DNA testing (_Brownieofbowie@aol.com_ (mailto:Brownieofbowie@aol.com) Thank you Dr. Moseley. It was most informative to think of surname groups. I hadn't thought of that as a possibility. I am an alumni of Texas Wesleyan from 1958, so I'm still gaining knowledge from Ft. Worth, TX. Mr. Saunders, thank you for such an informative and easy to follow discussion. Knowing the three top testing places was very helpful, especially with the detail. Thanks to you both, Mary B Original Message 28 Jan 2009 From: Brownieofbowie@aol.com Subject: [MDSTMARY] DNA testing I know this is an old subject, but I would like to know what "you" think about the various DNA testing i.e. which is the best and what your experience has been? I think I have talked my only hope for a male cousin to have the testing done. I need to strike while he is willing. He is concerned about confidentiality and privacy. Mary B ************** 29 Jan 2009 From: "Fredric Z. Saunders" _fzsaund@ix.netcom.com_ (mailto:fzsaund@ix.netcom.com) [MDSTMARY] DNA _testing_ (mailto:testing@elasmtp-spurfowl.atl.sa.earthlink.net) Probably the three most popular are FamilyTree DNA, DNA Heritage, and Ancestry.com. You will get privacy with all of them. The first thing you should do is see if there is an existing project for the surname to be tested. FTDNA has the largest database, and will most likely have the largest number of persons tested with any surname. There are exceptions where some surnames have decided to go with one of the other two. It may be best to go which ever company has the largest project for the surname, although there are other things you will want to consider. You may also want to browse the Rootsweb archives for lists as Genealogy-DNA y-DNA-Projects and some others to see what people have said is good and what they don't like about the different companies. FTDNA has tests of 12, 25, 37 and 67 markers, plus some specific additional ones. DNA Heritage and Ancestry.com have a 43 marker test (claimed by Ancestry as 46). All the companies test for 3 additional multiple markers that most people (99+%) don't have, and will report them if found. Ancestry chooses to "advertise" those three in the amount they test, even though they know most people are only going to get a report of 43 markers. There is some overlap in the markers tested, but not fully. For a 43 marker test, only 32 are in common with the FTDNA 37 marker test. Only 34 of the 43 marker test are in common with FTDNA's 67 marker test. So, while comparing results from a person who tested with one company who tested with another is not an exact apples to apples results, it isn't a totally different apples to oranges either. If most people of the surname have tested with one company, and you go with another, then you won't have an exact comparison of results. If there are projects with two or three companies, I would also suggest "interviewing" the project administrators for each, especially if there are many things about DNA you don't feel comfortable with as in interpreting results. Besides the size of each project, how often or soon do they post new results? Do they e-mail participants when new results are in, and give an interpretation? Are they willing to answer your questions, or at least give you sources on things they can't? Or, are they an "administrator" who doesn't respond to any e-mail, and is apparently glad that people test to see if they match THEM, but if you don't, you are unimportant. Are the results of the entire project on a website (either public or private) where you can view and compare your results with others? How organized is that page? Does it look like the administrator is active and working for the ENTIRE project, or is there no website, or one that appears poorly kept? Is there a method at the website of comparing results with lineages (usually down to about 1900) or earliest ancestor, so that you can know not only who you do match, but what lineages you don't match? Rick Saunders Group Administrator for SHORT, MOLER-MOULDER and AMY-AMIGH-EMIGH DNA projects http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/short/results http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/moler/results http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/amy/results ------------------------------ **************Know Your Numbers: Get tips and tools to help you improve your credit score. (http://www.walletpop.com/credit/credit-reports?ncid=emlcntuswall00000002)