply click on a question to see the full answer.

If you don't find your question from the topic page, or with the search, simply click on "click here to submit your question," which is below the search box. A box will come up on your screen where you enter your question and identify yourself, and click submit. This facility sends an email to our customer support staff. Be sure to select the topic area for your question, using the arrow to the right on the category line, to bring up the selections available.

Using Knowledge Base will save you time, and you can quickly and easily find the answers to your questions. Most of the questions we receive have been asked before, so we have assembled these questions and answers into this new tool to help you maximize your DNA testing experience.

Genetic Genealogy: Vendor Selection
Selecting a vendor for your DNA test or Surname Project is a very important step. Often, the vendor selected will determine the success of your project. If you are a participant, the vendor selected may determine whether you find matches and whether you maximize your investment in DNA testing, based on the size of the vendor's database.

Why test with Family Tree DNA?
Other than the cost of the test, all the following services are provided FOR FREE.

• You will be included in the largest Y-DNA and mtDNA databases in the world
• You have total control over whether you compare your results only within your project or against the entire database
• The names and email addresses of your genetic matches are provided so that you may contact them
• Personal phone and e-mail support is provided by qualified personnel. Both the phones and email messages are answered by a human being and not by an automated response system.
• Family Tree DNA is the only service which has a calculator, created by our population geneticist, that provides you with the likelihood of sharing a common ancestor with your genetic match within a certain time frame.
• Family Tree DNA allows you to join, leave, and be part of multiple Projects at the same time, without any additional testing or cost
• As additional people test, your result will be matched against them and in case of a match, you will be immediately notified by e-mail.
• Family Tree DNA allows you continued access to your account, projects, and matches without additional testing, cost or subscription fees.
• Family Tree DNA is the only company that stores your DNA for 25 years allowing you to order additional tests using the original sample.
• Family Tree DNA is the only company to offer the SNP Assurance Program: if no ancestral haplogroup can be estimated with 100% certainty, FTDNA will SNP test your sample for free.
• Family Tree DNA is the only DNA testing service that partners with National Geographic’s Genographic Project and allows you to add your results to that project for a nominal fee that goes to the Genographic Legacy Fund.

To get an in-depth understanding of the multiple important factors involved in vendor selection, please read the articles shown below.

Every day, people and Surname Projects switch to Family Tree DNA. We understand that there is an additional cost to be re-tested, which is required to maintain our database integrity. A discount is provided to those who have tested elsewhere to make it easier for them to join

Family Tree DNA, the leading vendor in Genetic Genealogy.

Click here to order if you have tested at another vendor.

Would you trust your project to a vendor where Genetic Genealogy is not their primary business?

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Genetic Genealogy: A Global View
Where is your surname found today?

This is an important question. The answer will help those who don't know where their ancestors came from, and the answer will also enable you to expand your recruiting efforts.

The USA wasn't the only migration destination country. Your surname may be in Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of South Africa, France, Ireland, or many other countries.

Even if you know the ancestral country, identifying all countries where your surname is found today is important for recruiting. Not every family tree may still present in the ancestral country. Perhaps you don't have a match, can't find a match in the ancestral country after quite a few trees have tested. This could be because your direct male line does not survive in the ancestral country. However, a branch of your tree may have migrated years ago to another country, such as Australia, where you will find your match.

The easiest way to determine where your surname is found today is to make a chart of countries and surnames, and check the online phone books.

Once you have identified the countries where your surname and variants are found, perhaps there are mailing lists or forums for these countries where you can post about the DNA project to recruit participants. You can also check the genealogy societies for the countries, to see if they post members’ interests, where you can contact others with the surname.

Discovering where your surname is found today enables you to take a global view to your recruiting, and may help some trees find a match.

Genetic Genealogy: Advanced Tests
This month's featured Advanced Test is the Y-STR DNA-FP Panel 7.

This Advanced Test allows you test markers 48-54 that are in the Family Tree DNA 67 marker test. You can order individual markers, or the complete panel. DNA-FP panels are set up to continue the compatibility for former DNA-Fingerprint lab clients.

To order this Advanced Test, from your Personal Page click "Order Tests and Upgrades" and then click "Advanced Orders" and of the four options select "Autosomal". The CCR5 test will be the first option available. To order Y-STR DNA-FP Panel 7, check the box next to Advanced and then go down the page until you find the Y-STR DNA-FP Panel 7.

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I don't know where my ancestors came from before the USA. I just started a Surname Project, though the only participant so far is my brother, and we don't have any matches yet. What can I do?

Recommendation
We recommend that you take a two prong strategy to address the situation. First, recruit participants for your surname. Second, build a knowledge base about your surname.

Where is your surname found today? Most countries have an online phonebook that you can search to determine if the surname exists there, and the number of households. In addition, look at the online census records for the USA to determine which countries are shown as the birth country for immigrants with this last name.

Once you identify the countries, you will want to investigate whether the surname arrived there as a result of migration, or possibly originated there. As you go investigate further back in time, you wouldn't find the surname present in the country where it arrived by immigration. For example, you may determine that your surname first arrived in France in the late 1800s, and wasn't present prior to that time.

Looking at the British Isles, it may be a little more difficult to determine the origin vs. the migration. For example, your surname is found in both Ireland and England. Which was the origin? In this case, looking further back in time as well as looking at the counts of persons would be valuable.

The more you learn about your surname, where it is located today and historically, how many persons existed with the surname, where they resided, and finding early entries will benefit your project. Finding and testing participants whose trees go back to these potential ancestral areas may eventually determine your ancestral country.

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