DNA Testing UpdateWelcome to DNA Testing Update, my occasional web journal that keeps you up-to-date with what's new at DNA Testing Adviser. I’ll tell you about…
You can read my latest journal entries below; but you can also have DNA Testing Update delivered directly to your computer. How do I subscribe to DNA Testing Update? You don't even need an email address. It's easy to set up an RSS feed using the buttons on the left. If you're not familiar with RSS, click on the question mark above the RSS graphic to learn everything you need to know. Can an Indian DNA Test Find or Prove Native American Ancestry?Learn the uses and limitations of Indian DNA test alternatives in Native American genealogy. March Sale at 23andMe: To Buy or Not?DNA testing company, 23andMe, has created a web page where Oprah viewers (or anyone else) can order their Ancestry Edition for half price ($199). But you must order by March 31, 2010 and use the link below. Genealogists Should Wait If you are a genealogist hoping to expand your family tree, I recommend you pass on this sale and wait for the new Family Finder product from Family Tree DNA. I am a Beta tester for Family Finder as I was for the Relative Finder on 23andMe. So I know both products. Family Tree DNA founded genetic genealogy and most customers are genealogists. People you match are likely to answer your inquiries. And many will have the genealogy data needed to determine common ancestors. Plus, Family Finder has a far better user interface, designed specifically to support the needs of genealogists. 23andMe does medical testing. Most people in their database tested for health reasons and will not respond to genealogical inquiries. Many of those who do respond have little knowledge of their family trees. Then Who Should Take Advantage of This Sale? Some people need a DNA test to confirm or deny suspected close relationships. Has an adoptee really found her birth family? Did two siblings have different fathers? If two people only want to solve a relationship mystery, this is a good time to buy two Ancestry Edition kits for the price of one. The new Family Finder from Family Tree DNA will also work for relationship testing. But 23andMe has a lower price this month. A Savings Tip for Medical Testers If you want a medical analysis of your DNA, there is a way to get $200 off the 23andMe Complete Edition this month. That gives you medical plus ancestry for $299. Use the Order Now link from the page below. Click Continue Shopping and add the Complete Edition. Then remove the Ancestry Edition by choosing zero in the quantity box. Genealogy on TV This WeekThis will be a great week for viewers in the Unites States to learn about DNA testing in genealogy and be entertained at the same time. Two very important shows will be airing: Faces of America This four-part series on the Public Broadcasting System will conclude on Wednesday evening, March 3rd. The first three episodes have captivated genealogists, history buffs, and celebrity watchers. The concluding episode finally gets into the subjects’ DNA to help them understand their ancient ancestry. Who Do You Think You Are This show, often abbreviated WDYTYA, has been a huge hit in Great Britain and the long-awaited US version will begin Friday evening, March 5th on NBC. The show is scheduled for 8:00 PM Eastern and 7:00 PM Central time. Like Faces of America, the show will explore the family history of celebrities. I’m hopeful that DNA testing will be included to some degree. The initial seven are Sarah Jessica Parker, Emmitt Smith, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Broderick, Brooke Shields, Susan Sarandon and Spike Lee. Check your local, cable, or satellite listings for times and stations in your area. I’m setting my TiVo and plan to watch them all. Use the link below to reach the WDYTYA web site. New Autosomal DNA Test from Family Tree DNAGenetic genealogy testing company Family Tree DNA has announced a new autosomal DNA test called Family Finder. This test is similar in concept to the 23andMe Relative Finder, which I have discussed in the Relationship Testing section of my web site, DNA Testing Adviser. This test is different from the Y-DNA test that tracks a man’s paternal line and the mtDNA test that tracks a person’s maternal line. By measuring the autosomal DNA contributed by all ancestors, Family Finder can identify relationships as distant as 5th cousins or more, along all ancestral lines. In addition to helping genealogists expand their family trees, the test could be a huge breakthrough for adoptees searching for biological families. I was a Beta tester in the Relative Finder project at 23andMe. Now I am testing the new Family Finder as well. Once I have enough product experience, I will cover it more extensively. But I am initially quite excited about Family Finder for the following reasons: Most people in the 23andMe database tested their DNA for medical purposes. Many will not respond to contact requests. And those who do respond may not know enough about their family tree to identify the common ancestors responsible for your match. Formed specifically for genealogy, Family Tree DNA does not analyze or report any medical implications. With their huge database of genealogist customers, I expect participation in Family Finder to expand rapidly. This should provide an ongoing stream of new matches for participants. Plus, those matches should—on average--be more eager to compare data and more knowledgeable about their ancestors. Family Finder is rolling out in stages to current Family Tree DNA customers and should be available to the public in mid-March. Using Forensic DNA Testing for Paternity Tests and GenealogyLearn how the principles of forensic DNA testing can help you get DNA from people who are unavailable or unwilling to be tested. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Using Forensic DNA Testing for Paternity Tests and Genealogy" New PBS Series Uses Genetic GenealogyWednesday evening, 2/10, is the premier of a new PBS series Faces of America with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. The Harvard scholar turns to the latest tools of genealogy and genetics to explore the family histories of 12 renowned Americans — professor and poet Elizabeth Alexander, chef Mario Batali, comedian Stephen Colbert, novelist Louise Erdrich, journalist Malcolm Gladwell, actress Eva Longoria, musician Yo-Yo Ma, director Mike Nichols, Her Majesty Queen Noor, television host/heart surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz, actress Meryl Streep, and figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi. I've got my TiVo set to record the show. If you're interested in genetic genealogy, I suggest you give the first show a try. DNA Testing Labs — An Independent GuideHow to choose the best DNA testing labs for paternity, genealogy, adoption search and other purposes. Permalink -- click for full blog post "DNA Testing Labs — An Independent Guide" Review of Family Tree DNA Testing LaboratoryThe DNA Testing Adviser shares his Top 10 Reasons for Choosing Family Tree DNA for genetic genealogy tests. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Review of Family Tree DNA Testing Laboratory"
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