DNA testing - genetic genealogy

[Robert Fletcher]

Thank you everyone for your replies and advice. However I am becoming more skeptical the more I look at these pages.
The three I have found in the UK seem to be hidden behind the internet. I am unable to find any listings for them in the BT Phonebook. Street addresses are another thing, only one, DNA Heritage, gives a street address. Looking at Google Street View, this is an ordinary residential house in Preston Rd., Weymouth no signs outside.
With all the fees and the importance of these studies you would think they would have at least a reception and better offer some face to face contact before someone spends upwards of £200.
For me I need to validate someone whoever it might be that offers goods and services over the Internet.
Robert..

[Tisy]

Hi Robert,

I totally agree with Devon - we have tested with ftDNA as well - no problems whatsoever, and free access to worldwide databases, including the Genographic Project for only $15.  We are going to do the Family Finder plus Autosomal with them now at a knockdown price of $299.

Cheers,

Tisy

[DevonCruwys]

Robert

DNA Heritage are basically a one-man band. They are re-sellers and have their testing done at Sorenson Genomics in Utah.

If you would like face-to-face contact you should come along to "Who do you think you are? Live" at Olympia in London at the end of February. Details should be going up on the website soon:

http://www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.co.uk/

Family Tree DNA sponsor the DNA workshop there. You would be able to meet some of the staff. Some of the scientists usually come over to give talks too. For the last two years Dr Michael Hammer who heads up the FTDNA lab at the University of Arizona spoke at WDYTYA, and he is always a very entertaining speaker.

Chris Pomery, who is a fellow member of the Guild of One-Name Studies, will probably also be speaking at WDYTYA. He is now FTDNA's rep in England:

http://www.dnaandfamilyhistory.com/

Debbie

[Redroger]

Probable American relatives of mine are using ftDNA, but I have some considerable scepticism for the reasons that you state Robert,like you, I like to see the location of the service provider before I part with quite a large sum of money.Looks as though Olympia might be worth a visit next year though.

[DevonCruwys]

If it helps you can see some photos of Family Tree DNA's Genomics Research Center in Houston, Texas, and all the fancy sequencing equipment, on their Facebook page here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42578&id=129928947059495

If you do go to WDYTYA at Olympia do come along and say hello. I shall be helping on the ISOGG stand (International Society of Genetic Genealogy). There are usually special show prices for DNA kits bought at WDYTYA.

Unfortunately none of the British companies ever come to WDYTYA, though Bryan Sykes from Oxford Ancestors visited last year and sat in on all the DNA workshop talks. He spoke afterwards with Bennett Greenspan, the President of FTDNA, and Dr Michael Hammer. DNA Worldwide were at WDYTYA but they were re-selling FTDNA kits but at a higher price. Family Genetics were at WDYTYA two years ago but they're the Manchester-based company that went bust.

Debbie

[DDC]

DNA Diagnostics Centre (DDC) based in London, UK and Ohio, USA will have a stand at the WDYTYA exhibition and will be show casing their maternal, paternal lineage services and the AncestrybyDNA - this will discover your estimated percentage of ancestry from four different population groups:
European, Indigenous American, Sub-Saharan African, and East Asian. .

The US site is www.AncestrybyDNA.com and there will be a UK site soon to be launched.

If you have any questions you can contact the US office for ancestry services on;
1-800-514-5208 or via email
ancestry[at]ancestrybydna.com

or the UK office on:
0845 408 2084 or via email
uk_ddc[at]dnacenter.com

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[Robert Fletcher]

Hi
again I thank you all for the information, I have decided to defer DNA screening for the time being. The WDYTYA exhibition does sound a very good place to get this information. At the moment all advice is to not waist money.
Thanks,
Robert...

[Redroger]

Robert, On the subject of not wasting money, there is 2 for the price of one (almost!) offer in Family History Monthly for WDYTYA 2011. Not sure of the terms yet, but looks worth investigating.Might be available to other FH Magazines also.

[DevonCruwys]

I believe some of you were waiting for the DNA sales. I thought therefore that you might like to know that both Family Tree DNA and 23andMe have sales on until Christmas. The 23andMe test is more of a health test, but it is very interesting. There is a Relative Finder component but their database consists predominantly of Americans and even if you have a match it will not be much help as they won't know where in the UK their lines originate. Note that 23andMe charge a hefty fee for shipping via Fedex. If you are interested in ordering a Y-DNA test from Family Tree DNA make sure you order through a surname project, as you will get an additional saving in addition to the quoted sale price. Make sure you check the surname project pages as some of the American-led projects will offer free tests to British men! If there's no surname project then there is usually a geographical project. See this page in the ISOGG Wiki:

http://www.isogg.org/wiki/Geographical_DNA_project

If there is no surname project the test will be of less value to you unless you're prepared to wait until other people with your surname join the database or someone sets up a project for your surname (unless of course you want to take up the challenge yourself).

Family Tree DNA's Family Finder  test is not available as a stand-alone product in the sale, though it is on offer at a special sale price to those who are already in the company's database.

The company websites can be found here:

http://www.familytreedna.com

http://www.23andme.com

Debbie