Thanks for the info Cathy. Very useful to know. But I'm confused about something. Ancestry.com offers a "Y-Chromosome 33" test. Does the 33 refer to "markers" similar to the 25, 37 and 67 markers you refer to?

Looking at the FAQ at ancestry, their test is a 33 marker test. If you're going to be comparing your results to results done with other companies, then I'd try to keep my testing as uniform as possible. If most of the other companies test at 33 and 46 (which is what ancestry tests), then go with them. If most of the others are doing the 25, 37 and 67, then I'd go with one of those companies. I'm not yet knowledgeable enough about DNA results to know if you're going to get the most accurate comparisons if you're putting your 33 marker results up against 37 marker results. Those 4 remaining markers could be a make or break thing with determining just how closely you're related to someone else. IF you go with ancestry, and most of the other places are doing the 12, 25, 37 and 67 markers, then I'd go for the 46 marker test with ancestry, as that would definitely work for comparisons with people who have done a 37 marker test. I would go for the highest marker test that you can afford. And if you're interested in your mother's genealogy, then I'd add in the mt-DNA test as well. IF you can afford it now, then it's far better to get it done now, than to wait, and a lot of places will give you a slight discount if you're ordering both the mt-DNA and the y-DNA kits at the same time. Just keep in mind that you won't be getting the same type of results on the mt-DNA testing as you will on the y-DNA testing. There'll be a whole lot more 'matches' that probably date no later than the 1300s with the mt-DNA tests than with the y-DNA tests. But it's still interesting to see all of the countries where your maternal relatives migrated, even if the migrations did happen that long ago. Another thing that I just noticed in the ancestry FAQ, is that they don't guarantee that they'll bank your DNA for possible future testing. If you're going to be tested at a lower marker number, then you'll want the company doing the testing to guarantee that they'll keep your DNA if for a long time (or as long as physically possible) in case you want to upgrade your testing later. FamilyTreeDNA keeps the sample DNA for 25 years. But again, this is really only an issue if you originally test a lower number of markers and might want to upgrade, or if you think that new tests might be available in the future that could be of benefit to you. Cathy Thumper wrote: > Thanks for the info Cathy. Very useful to know. But I'm confused about > something. Ancestry.com offers a "Y-Chromosome 33" test. Does the 33 > refer to "markers" similar to the 25, 37 and 67 markers you refer to? >

Huntersglenn wrote: > > Another thing that I just noticed in the ancestry FAQ, is that they > don't guarantee that they'll bank your DNA for possible future testing. > If you're going to be tested at a lower marker number, then you'll > want the company doing the testing to guarantee that they'll keep your > DNA if for a long time (or as long as physically possible) in case you > want to upgrade your testing later. FamilyTreeDNA keeps the sample DNA > for 25 years. But again, this is really only an issue if you originally > test a lower number of markers and might want to upgrade, or if you > think that new tests might be available in the future that could be of > benefit to you. But then, OTOH --? If you're worried that somehow someway these results can be subpoenaed for any reason (criminal or insurance), best the testing company DOESN'T keep them more than 30 days. Against better testing coming along, surely putting strands of hair or nail clippings or licked envelopes into the Zip-locs (TM) with notes on source and date and then putting those baggies into your bank box works just as well and it's under YOUR control. Cheryl

On Dec 9, 7:49 am, singhals <singh...@erols.com> wrote: > Huntersglenn wrote: > > > Another thing that I just noticed in the ancestry FAQ, is that they > > don't guarantee that they'll bank your DNA for possible future testing. > > If you're going to be tested at a lower marker number, then you'll > > want the company doing the testing to guarantee that they'll keep your > > DNA if for a long time (or as long as physically possible) in case you > > want to upgrade your testing later. FamilyTreeDNA keeps the sample DNA > > for 25 years. But again, this is really only an issue if you originally > > test a lower number of markers and might want to upgrade, or if you > > think that new tests might be available in the future that could be of > > benefit to you. > > But then, OTOH --? If you're worried that somehow someway > these results can be subpoenaed for any reason (criminal or > insurance), best the testing company DOESN'T keep them more > than 30 days. > > Against better testing coming along, surely putting strands > of hair or nail clippings or licked envelopes into the > Zip-locs (TM) with notes on source and date and then putting > those baggies into your bank box works just as well and it's > under YOUR control. > > Cheryl your test results and test sample in a "genetic genealogy" project will not be used nor subpoenaed in any criminal / insurance cases ... the MAIN reason being the chain of custody would be called into question right away :) what proof in these home collection test kits is there as to exactly whom the test sample came from, and then the sample is sent through the postal service to the testing facility, where upon they transfer it to the testing lab ... in main cases through the postal service again :) Often times the person who submitted the test sample, is not the same person who supplied the test sample :) for criminal cases ... a simple court order and they can collect a fresh sample directly from you personally at will anytime :) for insurance cases ... LOL have you [or even your parents] ever read the fine print when ever you went to the doctors or hospital for even just a simple blood test ... from one drop of blood or any other body fluid samples .... they got your info already [in most cases from enos ago when many of us were young children] generally what ever medical conditions we were predestine to have, were already capsulated in our DNA and along the way environment / man made events and the like, fostered them along and "might" have added to them somewhat here and there :) Remember the study of human DNA, actually is not anything new ... ONLY the usage of it as an "aid" in genetic genealogy :) besides the markers that are being tested for in "genetic genealogy" are basically of no real value in criminal / insurance cases ... as the markers that are being tested for in "genetic genealogy" will only identify "groups" of people who are closely related and NOT specific individuals :) so a testing facility that "does" provide for "long term" storage is ideal and can saves you money in the long run ... avoiding the additional time and fees for having another test sample processed and re-analyzed for any future upgrade testing that might come along :) what was it ... three years ago FTDNA only offered 25-markers test results .... now they offer 67-markers and many other specialty marker tests since then, that aren't currently part of the four testing panels they offer for genetic genealogy surname / geographic projects :) Ken - hdpth-DNA a co-founder of ISOGG www.isogg.org the International Society of Genetic Genealogy .

Thumper wrote: > Thanks for the info Cathy. Very useful to know. But I'm confused about > something. Ancestry.com offers a "Y-Chromosome 33" test. Does the 33 > refer to "markers" similar to the 25, 37 and 67 markers you refer to? > Hi Thumper, As usual if you can go for the one that gives you more bang for your dollar in the long run as this will give better results long term as well. As to suppliers that one is up to you. If Ancestry do not have an answer online concerning the "Y-Chromosome 33" test then you can bet you bottom dollar it is a 33 marker test which in my view is a rip off. Watch out for the small print especially so with Ancestry.com as you could end up paying more than you bargained on. David