Max's concern with DNA testing is fairly common. However, in my view this is not really an issue in this type of test, particularly when performed by reputable organisations who follow appropriate codes of practice (cf http://www.familytreedna.com/privacy.html & http://www.smgf.org/pages/participant_privacy.jspx) I would like to reassure that the genealogical Y chromosome marker test is based on so-called "non-coding" regions and, on current understanding, has almost no connection with possible health issues. Hence, the results are of no interest to third parties such as insurance companies. Also, if you have such a test, your Y chromosome "signature" that is obtained is NOT unique to you - indeed may well be shared with thousands of others who are effectively unrelated to you - so the test also cannot be used to identify an unknown person. The "signature" only becomes of interest when comparing specific people who have another reason to believe that they may (or may not) have a common male ancestor. In this example, the reason is based on sharing a relatively infrequent surname, WOOLFORD/WOLFORD. Max is, of course, correct that DNA can contain information that might become of interest in predicting health, but this is generally within the autosomal DNA and within coding regions of Y chromosomal DNA. Giving a sample (obtained by simple cheek scraping or a mouth-wash) for DNA testing is just as unlikely (or probably even less likely) to be misused than, say, when you give a blood sample during medical treatment. If anyone still has concerns, I am very happy to explain in more detail; alternatively the www.smgf.org and www.ftdna.com provide a lot of background information Regards Peter > Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2008 12:03:39 EST > From: Mickeyfix@aol.com > Subject: Re: [WOOLFORD] English Woolford DNA testing > To: woolford@rootsweb.com > > Diane, > Thanks for info re DNA. > I have participated in that research while in Az.ten years ago but never > heard from them in spite of telephone calls to the head of the project. > Now,I'm leary about the information they can obtain through DNA that might > be shared with the wrong people,(Insurance companies etc.) > Max

Just thought I would let everyone know that I DID find my cousin and she has 2 brothers that could be tested ... now I just have to find the link that I saw to send to her for the free testing ... LOL Lisa On 1/6/08, Peter Lowe <Peter.Lowe@bigfoot.com> wrote: > > Max's concern with DNA testing is fairly common. However, in my view > this is not really an issue in this type of test, particularly when > performed by reputable organisations who follow appropriate codes of > practice (cf http://www.familytreedna.com/privacy.html & > http://www.smgf.org/pages/participant_privacy.jspx) > > I would like to reassure that the genealogical Y chromosome marker test > is based on so-called "non-coding" regions and, on current > understanding, has almost no connection with possible health issues. > Hence, the results are of no interest to third parties such as insurance > companies. > > Also, if you have such a test, your Y chromosome "signature" that is > obtained is NOT unique to you - indeed may well be shared with thousands > of others who are effectively unrelated to you - so the test also cannot > be used to identify an unknown person. The "signature" only becomes of > interest when comparing specific people who have another reason to > believe that they may (or may not) have a common male ancestor. In this > example, the reason is based on sharing a relatively infrequent surname, > WOOLFORD/WOLFORD. > > Max is, of course, correct that DNA can contain information that might > become of interest in predicting health, but this is generally within > the autosomal DNA and within coding regions of Y chromosomal DNA. Giving > a sample (obtained by simple cheek scraping or a mouth-wash) for DNA > testing is just as unlikely (or probably even less likely) to be > misused than, say, when you give a blood sample during medical > treatment. > > If anyone still has concerns, I am very happy to explain in more detail; > alternatively the www.smgf.org and www.ftdna.com provide a lot of > background information > > Regards > > Peter > > > > Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2008 12:03:39 EST > > From: Mickeyfix@aol.com > > Subject: Re: [WOOLFORD] English Woolford DNA testing > > To: woolford@rootsweb.com > > > > > Diane, > > Thanks for info re DNA. > > I have participated in that research while in Az.ten years ago but never > > heard from them in spite of telephone calls to the head of the project. > > Now,I'm leary about the information they can obtain through DNA that > might > > be shared with the wrong people,(Insurance companies etc.) > > Max > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > WOOLFORD-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > -- Lisa Cloran jerzygirl05@gmail.com Just hanging around trying to shake the family tree.