Thought maybe some of you would be interested in new things that have come along. I received this thru the Anne Arundel Co.Md.Genealogy rootsweb. Ron > Dear fellow genealogists on the Anne Arundel County, Maryland Genealogy > Listserv, > > On behalf of the Suitland Maryland Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of > Latter-day Saints, I would like to personally invite each of you to a very > special event: An opportunity to have your personal DNA analyzed for genetic > markers indicating the homelands, tribes, and clans from which your > ancestors originated. The event will be held on Saturday morning, November > 18, 2000 at 9:00 A.M. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, > 5300 Auth Road, Camp Springs, Maryland (Beltway Exit 7-B). > > I have prepared an announcement regarding the event, below, which provides > more information. I hope each of you will come to hear Dr. Scott Woodward, a > world-renowned geneticist, explain this new technology and take the > opportunity to have your unique genetic code preserved and analyzed for > clues to your ancestors' origins. > > Sincerely, > > Cole Goodwin > Family History Consultant > The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints > > PS: If you have any questions or would like to contact me, please e-mail me > at cole_goodwin@hotmail.com or telephone (301) 952-8336. > > ================================= > ================================= > Scientists Coming to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Camp > Springs, Md. To Collect DNA to Link All People Together Into One Great > Genetic World Family Tree > ================================= > > Camp Springs, Maryland--The Suitland Maryland Stake of The Church of Jesus > Christ of Latter-day Saints will host a special morning fireside meeting > with Brigham Young University (BYU) Professor Scott Woodward, Ph.D. and his > researchers in the BYU Molecular Genealogy Research Project (MGRP). The > researchers will collect DNA samples and family trees from the general > public to become part of the first genetic world family tree. The fireside > will be held on Saturday morning, November 18, 2000 at 9:00 a.m. at the > Suitland Md. Stake Center, 5300 Auth Road, Camp Springs, Maryland. Also > speaking at the fireside will be Megan Smolenyak, author of the best-selling > book, In Search of Our Ancestors. > > All are invited to attend the fireside. However, only those 18 years of age > and older may participate in the study itself. After completing a consent > form, participants will have a small blood sample drawn from them and are > asked to submit at least a four-generation pedigree chart showing the names > of their ancestors along with their birthplaces and birth dates. Those who > do not have a completed four-generation pedigree chart are urged to visit > one of the many family history centers of The Church of Jesus Christ of > Latter-day Saints in this area. Collecting individual samples of blood for > DNA analysis takes only about ten minutes. The fireside and participation in > the study are offered at no charge to the general public. > > The visit of the BYU researchers is part of a large-scale study to construct > a correlated genetic and genealogical database. Molecular genealogy fuses > genealogy and genetics together and the resulting database is designed to be > a valuable resource for genealogical investigation. > > In practice, molecular genealogy links individuals together in family trees > based on the unique identification of genetic markers. This is accomplished > by using the information encoded in the genetic material, known as DNA, of > an individual or of a population to determine the relatedness of > individuals, families, tribal groups, and populations. Pedigrees (family > trees) based on genetic markers can reveal relationships not detectable in > genealogies based only on names, written records, or oral traditions. The > fact that DNA is inherited and that each individual is the product of his > progenitors means that DNA can be used to create unique identifications and, > also, to identify members of the same family, the same clan or tribal group, > or the same population. > > This DNA analysis can prove especially helpful to those whose ancestry lacks > surname identification or for whom records were not created, as is often the > case with those of African, of Native American and of Scandinavian ancestry. > In addition to holding out the possibility of eventually helping to find the > person's ancestral homes through genetic analysis, participation in the > project confers additional benefits, to include the following: > >  Preservation of each participant's unique genetic code for his or > her descendants; >  Possible cross matching of participants' DNA to determine > relatedness; >  Verifying existing genealogical records; and >  A genetic discrimination between closely related individuals or > those sharing the same name. > > Phase One has the BYU researchers traveling from country to country > collecting 100,000 blood samples for DNA from 500 worldwide populations. > This phase may take several years. Once all of the genetic samples are > collected, the project will move into Phase Two of their research by > creating a private database in order to analyze and to record the genetic > markers for all ethnic, tribal, familial and geographic groups. > > The research team guarantees the privacy of the genetic information > gathered, which is protected by both state and federal laws and protected in > a high-security facility with access by only the project head. > > More information on the Molecular Genealogy Research Project, may be > obtained from their their official web site at > http:/molecular-genealogy.byu.edu/. > > Incidentally, local organizers are seeking additional medical personnel > (such as physicians and nurses) who have training and experience in drawing > blood samples (phlebotomy). Such personnel should contact Cole Goodwin, > accordingly: > > Cole Goodwin, 8534 Biscayne Court, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772-5164 > TEL: 301-952-8336 (home); 202-777-2649, ext. 7963 (work and fax) > E-mail: cole_goodwin@hotmail.com > > The Suitland Maryland Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of > Latter-day Saints is located at 5300 Auth Road, Camp Springs, which is > located just off Exit 7-B of the Capitol Beltway around Washington, DC. > > To learn more about the BYU Molecular Genealogy Project, please visit their > official website, as listed below: > > BYU Molecular Genealogy Research Group > http://molecular-genealogy.byu.edu/