I’m sending this out because I think it’s crucial for Ancestry to provide more information to DNA testers. Without more information, the possible matches you find are no better than facts in your tree with no sources. Whether you are a DNA tester at this time or not, it’s important that you share your voice and your vote on this issue. I’ve pasted Emily Aulicino’s message below the link to the petition website. It’s easy to register, just click the login top right and fill out the right side of the box, click Sign, then add your name and comments to the petition. Laurel Smith Please join this campaign: http://chn.ge/17QBxhm Greetings again! Most of you know that Family Tree DNA and 23andMe are the primary autosomal testing companies. Many of you know that AncestryDNA, run by Ancestry.com has jumped into testing atDNA a bit over a year ago. If you have had a chance to hear me speak in the last couple of months you know that AncestryDNA’s results cannot be used to map your chromosomes, and the other two can. The problem with AncestryDNA is that they do not have anyway of comparing where on the chromosome you share DNA segments with your matches. This is essential for using this test accurately. Without going into much detail right now, know that the test they give you is the same chip as FTDNA and 23andMe uses, although each company does some tweaking. Regardless, all three results are compatible for mapping chromosomes…that is, if Ancestry would match you with people using scientific methods rather than what they do by comparing two online “trees”. To clarify: Their matching system is NOT scientific. They take the first apparent match in the two trees (yours and the person you match) and tell you this is a “hint” (read the fine print; it does say “hint”) of where you match. There is no connection to this and the DNA testing. That is one reason (the other is to map our chromosomes) everyone wants AncestryDNA to provide a way of matching segments on the chromosomes. If you don’t know, chromosome mapping is determining that ancestor gave you the segment of DNA. This helps you and your match find the common ancestor. Tim Janzen, Lisa McCullough, and I have been working with people to do their mapping by providing half of the DNA Interest Group meetings this year and last to that end. SO…would all of you please see the petition below and consider signing it? Click on the link and do add some comments on why this is important to you…or at least to genetic genealogists you know in the case you haven’t tried to map your chromosomes yet. BUT, maybe you plan to do so…let them know and as a result let them know why you may consider another company as their system won’t help you do that. At this point in time, all three companies charge the same price ($99), so that is not an issue. Please spread the word to others. Ancestry has made the comment that they do not believe too many people want to do this. IMO, people are just learning about it and once they learn, they will want to be able to do it. Thank you for considering this, and for your support. Emily