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Retesting at
Family Tree DNA
There are many testing companies offering DNA testing for genealogy these
days. Many have beautifully done websites, but have little structure
and few projects. If you tested at one of these companies with the
lovely website, you probably were asking - "What now?" as soon as you
received your results. And - then, you were told - "Join your surname
project!". And - you probably found that your surname project is based
at FTDNA.
FTDNA doesn't have a fancy website - but they do have most of the dna
results for those focused on genealogy and nearly all of the projects
supporting genealogy research.
- The most important aspect of using DNA in genealogy is to compare
with others who have tested - as the true learning about our ancestry
comes from those whom we match.
- The best way to find your matches is through your own surname
project.
I recently put this summary together when someone asked "Why should I
retest at FTDNA instead of simply providing my results to add to the project
Results table":
Reasons for Retesting at FTDNA when you were tested somewhere else:
-
Full privileges in your Surname
Project
- Direct
comparison to all in your surname project
- Only way
to be included in the results when the project uses FTDNA's
project site
-
Only way to be
included in FTDNA’s internal database
-
Largest
genealogy database – by far – as FTDNA has been providing
over 90% of genealogy tests
-
Allows you
direct comparison to all results in your project(s)
-
Allows you
to “opt-in” and directly compare your results with all who
also opted-in
-
Allows
those who “opt-in” to compare their results with you
-
Provides
direct email access for you to anyone that is identified as
your genetic match
-
Covers
both yDNA and mtDNA
-
Facilitates
membership in multiple projects (you have direct comparison
in each
with no
additional testing and at no extra charge.)
You are allowed to be in:
-
Up to two
Surname projects
-
A
geographic project
-
A
y-haplogroup project (if you are yDNA tested)
-
A
mt-haplogroup project (if you are mtDNA tested)
-
Guaranteed
retention of your test sample for 25 years
-
Order
additional tests, using your initial sample
-
Ability to
test the most yDNA markers available at one company (over
100 at last count)
-
Ability to
order
additional
SNP tests
to
get even
more precision
-
Ability to
order the most complete set of options for mtDNA testing
offered anywhere
-
Ability to
order up to 25 autosomal (forensic) markers
-
Ability to
order up to 16 X-STR markers
-
Important
Features:
-
Only
company to offer the SNP Assurance Program: if no backbone
Haplogroup can be estimated with 100% certainty, FTDNA will
SNP test your sample for free
-
Automated
upload to the largest public dna database at
www.ysearch.org
-
Ability to
upload your gedcom – which is only available to those who
match you
-
Insight
into the recent ancestral origins of those you match (and
nearly match) – both yDNA & mtDNA
-
Pay for
your test when you return the kit (free replacement kits if
lost)
FTDNA has put
their special order page back up.
http://www.familytreedna.com/PDF/PROMO_GAP.pdf
Pricing for testing at FTDNA (if you have already been tested
at some other commercial lab):
-
12 markers $59 (savings $40)
-
25 markers $89 (savings $40 + $20 = $60)
-
37 markers $119 (savings $40 + $20 + $20 = $80 over
incremental upgrades - or $70 over initial 37 marker order)
-
Note: Add $2
for domestic s/h and $4 for international s/h
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