Those who previously Y-DNA tested at a Sorenson Genomics lab based company can now transfer in to Family Tree DNA!!!!

What is the Family Tree DNA Y-DNA Transfer program?  

 

The Y-DNA Transfer program is the opportunity for those who previously Y-DNA tested at a Sorenson Genomics lab based company to take part in Family Tree DNA group projects and to retest at Family Tree DNA.
Transfer customers may choose a basic transfer of Y-DNA46 panel results that will allow them to view their results in a new account and to join group projects. These are the Transfer Y-DNA33 and the Transfer Y-DNA46. They do not include either database matching or haplogroup prediction.
Transfer customers may also choose to test the Y-DNA STR markers required for matching to Family Tree DNA's customers. These are the Transfer Y-DNA33 + Y-DNA25 and the Transfer Y-DNA46 + Y-DNA37. They include database matching and haplogroup prediction. However, they also require a new DNA sample.
Transfer options are:

Option	Price	Project Membership	Database Matching	Haplogroup Prediction
Transfer Y-DNA33	$19	Yes	No	No
Transfer Y-DNA46	$19	Yes	No	No
Transfer Y-DNA33 + Y-DNA25*	$58	Yes	Yes	Yes
Transfer Y-DNA46 + Y-DNA37*	$58	Yes	Yes	Yes

* If you upgrade after ordering a basic transfer, the cost will be $49 US.

More info here:

http://www.familytreedna.com/faq/answers.aspx?id=41

http://www.familytreedna.com/landing/ydna-transfer.aspx


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23andMe to California: We're Not Ceasing or Desisting

The Y-chromosome and mtDNA tests used for genealogy purposes carry no health information. But it will be interesting to see how this plays out as there may be some danger of all DNA testing being affected by California's actions.

Janet Crain

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By Alexis Madrigal June 24, 2008 11:39:04 AMCategories: Genetics

After being hit with a cease-and-desist letter by California's Public Health Department, the highest-profile direct-to-consumer genetic testing company, 23andMe, shot back today that they'll be doing neither.

"We believe we are in compliance with California law and are continuing to operate in California at this time," the company said in a statement released to Wired.com.

23andMe is one of thirteen companies that had until yesterday to respond to identical cease-and-desist letters from the health department. Navigenics, DNATraits, and HairDX also received letters Wired.com has confirmed. The Health Department plans to release the names of the rest of the companies today on its website.

In the full statement 23andMe released, it's unclear exactly what legal tack the company is going to take in fighting (or working with) the health department. But they make clear that they do not believe that the Health Department is applying the "appropriate regulatory framework" to their business:

Cont.

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/06/23andme-were-no.html

The names of thirteen genetic testing companies targeted by the California health department were released today on the agency's website.

CGC Genetics, deCODEme, Gene Essence, Knome, New Hope Medical, Salugen, Smart Genetics, and Suracell were issued cease-and-desist letters two weeks ago along with five companies Wired.com had previously confirmed, Navigenics, 23andMe, DNATraits, HairDX, and Sciona.
The latest announcement means that all three high-profile genome scanning companies -- deCODEme, Navigenics, and 23andMe -- received notices from the state.

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/06/california-reve.html

Scientists Reshape Y Chromosome Haplogroup Tree

PRESS RELEASE
EMBARGOED:

Not for release until 5:00 p.m. EDT (US time) on Tuesday, April 1, 2008.

Scientists reshape Y chromosome haplogroup tree gaining new insights into human ancestry

Wednesday, April 2, 2008 The Y chromosome retains a remarkable record of human ancestry, since it is passed directly from father to son. In an article published online today in Genome Research (www.genome.org), scientists have utilized recently described genetic variations on the part of the Y chromosome that does not undergo recombination to significantly update and refine the Y chromosome haplogroup tree. The print version of this work will appear in the May issue of Genome Research, accompanied by a special poster of the new tree.

Human cells contain 23 pairs of chromosomes: 22 pairs of autosomes, and one pair of sex chromosomes. Females carry a pair of X chromosomes that can swap, or recombine, similar regions of DNA during meiosis. However, males harbor one X chromosome and one Y chromosome, and significant recombination between these dissimilar sex chromosomes does not occur. Therefore, the non-recombining region of the Y chromosome (NRY) remains largely unchanged over many generations, directly passed from father to son, son to grandson, and so on, along with genetic variations in the NRY that may be present. Scientists can use genetic variations, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), on the Y chromosome as markers of human ancestry and migration.

In 2002, the Y Chromosome Consortium (YCC) constructed a tree of 153 haplogroups based upon 243 unique genetic markers. In this report, researchers led by Dr. Michael Hammer of the University of Arizona recognized the need to revisit the Y chromosome haplogroup tree and incorporate the latest data. The YCC effort in 2002 was a landmark in mapping the then known 300 or so Y-linked SNPs on a single tree, and getting the community to use the same nomenclature system, explains Hammer. The rate of SNP discovery has continued to increase over the last several years, as are publications on Y chromosome origins and affinities. While this new information is useful, ironically it also brings with it the danger of introducing more chaos into the field.

Hammer's group integrated more than 300 new markers into the tree, which allowed the resolution of many features that were not yet discernable, as well as the revision of previous arrangements. The major lineages within the most common African haplogroup, E, are now all sorted out, with the topology providing new interpretations on the geographical origin of ancient sub-clades, describes Hammer. When one polymorphism formerly described as unique, but recently shown to have reversed was replaced by recently reported markers, a sub-haplogroup of haplogroup O, the most common in China, was considerably rearranged, explains Fernando Mendez, a co-author of the study.

In addition to improving the resolution of branches, the latest reconstruction of the tree allows estimates of time to the most recent common ancestor of several haplogroups. The age of [haplogroup] DE is about 65,000 years, just a bit younger than the other major lineage to leave Africa, which is assumed to be about 70,000 years old, says Hammer, describing an example of the fine resolution of age that is now possible. Haplogroup E is older than previously estimated, originating approximately 50,000 years ago.

Furthermore, Hammer explains that this work has resulted in the addition of two new major haplogroups, S and T, with novel insights into the ancestry of both. Haplogroup T, the clade that Thomas Jefferson's Y chromosome belongs to, has a Middle Eastern affinity, while haplogroup S is found in Indonesia and Oceania.

More SNPs are being discovered, and we anticipate the rate to increase with the 1000 Genomes Project, says Hammer, referring to the wealth of human genetic variation data that will soon be available. While this report represents a significant advance in mapping ancestry by Y chromosome polymorphisms, it is certain that future discoveries will necessitate continual revisions to the Y chromosome haplogroup tree, helping to further elucidate the mystery of our origins.

Scientists from the University of Arizona (Tuscon, AZ) and Stanford University (Stanford, CA) contributed to this study.

This work was supported by the Salus Mundi Foundation.

Media contacts:

Michael Hammer, Ph.D., has agreed to be contacted by email for more information (mfh@u.arizona.edu).

Interested reporters may obtain copies of the manuscript from Peggy Calicchia, Editorial Secretary, Genome Research (calicchi@cshl.org; +1-516-422-4012).

About the article:

The manuscript will be published online ahead of print on April 2, 2008. Its full citation is as follows: Karafet, T.M., Mendez, F.L., Meilerman, M.B., Underhill, P.A., Zegura, S.L., and Hammer, M.F. New binary polymorphisms reshape and increase resolution of the human Y-chromosomal haplogroup tree. Genome Res. doi:10.1101/gr.7172008.

About Genome Research:

Genome Research (www.genome.org) is an international, continuously published, peer-reviewed journal published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. Launched in 1995, it is one of the five most highly cited primary research journals in genetics and genomics. About Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press is an internationally renowned publisher of books, journals, and electronic media, located on Long Island, New York. It is a division of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, an innovator in life science research and the education of scientists, students, and the public. For more information, visit www.cshlpress.com. Genome Research issues press releases to highlight significant research studies that are published in the journal.

Summary of DNA Symposium and Onward with Our DNA Projects

I wanted to take a minute to mention the Lost Colony Symposium this past weekend and how successful it was. More than a day was focused on DNA and associated genealogy. I also want to preface this by saying that the Lost Colony DNA project is no longer associated with the Lost Colony Center for Science and Research. Their focus is not on DNA and our DNA project needs to be affiliated with several organizations and universities, not related solely to one organization.
The symposium was a two and a half day event held in Williamston, NC, near where the colonists are thought to have moved. The first day was primarily history having to do with the Lost Colony. There was much intrigue in England at the time and it unfolds like the plot of a good mystery, pirates, sabotage, murder..it was all there. The second presentation and one in the afternoon by Phil McMullan were about searching for the colony's location in coastal NC and various theories about where they went, when and why. One thing is widely agreed upon and that is that they did not perish on Roanoke Island at the original fort site, if they perished prematurely at all. As we move through the history of the area and early maps, including one from John Smith at Jamestown (found in the Spanish archives, sent to the Spanish King by a spy), there are many, many historical reports that lead us to believe that at least some of them survived and that they probably split into two groups.
In the afternoon, we had Jack Goins, the Melungeon project co-administrator, present a wonderful paper with maps on the Melungeon migrations through Virginia and North Carolina before their arrival in east Tennessee. He has done a huge amount of early records research and we find the early Melungeon families (before they were called Melungeons) in the some of the same areas as we find native tribes who moved inland who may be associated with the Lost Colonists.
This was followed by a professional genealogist, Jennifer Sheppard, who gave a wonderful and humorous talk about documentation of genealogical evidence.
The last presentation of the day was by the current keeper of the Eleanor Dare Stone, Dr. James Southerland from Breneau University, and he brought the original stone with him. The stone was found in 1937 in a woods and purports to be from Eleanor Dare to her father John White. It tells that Ananias Dare and Virginia Dare, his daughter, the first child born to the colonists, died in 1591. It also on the back tells that they were attacked and that some survive. Whether it is legitimate or a fraud has never been conclusively determined, although it has been highly studied, but regardless, it and the surrounding controversy too are part of the history of the search for the Lost Colony.
We had a nice reception with snacks and local wine from the local vineyards and later that night, we had "birds of a feather" sessions where people just came back to the room to talk about whatever they wanted to discuss. Many of the speakers came as well.
The second day was a full DNA Day. It began with an intro by Bennett Greenspan. I have to tell you, I normally am the DNA speaker at conferences, and it was really a great treat to see someone else give that presentation. He is so comfortable in front of crowds and they loved him.
Following that, I did Y line DNA case studies.
Rob Noles presented about his Lumbee and Wiregrass Georgia projects which were very interesting. Perhaps most interesting to those of us interested in the DNA results is that in his Lumbee project so far there is only one person who returned a Native American haplogroup. This is suggestive relative to the colonists because the Lumbee are reported to be the tribe that the Croatoan morphed into. The Croatan became the Hatteras who became the Mattamuskeet and the Lumbee, and possibly others as well. There is so much overlap in this project that Rob has graciously agreed to become a co-administrator of the Lost Colony
DNA Project as well, in addition to me and Penny Ferguson. Penny also co-administers the Melungeon Project. Unfortunately, she could not attend the conference because her husband has the bad judgment to break his leg:)
Following that, I presented about working with mtdna and case studies. I must say of everything I present, people just love the case studies. I present them as stories and I think it harkens back to our love of stories and mysteries as children.
Bennett then presented again about Deep Ancestry.
Jason Eshleman with Trace Genetics presented about Forensic DNA testing and his work with skeletal remains. For those who don't know, he worked on Kennewick man. He also talked a little bit about what is coming and Neathderthal DNA. I wish I hadn't been in and out of the room so much for this presentation, but as the "hostess", I was up and down a lot.
Following Jason's presentation, we discussed the project plan for the Lost Colony project which involves historical research in NC and England, genealogy of course and DNA.
Throughout the day, we had been educating people, gathering a basic pedigree chart and swabbing them outside in the hallway. You would not believe how hectic that became. On Friday, NBC came and filmed and it was on TV Friday evening and Saturday morning. They broadcast that this event was taking place at the Holiday Inn but they neglected to say that you had to register, and that the DNA testing was not free. Well you can guess what happened on Saturday and Sunday. We were mobbed. Now the good news is that many of those who came were great candidates and most were very gracious about discovering that the DNA testing was not free. When Bennett wasn't presenting, he was swabbing and working with people all day, along with Dr. Ana from our list who was also in attendance, but not in the sessions, in the hallway. Had it not been for their help and some other volunteers, I don't know what we would have done. It was a sea of people in that hallway, each with their own interesting story to tell.
So late in the afternoon, we made history by having a Lost Colony DNA "Swab-In" with lots of folks swabbing together. That too was filmed, for posterity, but I haven't seen the film yet.
We were also visited unexpectedly by members of the Mattamuskeet Tribe during the day, in full regalia. I wasn't sure if I should introduce them or duck. They were wonderful folks and came to share with us their traditions.
In the evening, after dark, we had storyteller and ghost-hunter, Anne Poole, tell us about Lost Colony Ghosts poolside. That was extremely popular as well.
Sunday, we only had morning sessions which included an archaeologist , Will Moore, discussing digs, finds and Native American tools and a professor , Dr. Malcolm LeCompte from Elizabeth City State who specializes in satellite imaging and remote sensing. He discussed the likely locations of habitation and these images are how they are determining where to focus their archaeological efforts. That session was extremely interesting.
The symposium was wonderfully successful, especially given that we only had about two months to put it together. I'll also tell you that I don't know that we will do another one, and if so, it may well not be next year. It was a huge amount of work, especially coordinating it remotely from Michigan.

Now, on with the Lost Colony DNA Project

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Roberta Estes
Director of the Lost Colony DNA Project