You can always direct your participant to our homepage (http://www.worldfamilies.net/), where there is a wealth of information.. You should also recommend that project members follow all the steps in DNA Testing the Smart Way.
Here are some answers that we usually give to these commonly asked questions.
1. What is a Surname DNA project?
A surname DNA project is a focused effort within a surname and its spelling variations, which works to find how families are (and are not) genetically connected. The test uses DNA from a man's y-chromosome to identify genetic markers, which have been passed from Father to Son. Most of the time, an exact copy of the father's yDNA used for Surname testing is passed to the son, but mutations sometimes occur, giving us the ability to use this science in genealogy. Based on the matches and differences in these markers that occur between individuals, probabilities of relationship to a common male ancestor can be made and genetic families can be identified. Since the focus of Surname DNA testing is on the common early ancestors, most Surname Projects identify test participants by their earliest known ancestor of that surname.
2. Why should I join a Family Surname Project?
A surname yDNA test is useful in determining if you share your surname male ancestry with another man (men) who has been tested. By comparing your paper trails, you can learn more about your ancestry. Working within the surname group assures that you are comparing yourself with other men of your surname (and its variations). Another advantage is that by joining such a group, you qualify for a reduced testing fee.
3. How do I join the project?
You join the project by ordering a dna test at FTDNA through the project, by posting your family pedigree on the www.WFNForum.net Pedigree Forum, or by transferring your result into the surname project at Family Tree DNA.
4. I was tested in the National Geographic Genographic Project. How do I join the surname project?
You can transfer yourself, your results and your retained sample to Family Tree DNA. Go to your NGGP page.
Log in using your kit number.
On the next page, click on "I acknowledge".
On the next page, scroll all the way down to the bottom. You will see "learn more" in small blue letters near the bottom of the page. Click on it.
Check "I agree".
Fill out the FTDNA form "Adding Your Record to FTDNA" and click "Continue"
You should be able to finish it from there.
Once you have been transferred into FamilyTreeDNA, you will be given access to a "personal page". In your FTDNA page is a blue button labeled "join". Click on that button, then select the surname, then select a second gray join button which is lower on the page. Or, you can call or email FTDNA and ask them to transfer you into the project (713) 868-1438 or http://www.familytreedna.com/contact.html
5. I've already been tested at FTDNA. How do I join the project?
In your FTDNA page is a blue button labeled "join". Click on that button, then select the surname, then select a second gray join button, which is lower on the page. Or, you can call or email FTDNA and ask them to transfer you into the project.
6. I was tested at another company. Can I join your project?
We will post your results if you submit them in the table we provide. We require that you provide your earliest known ancestor and pedigree.
7. What will I learn with a 12 marker test?
The basic $99 test tells you your deep ancestry (called Haplogroup - think 1,000s and 10,000s of years). The haplogroup will give you an idea of the migrations of your ancestral family from earliest times and can confirm Native American, African or Jewish ancestry.
In addition, you can identify families that do not share a recent common ancestor with you and can usually confirm clear paper trails. It will also provide an indication of the families who may share a recent common ancestor with you.
A 12 marker test is insufficient for broad genealogical purposes, for confirming relationship to families where there is no connecting paper trail, or confirming relations with different surnames. These goals require more markers.
8. How many markers should I use?
Use as many markers as you can comfortably afford. Generally, we recommend starting with either 25 or 37 markers as a trade-off between cost and information. (If cost is a major issue, you can start with 12 markers and upgrade in steps.) If you know the surname you should match, you can probably get by with 25 markers. If you are trying to match to a different surname without a paper trail – you will need 37 markers. Most researchers who are serious about their genealogy have ended up with at least 37 markers – and many are now increasing to 67 markers.
9. My ancestors are all long dead. How do I get their DNA?
You don't! DNA tests are taken from the living, who represent their direct ancestors. To find the yDNA of a male ancestor, you test a man whose father's father's … father is the ancestor of your interest. To find the mtDNA of a female ancestor, you test a person whose mother's mother's … mother is the ancestor of your interest.
10. I'm a female. Can I be tested?
Yes. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) looks at the DNA that both women and men inherit from their mother's side. A mother passes her mtDNA to her children, but only females can pass it on. This represents the mother's mother's…mother's maternal line. Your mtDNA result can be compared with another person's mtDNA to see if you share a common female ancestor. Anyone can take this test.
mtDNA tests the deep maternal ancestry (think 1000s of years) As mtDNA mutates very slowly, it becomes a link to your distant past - giving you the mtDNA of your mother's mother's ... mother's line. By testing, you learn your haplogroup – which tells you which "branch of woman" you descend from on your maternal side. In addition to learning your Haplogroup, you'll be told of the mutations that are present. These allow you the possibility of locating those with whom you share a maternal heritage. Often, this is too far in the past to be able to link paper trails, but a number of folks have started mtDNA projects to increase the learning. I have a lot of hope for the potential. Sites with info about mtDNA:
http://www.familytreedna.com/cj.asp?ftdna_ref=118&html=description.html#mtDNA
http://worldfamilies.net/mtDNA.htm
http://worldfamilies.net/understand_mtdna.htm
Additionally, you can sponsor a male from your surname family of interest. This allows you to participate in your ancestral surname DNA project. Surname DNA (yDNA) looks at the DNA that a man inherits from his father's (paternal) side. This represents his father's father's … father's line. The y-chromosome (yDNA) results are compared with two or more men to see if they share a common male ancestor.
11. How much does it cost?
Testing cost varies. If you know the surname you should match, you can probably get by with 25 markers. We have noticed that most folks who are serious about their genealogy will end up with at least 37 markers and possibly 67. If you are trying to match to a different surname without a paper trail – you will need at least 37 markers and will likely benefit from 67. One approach is to start with as many markers as you can comfortably afford and then upgrade later, as the need arises. You also have the possibility of going in steps, upgrading a bit at a time. Prices:
12 markers | $99 |
Upgrades from one test to the next are $49. (37 to 67 is a two step increase and is $99)
12. What kind of tests are available?
Surname DNA (yDNA) looks at the DNA that a man inherits from his father's (paternal) side. This represents his father's father's … father's line. The y-chromosome (yDNA) results are compared with two or more men to see if they share a common male ancestor.
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) looks at the DNA that either a man or woman inherits from the mother's side. This represents the mother's mother's…mother's line. The mitochondria result is compared to see if they share a common female ancestor.
13. When should I expect my results back?
Figure on 2-3 months from the time you order your kit and you will be prepared for the wait. It takes about 6 weeks after FTDNA receives the completed sample in Houston. You can often order and have a kit returned in just over a week, but often kits sit for days or weeks at the participant's house before being returned.
14. How do I upgrade?
You can order an upgrade to your yDNA or mtDNA test by:
You now have the option of ordering more than 67 yDNA markers, autosomal markers and X-str markers. Click on “Advanced Order” instead of “Standard Order” for this option.
The Deep SNP test can be ordered by:
15. Which upgrade should I choose?
A part of the answer is “what can you afford”? You can upgrade in small increments or do it at one time. Who you match and what you know about them also affects the number of markers needed.
16. How do I upload my results to Y-Search from FTDNA?
Go into your personal page at FTDNA and click on “Y-DNA matches”, then look in the middle of the page - at the bottom of the box called "Additional possibilities for searching matches". There is a link to "Click here to upload to www.Ysearch.org
17. How do I fill out the order form?
The order form is in two parts that you can think of as pages.
18. How do I test for Native American ancestry?
In order to test for Native American ancestry, you will need to have just the right connection between the ancestor you believe was Native American and the person being tested.
For a female Native American ancestor, you will use the mtDNA test. You will need to locate a person whose mother's mother's ... mother is the targeted Native American. If there is any male in the direct line between the person being tested and this ancestor, you will be testing some other ancestor's mtDNA and will not get what you seek. mtDNA is passed from a mother to her children. Men carry their mother's mtDNA, but cannot pass it on.
For a male Native American ancestor, you will use the yDNA test. You will need to locate a man whose father's father's ... father is the targeted Native American. If there is any female in the direct line between the man being tested and this ancestor, you will be testing some other ancestor's yDNA and will not get what you seek. yDNA is passed from a father to his sons. Women do not carry yDNA at all.
19. How do I test to prove my Jewish heritage?
In order to test for Jewish ancestry, you will need to have just the right connection between the ancestor you believe was Jewish and the person being tested. As the Jewish tradition is handed down through the mother, you would first consider the mtDNA test, which tests your mother's mother's ... mother's maternal ancestry.
For a male Jewish ancestor, you will use the yDNA test. If there is any female in the direct line between the man being tested and this Jewish ancestor, you will be testing some other ancestor's yDNA and will not get what you seek. yDNA is passed from a father to his sons.
Here is a link to FTDNA's page on Jewish ancestry:
http://www.familytreedna.com/cj.asp?ftdna_ref=118&html=jgene.html
Here is what FTDNA has to say:
"Jewish ancestry is not an exact result. By way of comparison we can see whether or not the direct line being tested is likely to be Jewish in origin. We have the largest Jewish ancestry database of this kind. This comparison is included on the recent ancestral origins page.
There are 4 scenarios for individuals who think there may be Jewish origins: mainly matches who have listed Jewish origins (indicates probably of Jewish origins), some matches who have listed Jewish ancestry and some who have not (tougher to call, Bennett can help answer some of these questions), has matches, but not of Jewish origin (probably not Jewish in origin), or no matches at all. The last case, means you're not matching anyone of Jewish origins when compared against the database, but you are also not matching anyone of non-Jewish origins. This is a "wait and see" situation in most cases.
There is a Cohen Modal Haplotype that we automatically compare everyone against. It is a 12 marker set of results. If you match this haplotype we put a CMH badge on your personal page which is linked to information on what that means."
You can test through your surname project and then join the Jewish Heritage project after your results are returned.
