Find the Right DNA Test

Two Basic Choices: 
You have a choice of two basic tests in the genetic genealogy field: 

yDNA for the male (paternal) line   (To learn more about yDNA, click here.)
mtDNA for the female (maternal line).   (To learn more about mtDNA, click here.)

Only males can take the yDNA (surname) test, which traces their father's father's ... father's paternal line.

Both males and females can take the mtDNA test, which traces their mother's mother's ... mother's maternal line.

A male can order a combination test, which analyzes both his yDNA and his mtDNA.

A female can participate in a yDNA surname project by sponsoring a male from the surname family of interest. This male must be directly descended, through males, from her common ancestor. Sometimes she'll have to go back up the family tree and come back down to a living male that shares a x-grandfather and carries the surname she wants tested.

To find a male to test for your surname project, a female should ask these questions:

Choose the right test: 

Which yDNA Test?

  --If you are trying to match to a different surname without a paper trail - we recommend 37 markers as a minimum. 67 can be helpful. 
  --If you know the surname you should match, you can probably get by with 25 markers, but many folks want 37 or 67 to get the clearer insight.
  --If you are only interested in your "deep ancestry" (haplotype) or in proving that you don't share a common ancestor with a specific family, 12 markers are adequate.
  --We also tell folks that if they are serious about their genealogy - that they will end up with at least 37 markers – and probably wind up at 67.
  --You can go in steps, upgrading a bit at a time - or buy the markers all at once. Prices for tests ordered through a project.
 

  Order Test

  --If you are seeking information on your deep ancestry (1000s and 10,000s of years ago) the mtDNA   test is sufficient. (This test is sometimes called HVR1)

  --If you wish to use your mtDNA result to confirm a maternal ancestry (you and another person share a common maternal ancestor) then you will gain by taking the mtDNA Plus test (This test is sometimes called HVR1 + HVR2)

  --If you wish to test your entire mtDNA sequence, then you’ll want the mtDNA Full Sequence test. (FTDNA calls this test “Mega”) FTDNA suggests this for anyone who doesn’t wish to be upgrading when they need more info – as this will give you the entire sequence.

  --You can go in steps, upgrading each time – or buy the entire sequence at once. Prices:

mtDNA Test	Price at FTDNA
mtDNA	$129
mtDNA Plus	$189
mtDNA Full Sequence	$495

 

An upgrade from mtDNA to mtDNA Plus is $75 and the upgrade from mtDNA to Mega is $460, while the upgrade from mtDNA Plus to Mega is $450.) 

Order Test 

What if I combine my yDNA and mtDNA test orders?

  --If you going to ultimately order both yDNA and mtDNA tests for one person, you will save time by ordering them together. However, there are some oddities in the pricing structure - so check the pricing. You may want to order one test, then immediately order an upgrade for the second.  

Test	Price at FTDNA
yDNA 12 + mtDNA	$199
($11 more expensive than a 12 marker @$99 and $89 to add mtDNA)
yDNA 37 + mtDNA Plus	$339
($9 less than $189 for 37 and then $159 to add mtDNA Plus)
yDNA 67 + mtDNA Plus	$409
($9 less than $269 for 67 and then $159 to add mtDNA Plus)
Super DNA (yDNA 67 + mtDNA Full Sequence)	$764
($20 more than $269 + $475 to add mtDNA Full Sequence)

 

 

These are the Simple Rules:

*A man you are testing with yDNA must be directly descended from the (male) ancestor you are interested in researching - with no females between them (yDNA cannot pass through a female ancestor)

Test through a project:  

Persons testing yDNA for Surname research at Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) should test through a project, as the cost is $50 to $80 less than testing as an individual. (Note: do NOT click on the order link at the top of FTDNA's page - as that is for folks NOT ordering through a project) Search for a project.

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