DNA Testing - Researching Outside the BOX!

By Doug Miller

Census records, vital records, bible records, microfilm, microfiche, books, interviews, and even the Internet are commonplace tools in family research. However, a new fighter is trying to enter our ring of research — DNA testing — and it provides the potential to knock down all those brick walls you armchair genealogists have run up against.

I don't pretend to be an expert, and certainly a detailed presentation of this topic would thrill a molecular geneticist, so I'll try to keep it simple.

• The objectives of DNA testing include
• To resolve those brick walls you have run into by determining if two people are descended from a common ancestor.
• To validate existing research.
• To identify others who are related.
• To establish "benchmarks" for our oldest ancestors against which others will be able to test relationships.
• To perhaps provide a means for determining where (location) you should research next.
• To prove or disprove theories regarding family history or ancestry (didn't your Aunt always tell you that you had American Indian blood!)

There are basically two types of tests. The Y Chromosome (YDNA) test for males and the Mitochondrial DNA (MTDNA) test for males and females. The former traces the male lineage and can be taken only by males. The latter tests the female lineage and can be taken by both.

The simple test involves scraping inner cheek (buccal) cells with something similar to a toothbrush, depositing the results into a sealable container and returning the sample to the testing company.

There are currently at least six companies in the United States that offer DNA testing for genealogists.

1. Family Tree DNA (www.familytreedna.com) (largest database)
2. African Ancestry (www.africanancestry.com)
3. DNA Ancestry (www.dna.ancestry.com)
4. DNA Print Genomics (www.dnaprint.com)
5. DNA Heritage (www.dnaheritage.com)
6. Ethnoancestry USA (www.ethnodna.com)

The SCGS Board of Directors recently voted to partner with the Family Tree DNA company in order to provide our members with discounted prices; to add a substantial new incentive for new members to join the society; and to provide additional revenue to the society. We hope that our membership will consider using the facilities of this company should they decide to test.

There are several ways that you can order a test:
1. Fill out the form at http://www.ftdna.com/surname_join.asp?code=D37109
2. E-mail to Juliew@familytreedna.com with the address for shipping the kit and the test of choice.
Be sure to mention SCGS so we will get credit.
3. Call FTDNA at 713.868.1438 and order over the phone. Be sure to mention SCGS.

To find out more, go to the Family Tree DNA homepage right now at http://www.ftdna.com where you will find a link to a listing of the 3,403 surname projects. Find out if there is already a project for your names of interest. The company advertises that they have tested over 52,698 unique surnames and have over 103,686 tests in their database.

You will find that you can also receive reduced rates if you sign up through a surname project. We encourage you to support your society by signing up through the Southern California Genealogical Society. Then, you may transfer your results to the appropriate surname project or geographical project or both. If you need any help contact Doug at 661-296-8740.

Discounts:

Y12 marker test regular price $149, SCGS discount price $99, save $50!

Y25 marker test (not available to public) discounted price $148

Y37 marker test regular price $259, SCGS discounted price $189, save $70!

Y67 marker test regular price $349, SCGS discounted price $269, save $80!

We believe that genetic genealogy will provide the answer for many. Your society is excited to be a leader in this new area of research

© Doug Miller. Used with permission.