Lisa and Diane, There might be confusion Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF), a non-profit making organization, which is a free high quality test (about 37 markers) with the commercial Sorensongenomics.com which is a testing laboratory, and with the Genetree partnership. I can confirm from my own experience that the SMGF free test kit available from this link (http://www.smgf.org/pages/request_kit.jspx) gives exactly the results that one might expect; Where the same markers are tested the results are identical with those from Family Tree DNA (FT DNA) . The key differences are: a) SMGF results are not sent directly back to you and are stored in a partially anonymized form on their publically accesible database. FT DNA results are of course sent directly to you , as you have paid for them. As a consequence, one has to search the SMGF Y chromosome database (http://www.smgf.org/ychromosome/search.jspx) from time to time via your male line surname, so as to locate one's own data, and then, by trial and error, establish the values of each marker. This takes about 30 minutes. SMGF has announced some partnership with Genetree so that you might be able to view your own data, presumably at a cost, but details are not fully available: http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2007/10/genetree---a-ne.html b) SMGF does not guarantee to post the data, and it takes from 3months to more than a year for data to be posted. FT DNA has turnaround times of a few months, and of course results are guaranteed. c) FT DNA stores your DNA sample so one can "upgrade" as newer tests appear. SMGF does not offer this. d) FT DNA offers different numbers of markers with increasing cost between $99 and $269 for 12, 24 37 and 67 markers. Currently SMGF gives just over 37 markers, which are not identical to the 37 markers that FT DNA offer, but give similar information. The cost of the FT DNA test is 37 marker $189 and so the free test gives an opportunity for those with no budget to get the test done. Doing both tests is even more powerful!! Peter > Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2008 18:49:32 EST > From: SnowBeri@aol.com > Subject: Re: [WOOLFORD] English Woolford DNA testing > To: jerzygirl05@gmail.com, woolford@rootsweb.com > Message-ID: <d50.1de12055.34b4148c@aol.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" > > In a message dated 1/6/2008 11:59:53 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, > jerzygirl05@gmail.com writes: > 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, > That is great news. That free testing will probably not give you the > results that you expect. One free one, Sorenson, > (http://www.sorensongenomics.com/) is compiling a database that has limited searching for the individual. > You will probably want to combine with FTDNA > (http://www.familytreedna.com/default.aspx) or something that will allow you to get detailed numbered > results, search their database and others for the numbered information. The cost > will range depending on how detailed you want to go. One nice thing is that > combined with Sorenson, they give you a coupon to help with the costs. At > least they did last year. I'm not sure if they're still doing that. > Good luck and have fun, > Diane