Sharp eyes! I hadn't noticed that, since I typically just go straight to the log in area. According to the WayBack Macine, it must have happened sometime in September. The new blurb is more accurate and emphasizes their strength in the range of products they offer. They still don't break out the size of the autosomal database (or the 111 marker Y test, for that matter). I do think the autosomal database is growing at a nice clip, perhaps because of their transfer program. I have a B40435 kit from January and a B83238 kit from last week, so about 43,000 kits this year (assuming all the B kits are autosomal, which I think is close enough). Ann Turner On Fri, Nov 27, 2015 at 5:05 AM, Loretta Layman via < genealogy-dna@rootsweb.com> wrote: > Businesses are not unlike politicians, and I share Andrea's disliking of > gray area marketing claims. As to database size, specifically, here is > FTDNA's current statement: "We have the most comprehensive Y chromosome, > autosomal, and mitochondrial ancestry DNA database for genetic > genealogists!" That's a bit different from "largest" database. I'm sorry > I > didn't notice the change before bringing up the subject of database size. > However, I'm certain that Ancestry is no less guilty than FTDNA of > massaging > the market. For example, it's all too easy for potential customers, as > Ancestry must know, to assume from their cute commercials that AncestryDNA > will inform equally about all ancestral lines, including patrilineal. I > find Ancestry's commercials well done from an artistic and promotional > standpoint but a bit less than honest in what they do NOT say. > Loretta >

Database size (and composition (% US versus representation from other countries)), is one of the keys to success with using DNA for genealogy, so knowing the size of each DNA test company's database is a very important consideration for deciding where, and who, to test. In our DNA interest group we've had to refute the "fact" that FT DNA has the largest DNA database in our monthly sessions for a couple of years now. The largest yDNA & mtDNA database, no doubt; autosomal....not even close to 23andMe or AncestryDNA in quantity of test takers. (And, yes, last week the SBCGS DNA Interest Group discussed "ethnicity" ESTIMATES from all the companies and why they are presently more art than science). Glad to see they've changed the statement on their initial page, if that's where people are getting their information about DNA database size. yDNA kit bought Nov 9: Kit No 451957 AncestryDNA transfer Sep 17: B75245 On Fri, Nov 27, 2015 at 5:44 AM, Ann Turner via <genealogy-dna@rootsweb.com> wrote: > Sharp eyes! I hadn't noticed that, since I typically just go straight to > the log in area. According to the WayBack Macine, it must have happened > sometime in September. The new blurb is more accurate and emphasizes their > strength in the range of products they offer. They still don't break out > the size of the autosomal database (or the 111 marker Y test, for that > matter). I do think the autosomal database is growing at a nice clip, > perhaps because of their transfer program. I have a B40435 kit from January > and a B83238 kit from last week, so about 43,000 kits this year (assuming > all the B kits are autosomal, which I think is close enough). > > Ann Turner > > On Fri, Nov 27, 2015 at 5:05 AM, Loretta Layman via < > genealogy-dna@rootsweb.com> wrote: > > As to database size, specifically, here is > > FTDNA's current statement: "We have the most comprehensive Y chromosome, > > autosomal, and mitochondrial ancestry DNA database for genetic > > genealogists!" That's a bit different from "largest" database. I'm > sorry > > I > > didn't notice the change before bringing up the subject of database size. > >