To gain any use of mtDNA tests for women you have to do a lot of work. Trace Your Roots with DNA: Using Genetic Tests to Explore Your Family Tree<http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=eV3lrs4Dyv&isbn=1594860068&itm=1> This little book give a small explanation of the process. Effecitvely as with most DNA stuff you have to have a plan. Say you do not know who the common mother of someone is. mtDNA works like a "V" in terms of a lineage chart. To test for the mother of someone, she has to have two daughters, and down though the generations of time you follow a path for each side of the "V" to a living person. Basically this is 1) mother, 2) daughter of mother, 3) daughter of daughter of mother, 4) daughter of, daughter of, daughter of mother, 5) etc, 6) etc for both sides of the "V" until you get to 7) two living persons. Now this is a twisting path as the maiden name of keeps changing in time to the married name and on and on. When you get to the two living people and have their mtDNA done and the results match you know that these two living person had a common mother back in time. Now you have to map this out like a lineage chart for Y-DNA male lineage to make sure it fits. It also requires you to have a tremendous data base. The old Pendleton District SC web site has 350,000+ searchable names. I have done this using their data base for a number of Old Pendleton District families. The pitfall is that you hope not to get where there is no surviving daughter. Or this leads to a dead end. So large data bases allow you to search all the daughters of each family as you go down the "V" paths in time. Then the of problem finding the living persons and getting them to do a mtDNA test. Usually you have to pay for the test for it is over $400 each. Herb Hendricks Retired NASA Physicist Hendricks DNA Project Group Administrator Secretary Hendricks Family Association Herb_316@MSN.com<mailto:Herb_316@MSN.com> 1210 Long Meadow DR Lynchburg, VA 24502 434 832 7246 Major/Smith/Hendricks http://www.ftdna.com/public/hendricks/<http://www.ftdna.com/public/hendricks/> ----- Original Message ----- From: Betty lovell<mailto:lovell@ragland.net> To: SC-Genealogy-L@rootsweb.com<mailto:SC-Genealogy-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 12:11 PM Subject: Re: [SC] RE: [SCEDGEFI] Genealogy and Genetics what about the female dna test Betty ----- Original Message ----- From: "Herbert Hendricks" <Herb_316@msn.com<mailto:Herb_316@msn.com>> To: <SC-Genealogy-L@rootsweb.com<mailto:SC-Genealogy-L@rootsweb.com>> Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 8:59 PM Subject: Re: [SC] RE: [SCEDGEFI] Genealogy and Genetics > You need to tell everyone why do 5 DNA 12 marker tests is not good logical. > > The total cost would be better doing a 37+ marker test. You can then go to these different groups who provide free methods to compare your markers to names that are in their list if you are not certain of your surname. You can then choose and select how many markers you want to compare to. If you don't have enough markers you are wasting your time and money. > > Also need to tell everyone it may take forever to get a SMGF free test results. > > So you pick and choose but going for good results in a timely manner with good confidence you > have done the right thing demands a 37+ marker test either now or in the future. So why not go for the right thing first off as it is cheaper in the long run from a surname project group. > > Facts not faced early on in DNA testing cost you not only money but time. > > > Herb Hendricks > Retired NASA Physicist > Hendricks DNA Project Group Administrator > Secretary Hendricks Family Association > Herb_316@MSN.com<mailto:Herb_316@MSN.com<mailto:Herb_316@MSN.com<mailto:Herb_316@MSN.com>> > 1210 Long Meadow DR > Lynchburg, VA 24502 > 434 832 7246 > Major/Smith/Hendricks > http://www.ftdna.com/public/hendricks/<http://www.ftdna.com/public/hendricks/<http://www.ftdna.com/public/hendricks/<http://www.ftdna.com/public/hendricks/>> > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Bbairdsr@aol.com<mailto:Bbairdsr@aol.com<mailto:Bbairdsr@aol.com<mailto:Bbairdsr@aol.com>> > To: SC-Genealogy-L@rootsweb.com<mailto:SC-Genealogy-L@rootsweb.com<mailto:SC-Genealogy-L@rootsweb.com<mailto:SC-Genealogy-L@rootsweb.com>> > Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 8:36 PM > Subject: Re: [SC] RE: [SCEDGEFI] Genealogy and Genetics > > > I have been a co-administrator for the Baird - Beard Project for a year and a > half. > > First of all, the 12 marker test is GREAT for directing you where NOT to > spend your time researching, so I wouldn't write it off. I wasted a lot of years > researching Beard - Baird lines for my brick wall with no luck and now one > simple 12 marker DNA test told me I was wasting my time, because there were no > DNA connections from me to any of them. A friend of mine, whose family has been > researching his line for over a hundred years, paid for about five 12 marker > DNA tests before he found a subject he matched exactly. That was the key to > him concentrating his research efforts on one Baird line, and using tried and > true genealogy research methods, he has now extended his line back two > generations. > > The 37 marker test by FTDNA, 39 marker test by SMGF, or the 43 marker test by > DNA Heritage will not break down that brick wall, even if you exactly match > someone else for all markers. It will narrow the range of probably candidates, > but you still need to do traditional genealogy research. > > As for cost, I preferred to submit a sample to the Sorenson Molecular > Genealogy Foundation <smgf.org> and have them do my DNA testing for 39 markers for > FREE. Yes, I said FREE. It takes a year to a year and a half before they > publish the results and you have to know how to search their database for your > results, but anyone who does genealogy should be able to figure out how to do > that. I've done it for many Bairds and Beards over the last year. > > Bruce Baird > > In a message dated 2/13/2006 6:53:32 PM Central Standard Time, kcks@gorge.net<mailto:kcks@gorge.net<mailto:kcks@gorge.net<mailto:kcks@gorge.net>> > writes: > Hello All, > > I'm glad this discussion has hit the list...and with a specific > question as to test costs. *S* > > You can do a DNA test...just about anywhere, but walking in the cost is > going to be higher...than with a Surname DNA Project. > So the big recomendation is to sign up with a Surname Project. > > The cost for a DNA test with an established surname project is: > > 12 marker $_99.00........ YES, one dollar less than $100. > > The above is the cheapest...but it will only provide info that dates back > eons into the past. Usually pre-language of any kind.*S* > > 25 marker $169.00 [........about 5-10 generations back] > 37 marker $229 00 [current to about 7 generations back] > > As a Surname DNA Project Coordinator, GRIMES & ROSSER, the two tests... 25 > and 37 are where I like to see targeted. > > IF...you're part of a large line, siblings & cousins, with several males > that would like to do this test, it can be done on a budget. > > 1-2 at the 37 marker level, 1-2 at the 25 marker level and then > ...the balance of the fellows testing can do the 12 marker level. > > IF there's any need to increase from the 12 pt level, it can be done > later...and without any further [i.e., new] DNA samples. > > This set of tests...is for males of a given surname, as that is the "YY" > chromosome...which is what we're trying to follow. > Surnames 'usually' are passed from father-son...with exceptions, the "YY" > chromosome always is. > > There is a test...that ladies can participate in, but that will only follow > the "XX" chromosome, which is passed mother-daughter. > This test is the mitochondrial one and sadly...won't help to prove the line > from a daughter...for any Surname DNA Project. :o( > > The costs aren't cheap...but it's a lot lower than tracing the line that you > believe is yours for too many years, only to discover a piece of paper that > proves conclusively that the line isn't yours. > > For me...I only have one lifetime to spend, so double checking with the DNA > makes very good sense to me. *S* > > Lisa Grimes > > > ==== SC-Genealogy Mailing List ==== > South Carolina Resources Available at RootsWeb! > > http://resources.rootsweb.com/USA/SC.html<http://resources.rootsweb.com/USA/SC.html<http://resources.rootsweb.com/USA/SC.html<http://resources.rootsweb.com/USA/SC.html>> > > ============================== > Census images 1901, 1891, 1881 and 1871, plus so much more. > Ancestry.com's United Kingdom & Ireland Collection. 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