Out of Town, DNA Kit is Here!

I am sorry that I have not been posting for a few days. I got called out of town on business so I have not been able to sit down and do much. I wanted to let you all know that the DNA test kit from Family Tree DNA has arrived! I will see my test subject on Saturday and will have more to post about it this weekend.

I will be going to South Carolina again tomorrow but only for the day. I should be back home and doing some catch-up postings on Thursday so bear with me until then.

Kevin

DNA test kit is on the way!

I have received confirmation that our DNA test kit is its way from Family Tree DNA. My representative confirmed that she sent it out this afternoon so I will let you all know when it arrives. I will be visiting my test subject on August 2, 2008 so hopefully the kit will arrive before that time.

If you have not been following our DNA testing project, you can read up on it at the link below:

DNA Project Details

More to come when the package arrives...

Family Tree DNA Surname Search

I have been working with a representative from Family Tree DNA to start a series of blog posts about genealogy DNA testing. I am ordering a test kit and will keep you all posted on the entire process from start to finish. I will update the blog in real time so you know exactly how long it takes to order a kit, take the test and get the results. I am even going to do a video of the volunteer taking the test so you can see exactly how easy DNA testing for genealogy can be. I am still hammering out all of the details but I will let you know when the kit is in the mail.

I have also added a Family Tree DNA search box to the sidebar of my website. You can use it to find surname projects hosted at the Family Tree DNA site. These surname projects are excellent resources, I even have one for the Lett family. You can run searches with all of the surnames you are interested in and see if projects currently exist. I checked several surnames in my family tree and was able to find projects concerning my distant ancestors.

If no project exists for your surname, you can take a DNA test and start a surname project at any time. It is a free service Family Tree DNA provides for their customers and surname project groups members get bulk discounting on their tests. Therefore, if you join up with an existing group, you can get a discounted rate for your test.

Ancestry.com DNA Testing

I do not think I ever mentioned that Ancestry.com now offers DNA testing. This isn't anything terribly new but I wanted to point out that you do not have to buy your test from them to use their matching services. All I had to do was manually enter the results that I got from Family Tree DNA and I can use all of the Ancestry features. I assume you have to have some type of Ancestry.com membership to use this feature. I mean, you obviously have to have an account in which to enter the information.


I was able to see a nice write-up about my haplogroup, I1a, and you can also see all of the other members that match your DNA to some degree. You can even specify the number of generations of separation between yourself and the results that are shows. I am showing up to 70 generations in the example below but it can range from 70 down to 2. My DNA test was not very refined, I think only 12 markers, so I do not have many close results.


Ancestry also appears to have a new surname group project section where you can compare results with others of the same last name. I have not tried this yet but I may in the near future.

You can click here to check out Ancestry.com DNA testing

California to Ban DNA Testing for Genealogy?

You can read the articles for yourself but it appears that California is trying to ban genetic genealogy. Their Health Department sent cease-and-desist letters to thirteen personal genomic testing companies. Their main concern is not with genetic genealogy but with companies that do lifestyle and health testing, bypassing doctors. However, any sweeping change in law, could easily alter your rights to DNA testing for genealogy purposes. Read the articles and let us know your opinions.

Regulators, Genetic Testing Companies Begin Face Off

Regulators Take Aim at Nascent DNA-Testing Industry

The Pain (or lack thereof) associated with Genetic Genealogy Testing

A lot of people have started ordering genealogy test kits, the kind involved with DNA genealogy or genetic genealogy. I have had personal experience with one company, Family Tree DNA, and their process is fairly simple. I requested their test kit, performed a painless cheek swab and mailed the swab in a little vial, back to the company. I do not know if it is still their policy but I did not have to pay for the kit and/or DNA genealogy test unit I returned the cheek swab. When I did the test, I think it cost about $100, but that was several years ago.

As for the cheek swab, I would call it a fairly simple and relatively painless test. I think you had to take two swabs, about one minute each, rubbing the inside of your cheek to obtain skin cells. There was a little irritation afterwards but nothing significant. Imagine simply scratching your arm in one spot for a minute, you can feel it for a little while after you finish but nothing major. I would not let the pain deter me from taking the test.

After taking the swab, all you do is break the end off into a little vial of some chemical, I supposed a preservative, and seal it up. You place all of the required information into the provided envelope and drop it into the mail. Overall, the most painful part of genetic genealogy is the price. You can expect to pay at least $100 for any DNA genealogy test. If that does not stop you, the fear of physical pain should not. There will be no blood drawn by the test, unless you are an extremely aggressive cheek swabber!