Hello All, I've been asked by Flora Ver Straten to pass the following message to family researchers who may want to participate in the LDS Molecular Genealogy Research Project. This worthwhile event will be posted on the Jefferson County Chapter, OGS Calendar site at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohjefogs/calendar/ for those undecided now and who may want to register in the future. Please feel free to forward and share this message with other family researchers in the tri-state area. Julia A. Krutilla Webmaster fkrutill@weir.net Jefferson County Chapter, OGS http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohjefogs/ °´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø,¸¸,ø*°´°*ø Scientists Coming to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Wintersville, Ohio To Collect DNA to Link All People Together Into One Great Genetic World Family Tree Dear Fellow Genealogists in the Tri-State Area: On behalf of the Wintersville Ward 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 clan from which your ancestors originated. The event will be held on Saturday morning, May 12, 2001 at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Powells Lane, Wintersville, OH (maps will be made available at local libraries). You must sign up for the research study by contacting the family history director listed below. I hope that 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 code preserved and analyzed for clues to your ancestor's origins. Sincerely, Flora Ver Straten 740-264-6190 or 740-765-4049 VerStraten@Prodigy.Net Family History Director The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Wintersville, Ohio the Wintersville Ward 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 (MHRP). The researchers will collect DNA samples and family trees from the general public to become part of the first genetic world family tree. 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 at least 18 years old may participate in the study itself. After completing a consent form, participants will have a small blood sample drawn and will be asked at that time to submit at least a four generation pedigree chart showing the names of their ancestors along with their birthplaces and birth dates. 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. 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. Participation in this 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 *A genetic discrimination between closely related individuals or those sharing the same name. 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 project head. More information on the Molecular Genealogy Research Project may be obtained from their official web site at: http://molecular-genealogy.byu.edu/