From FamilyTreeDNA:
Ok, Ok, Ok…due to many requests from our Group Administrators, Family Tree DNA is extending the sale price on new kits for YDNA kits and Y + mtDNA/mtDNAplus bundles until June 30th, 2010.
Kit must be ordered and paid for by June 30th, 2010 to qualify for the Summer Sale pricing.
Thank you very much for your making this sale as successful as last year ‘s sale. Your continued support is very important to all of us and is greatly appreciated.
Bennett Greenspan
President
http://www.FamilyTreeDNA.com
"History Unearthed Daily
Showing posts with label Genetics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Genetics. Show all posts
Friday, June 25, 2010
Monday, June 07, 2010
Family Tree DNA Offers Summer Special
As a Family Tree DNA Group Administrator, I received the following from Family Tree DNA:
Dear Family Tree DNA Group Administrator:
Last summer we offered a pricing special that was the most successful offering of its type in our company history. Project administrators got behind the recruitment efforts and for those that did, their projects grew and our database grew, so we'd like to offer a summer special again.
Here are the details:
Bypass the Y-DNA12 and Y-DNA25, and get the best Genealogy tests on the market!
The promotion will start June 5 and will end June 25. Kits need to be paid for by June 30, 2010.
As, always, thank you for your continued support.
Dear Family Tree DNA Group Administrator:
Last summer we offered a pricing special that was the most successful offering of its type in our company history. Project administrators got behind the recruitment efforts and for those that did, their projects grew and our database grew, so we'd like to offer a summer special again.
Here are the details:
- Y-DNA37 for $119 (Regular price would be $149)
- Y-DNA67 for $199 (Regular price would be $239)
- Y-DNA37+mtDNA for $159 (Combined test would cost $238)
Bypass the Y-DNA12 and Y-DNA25, and get the best Genealogy tests on the market!
The promotion will start June 5 and will end June 25. Kits need to be paid for by June 30, 2010.
As, always, thank you for your continued support.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Reminder: Get Your Registration In to Hear Colleen Fitzpatrick
Kootenai County Genealogical Society
& The Family History Store
Present
Colleen Fitzpatrick, PhD - Forensic Genealogist
Come join us - May 30, 2009
Friends Church
251 West Miles Avenue - Hayden, Idaho
Dr. Fitzpatrick is the author of several books, including:
Forensic Genealogy
DNA & Genealogy
The Dead Horse Investigation: Forensic Photo Analysis for Everyone
Dr. Fitzpatrick is world renowned for her expertise in solving the cases of "The Hand in the Snow" in Alaska, "The Unknown Baby from the Titanic," and in helping Dr. Ken Waltzer expose the Herman Rosenblat Holcaust Fraud.
9:30 a.m. ~ Registration
10:15 a.m. ~ Introductions
10:30-11:30 a.m. ~ Session 1: Forensic Genealogy
CSI Meets Roots: The DNA Detective - As described in Forensic Genealogy and DNA & Genealogy, and featured on National Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation program, forensic scientists and genealogists share the same goal - to find out who was who, and who did what and when. If you are interested in using your genealogical materials in unique and innovative ways, this talk is for you! Come learn new approaches to using photographs, databases, and DNA either alone or in combination to solve your genealogical mysteries. This talk will give you new insights into how DNA works and how it can be useful.
11:30-12:00 p.m. ~ Break and Browse Books
Lunch Break ~ 12:00 - 1:00
Bring a sack lunch or eat at a nearby restaurant
1:00-2:00 p.m. ~ Session 2: DNA & Genealogy
You Will Never Look at Your Old Photos the Same Way Again! As featured on NPR’s Talk of the Nation with Neil Conan, in Internet Genealogy, Family Tree Magazine, Ancestry, and Family Chronicle, Forensic Genealogy offers innovative new tools for getting the most information out of your old photographs. This talk will present innovative approaches to identifying old photographs, many drawn from Forensic Genealogy and from solutions to the weekly photographic quizzes offered on the website www.forensicgenealogy.info. After attending this talk, you will never look at your old photos the same way again!
2:00-2:30 p.m. ~ Break and Browse Books
2:30-3:30 p.m. ~ Session 3 Forensic Photo
Analysis: The Database Detective- Discovering facts about your ancestor such as his birth, marriage, and death dates is much easier to find nowadays thanks to the internet. The challenge to modern genealogists is to extract information from those facts. As featured on National Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation program, and as the cover article of Internet Genealogy, Family Tree Magazine, Ancestry, and Family Chronicle, Forensic Genealogy shows you how to extract exciting and unusual information about your ancestors by milking databases for every drop of information they can provide.
3:30-4:00 p.m. ~ Break and Browse Books
$25 Pre-registration ~ $30 at the door, if space is available
Make checks payable to KCGS and mail with name, address and phone number to:
Kootenai County Genealogical Society
8385 North Government Way
Hayden, Idaho 83835
Space is limited so pre-registrations must be in by May 15, 2009.
Questions? Contact Louisa Durkin at (208) 699-2687 or (208) 666-6064
or email leory1@earthlink.net.
& The Family History Store
Present
Colleen Fitzpatrick, PhD - Forensic Genealogist
Come join us - May 30, 2009
Friends Church
251 West Miles Avenue - Hayden, Idaho
Dr. Fitzpatrick is the author of several books, including:
Forensic Genealogy
DNA & Genealogy
The Dead Horse Investigation: Forensic Photo Analysis for Everyone
Dr. Fitzpatrick is world renowned for her expertise in solving the cases of "The Hand in the Snow" in Alaska, "The Unknown Baby from the Titanic," and in helping Dr. Ken Waltzer expose the Herman Rosenblat Holcaust Fraud.
9:30 a.m. ~ Registration
10:15 a.m. ~ Introductions
10:30-11:30 a.m. ~ Session 1: Forensic Genealogy
CSI Meets Roots: The DNA Detective - As described in Forensic Genealogy and DNA & Genealogy, and featured on National Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation program, forensic scientists and genealogists share the same goal - to find out who was who, and who did what and when. If you are interested in using your genealogical materials in unique and innovative ways, this talk is for you! Come learn new approaches to using photographs, databases, and DNA either alone or in combination to solve your genealogical mysteries. This talk will give you new insights into how DNA works and how it can be useful.
11:30-12:00 p.m. ~ Break and Browse Books
Lunch Break ~ 12:00 - 1:00
Bring a sack lunch or eat at a nearby restaurant
1:00-2:00 p.m. ~ Session 2: DNA & Genealogy
You Will Never Look at Your Old Photos the Same Way Again! As featured on NPR’s Talk of the Nation with Neil Conan, in Internet Genealogy, Family Tree Magazine, Ancestry, and Family Chronicle, Forensic Genealogy offers innovative new tools for getting the most information out of your old photographs. This talk will present innovative approaches to identifying old photographs, many drawn from Forensic Genealogy and from solutions to the weekly photographic quizzes offered on the website www.forensicgenealogy.info. After attending this talk, you will never look at your old photos the same way again!
2:00-2:30 p.m. ~ Break and Browse Books
2:30-3:30 p.m. ~ Session 3 Forensic Photo
Analysis: The Database Detective- Discovering facts about your ancestor such as his birth, marriage, and death dates is much easier to find nowadays thanks to the internet. The challenge to modern genealogists is to extract information from those facts. As featured on National Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation program, and as the cover article of Internet Genealogy, Family Tree Magazine, Ancestry, and Family Chronicle, Forensic Genealogy shows you how to extract exciting and unusual information about your ancestors by milking databases for every drop of information they can provide.
3:30-4:00 p.m. ~ Break and Browse Books
$25 Pre-registration ~ $30 at the door, if space is available
Make checks payable to KCGS and mail with name, address and phone number to:
Kootenai County Genealogical Society
8385 North Government Way
Hayden, Idaho 83835
Space is limited so pre-registrations must be in by May 15, 2009.
Questions? Contact Louisa Durkin at (208) 699-2687 or (208) 666-6064
or email leory1@earthlink.net.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
News from Ancestry
Ancestry Magazine
Did you know you can access a preview edition of the March/April 2009 issue of Ancestry Magazine? This includes articles about Jesse James and facial recognition, handwriting analysis, and how to make a custom family history timeline. Or check out the current issue and archive at www.ancestrymagazine.com for links to articles on a variety of family history topics.
MyCanvas Publishing Service
MyCanvas has recently added some great new features to their publishing software, including checkmarks that help you keep track of which photos you've already used in a project; the ability to start a calendar with any month of the year; and a color picker, which lets you create a border or background that exactly matches a color in a photo. To learn more, visit their blog.
Genetic Genealogy Testing is Now Only $79
At $79 a DNA test, many more people can afford to take the basic paternal lineage test (Y33), so they can connect with genetic cousins and build family trees. Ancestry's growing database automatically compares results, letting some users connect instantly. And they notify all users of potential new matches as the Ancestry.com DNA database grows.
Did you know you can access a preview edition of the March/April 2009 issue of Ancestry Magazine? This includes articles about Jesse James and facial recognition, handwriting analysis, and how to make a custom family history timeline. Or check out the current issue and archive at www.ancestrymagazine.com for links to articles on a variety of family history topics.
MyCanvas Publishing Service
MyCanvas has recently added some great new features to their publishing software, including checkmarks that help you keep track of which photos you've already used in a project; the ability to start a calendar with any month of the year; and a color picker, which lets you create a border or background that exactly matches a color in a photo. To learn more, visit their blog.
Genetic Genealogy Testing is Now Only $79
At $79 a DNA test, many more people can afford to take the basic paternal lineage test (Y33), so they can connect with genetic cousins and build family trees. Ancestry's growing database automatically compares results, letting some users connect instantly. And they notify all users of potential new matches as the Ancestry.com DNA database grows.
Also, it is now possible to attach DNA to Ancestry.com family trees. The attached results instantly populate up the tree, showing implied meaning for all relevant family tree members. This feature increases the chances for meaningful family contacts and connections. For example, if a man attaches test results to his tree, the profile for his paternal uncle born in 1845 will now display the fact that genetic data relevant to that uncle exists. If another user comes across the uncle (using any research method), they'll now be able to trace the test back to the man who took the test and contact him. Otherwise, that user may never have followed the thread past the uncle.
The $79 test also lets users know which Ancient Ancestral group they belong to, like the Stonemasons, the Artisans or the Reindeer Herders. Users learn their likely story of origin and explore Fun Facts for their modern-day group. A great visual pie chart reveals things like 20% of all Stonemasons drive hybrids, 10% eat chocolate ice cream and 55% watch Saturday Night Live!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Holiday Deal: Family Tree DNA
In keeping with our end-of-the-year tradition, effective November 26th, 2008 we'll institute special pricing at Family Tree DNA for your new-kit-purchasing participants.
The products that will be offered at the special prices are:
Y-DNA37 - $119
Y-DNA37+mtDNAPlus - $199
Y-DNA67 - $218
Y-DNA67+mtDNAPlus - $308
mtDNAPlus - $139
Full Genomic mtDNA - $395
SuperDNA - $613
This offer is good until December 31st, 2008 for kits ordered and paid for by that time.
http://www.FamilyTreeDNA.com
"History Unearthed Daily"
The products that will be offered at the special prices are:
Y-DNA37 - $119
Y-DNA37+mtDNAPlus - $199
Y-DNA67 - $218
Y-DNA67+mtDNAPlus - $308
mtDNAPlus - $139
Full Genomic mtDNA - $395
SuperDNA - $613
This offer is good until December 31st, 2008 for kits ordered and paid for by that time.
http://www.FamilyTreeDNA.com
"History Unearthed Daily"
Thursday, November 20, 2008
MyHeritage and Family Tree DNA Partner to Help People Trace Family History Using DNA
Tel Aviv, Israel and Houston, Texas – November 20, 2008 – MyHeritage, one of the world’s most popular family Web sites, today announced a partnership with FamilyTreeDNA, the company that pioneered DNA testing for genealogical research. In addition to MyHeritage’s innovative Smart Matching and Research technologies, members can now also use information contained in their DNA to find present-day relatives who share a common ancestor from many hundreds of years ago. FamilyTreeDNA users can take advantage of MyHeritage’s site to not only further research family history, but also stay connected with current family members around the world.
“With close to 220,000 records, FamilyTreeDNA is the largest database of genealogical DNA information in the world. This provides the perfect complement to MyHeritage’s current research tools, giving our members another way to learn about where they come from,” said Gilad Japhet, founder and CEO of MyHeritage. “We help people around the world discover, connect and communicate with their extended family network and easily research their family history. Now, by working with FamilyTreeDNA, we can offer a solution when the paper trail runs out.”
Since its founding in 2000, FamilyTreeDNA has tested over 450,000 people, helping customers trace family history when no conventional records are available. The advanced DNA screening technology, among other things, can reveal Native American, African or Jewish descent on paternal or maternal lines, as well as uncover ancestral information for those who were adopted. Through a range of tests, users can obtain information on recent and historical origins, including a migration map on both paternal and maternal lines. MyHeritage's 27 million users will have access to the following three tests:
• Y-DNA25 – a Y-chromosome test for males (US$129)
• mtDNA – a mitochondrial DNA test for males and females (US$129)
• Y-DNA25 + mtDNA – a combined Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA test for males (US$219)
Bennett Greenspan, President and CEO of FamilyTreeDNA, said, “MyHeritage is an invaluable resource when researching family history online, which is a perfect complement for our DNA research. Our DNA research can show two people that they are related, and MyHeritage's Smart Matching technology can compare their family trees to show the connection. We are also excited to give our members, through MyHeritage, a way to stay connected with relatives all over the world.”
MyHeritage is a leading online destination for families. On the site, people can find relatives, research family history, and stay connected to family members across the globe. In addition, MyHeritage offers automatic photo tagging technology that makes it easier to label, organize and search for digital photos, giving families another fun way to stay in touch.
About MyHeritage
MyHeritage was founded by a team of people who combine a passion for family history with the development of innovative technology. It is now one of the world’s leading online networks for families, and the second largest family history website. MyHeritage is available in 34 languages and home to more than 27 million family members and 280 million profiles. The company recently acquired Kindo, a family social network, and is based in Bnei Atarot, near Tel Aviv, Israel. For more information, visit www.myheritage.com.
Find a video about MyHeritage's new photo tagging features here:
http://www.myheritage.com/blogs/companyblog/2008/09/get_to_know_our_smart_new_phot.html
About Family Tree DNA
Founded in April 2000, Family Tree DNA (www.familytreedna.com) was the first company to develop the commercial application of DNA testing for genealogical purposes: until then, testing had only been available for academic and scientific research. Since that time, the pioneering company has developed a breadth and depth of programs and services and created standards that have earned it international respect and made it the world's most popular DNA-testing service not only for genealogists but for anyone interested in delving beyond the surface into family roots. Today, Family Tree DNA's approaches 220,000 individual test records, making it the premier source for researching recent and distant family ties. Family Tree DNA has recently been featured in Time, Newsweek, the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times and on NBC-TV's "Today Show" and CBS-TV's "60 Minutes."
“With close to 220,000 records, FamilyTreeDNA is the largest database of genealogical DNA information in the world. This provides the perfect complement to MyHeritage’s current research tools, giving our members another way to learn about where they come from,” said Gilad Japhet, founder and CEO of MyHeritage. “We help people around the world discover, connect and communicate with their extended family network and easily research their family history. Now, by working with FamilyTreeDNA, we can offer a solution when the paper trail runs out.”
Since its founding in 2000, FamilyTreeDNA has tested over 450,000 people, helping customers trace family history when no conventional records are available. The advanced DNA screening technology, among other things, can reveal Native American, African or Jewish descent on paternal or maternal lines, as well as uncover ancestral information for those who were adopted. Through a range of tests, users can obtain information on recent and historical origins, including a migration map on both paternal and maternal lines. MyHeritage's 27 million users will have access to the following three tests:
• Y-DNA25 – a Y-chromosome test for males (US$129)
• mtDNA – a mitochondrial DNA test for males and females (US$129)
• Y-DNA25 + mtDNA – a combined Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA test for males (US$219)
Bennett Greenspan, President and CEO of FamilyTreeDNA, said, “MyHeritage is an invaluable resource when researching family history online, which is a perfect complement for our DNA research. Our DNA research can show two people that they are related, and MyHeritage's Smart Matching technology can compare their family trees to show the connection. We are also excited to give our members, through MyHeritage, a way to stay connected with relatives all over the world.”
MyHeritage is a leading online destination for families. On the site, people can find relatives, research family history, and stay connected to family members across the globe. In addition, MyHeritage offers automatic photo tagging technology that makes it easier to label, organize and search for digital photos, giving families another fun way to stay in touch.
About MyHeritage
MyHeritage was founded by a team of people who combine a passion for family history with the development of innovative technology. It is now one of the world’s leading online networks for families, and the second largest family history website. MyHeritage is available in 34 languages and home to more than 27 million family members and 280 million profiles. The company recently acquired Kindo, a family social network, and is based in Bnei Atarot, near Tel Aviv, Israel. For more information, visit www.myheritage.com.
Find a video about MyHeritage's new photo tagging features here:
http://www.myheritage.com/blogs/companyblog/2008/09/get_to_know_our_smart_new_phot.html
About Family Tree DNA
Founded in April 2000, Family Tree DNA (www.familytreedna.com) was the first company to develop the commercial application of DNA testing for genealogical purposes: until then, testing had only been available for academic and scientific research. Since that time, the pioneering company has developed a breadth and depth of programs and services and created standards that have earned it international respect and made it the world's most popular DNA-testing service not only for genealogists but for anyone interested in delving beyond the surface into family roots. Today, Family Tree DNA's approaches 220,000 individual test records, making it the premier source for researching recent and distant family ties. Family Tree DNA has recently been featured in Time, Newsweek, the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times and on NBC-TV's "Today Show" and CBS-TV's "60 Minutes."
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
An Interview with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
The Public School Insights blog just released an interview with Harvard Professor and cultural critic Henry Louis Gates, Jr., who captured some 25 million viewers with his riveting PBS documentary series, African American Lives. Using genealogical research and cutting-edge DNA science, the documentaries trace the family history of 19 famous African Americans--including Oprah Winfrey, Morgan Freeman and Chris Rock--to create a rich and moving account of the African American experience.
In the interview, Gates describes how the genealogy and DNA research central to the documentary can revolutionize how we teach history and science to African American Students:
The interview is available here.
In the interview, Gates describes how the genealogy and DNA research central to the documentary can revolutionize how we teach history and science to African American Students:
You see, if you and I... went into an inner-city school and said, 'We're going to drag you into historical archives about the Civil War,' or the Great Depression, or the Great Migration, kids would say, "Get out of town.' But if we said, 'We're going to trace your family through those periods and to those periods,' my goodness, who wouldn't be interested in that?... My idea is to use the fascination with one's collective self, one's familial self, to seduce people back into learning.
The interview is available here.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Family Tree Stands Above the Competition
I received the following e-mail today:
Dear Fellow Genealogist,
This week an article was published in the UK newspaper Daily Mail, quoting Ancestors Magazine, under the title: "£200-a-time ancestral DNA test kits are a rip off, say experts", by Andrew Levy.
The article was based on tests by the following companies: Oxford Ancestors, Ancestry DNA, and International Biosciences.
Family Tree DNA was not contacted for testing purposes, nor mentioned in that article. Having tested over 350,000 individuals (over 100,000 of our direct customers and 250,000 participants in National Geographic's Genographic Project) we could supply anyone who asks us with thousands of examples that prove the opposite of what the article stated.
Unfortunately, the journalist's conclusion is based on opportunist companies who noted our success and jumped into Genetic Genealogy to get a piece of it, but who did not have the science or the database that would allow for a serious work. Again, note that Family Tree DNA was NOT one of the companies that the journalist approached.
About 2 years ago, Oxford Ancestors announced to the world that they found a descendant of Genghis Khan living in Florida - a Caucasian accountant. Family Tree DNA proved that Oxford Ancestors was wrong. Tom Robinson, the person in question, recounts the entire story in his blog at http://trrobinson.com/2006/06/16/genghis-khan-or-not--that-is-the-question.aspx#comment-56635. The Associated Press later distributed the news: "Robinson, an associate accounting professor at the University of Miami, canceled a planned trip to Mongolia after learning of the new results. He said he never sought publicity on his ancestry. “The results that Family Tree DNA gave me are pretty conclusive,” he said. “I’m certainly not going to look for any more tests on Genghis Khan.” (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13467247/)
Family Tree DNA is proud to have the largest database of its kind in the world (more than all other companies combined), to adhere to the best science in the field, and to be the expert source for journalists from the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, among others. National Geographic would not tarnish their century-old reputation by partnering with us.
That article, in the end, demonstrates the following:
- While Family Tree DNA prices are in line with other companies, price is not the only thing that matters when choosing a DNA testing company
- Science and database size are important factors when choosing a testing company
You are welcome to share this e-mail with whomever you feel necessary, and we make ourselves available to anyone with questions about our work.
E-mail me anytime!
Max Blankfeld
Vice-President, Operations and Marketing
http://www.FamilyTreeDNA.com
"History Unearthed Daily"
max@familytreedna.com
713-868-1438
Dear Fellow Genealogist,
This week an article was published in the UK newspaper Daily Mail, quoting Ancestors Magazine, under the title: "£200-a-time ancestral DNA test kits are a rip off, say experts", by Andrew Levy.
The article was based on tests by the following companies: Oxford Ancestors, Ancestry DNA, and International Biosciences.
Family Tree DNA was not contacted for testing purposes, nor mentioned in that article. Having tested over 350,000 individuals (over 100,000 of our direct customers and 250,000 participants in National Geographic's Genographic Project) we could supply anyone who asks us with thousands of examples that prove the opposite of what the article stated.
Unfortunately, the journalist's conclusion is based on opportunist companies who noted our success and jumped into Genetic Genealogy to get a piece of it, but who did not have the science or the database that would allow for a serious work. Again, note that Family Tree DNA was NOT one of the companies that the journalist approached.
About 2 years ago, Oxford Ancestors announced to the world that they found a descendant of Genghis Khan living in Florida - a Caucasian accountant. Family Tree DNA proved that Oxford Ancestors was wrong. Tom Robinson, the person in question, recounts the entire story in his blog at http://trrobinson.com/2006/06/16/genghis-khan-or-not--that-is-the-question.aspx#comment-56635. The Associated Press later distributed the news: "Robinson, an associate accounting professor at the University of Miami, canceled a planned trip to Mongolia after learning of the new results. He said he never sought publicity on his ancestry. “The results that Family Tree DNA gave me are pretty conclusive,” he said. “I’m certainly not going to look for any more tests on Genghis Khan.” (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13467247/)
Family Tree DNA is proud to have the largest database of its kind in the world (more than all other companies combined), to adhere to the best science in the field, and to be the expert source for journalists from the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, among others. National Geographic would not tarnish their century-old reputation by partnering with us.
That article, in the end, demonstrates the following:
- While Family Tree DNA prices are in line with other companies, price is not the only thing that matters when choosing a DNA testing company
- Science and database size are important factors when choosing a testing company
You are welcome to share this e-mail with whomever you feel necessary, and we make ourselves available to anyone with questions about our work.
E-mail me anytime!
Max Blankfeld
Vice-President, Operations and Marketing
http://www.FamilyTreeDNA.com
"History Unearthed Daily"
max@familytreedna.com
713-868-1438
Friday, March 14, 2008
SMGF Participants Receive Special Offer from GeneTree
I received this e-mail today from the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation:
I took a free DNA test two years ago during a local Family History Conference presented by the LDS church here in Spokane. SMGF sponsored the tests, which had to be submitted with a four- (or more) generation pedigree chart. At the time, the results were not available to the participants, but were used in comparing random DNA data collected from around the world.
This looks intriguing...I think I'll participate, especially considering Blaine's got a free new ebook available explaining DNA test results in layman's terminology at his blog, The Genetic Genealogist.
Dear SMGF participant,
Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF) is excited to announce that your personalized DNA results are now available from the Sorenson mtDNA database, through a special offer made by GeneTree, a family networking website. Eligible participants may obtain their mtDNA-HVI, II, III results and pedigree information for a special introductory price of just $19.50. Comparable tests cost over $150!
With your mtDNA results in hand you can explore new and exciting genetic-genealogy territory by taking advantage of GeneTree's:
- Tools for making connections with mtDNA cousins
- Resources for interpreting mtDNA results
- Innovative tools for discovering migration patterns of ancient and recent ancestors
- Media sharing and storage capacity for pictures, video and other media
To be eligible for this offer you must have requested an SMGF participation kit prior to October 23, 2007 and returned your kit prior to Dec 31, 2007. To view promotion details and get your mtDNA results please click here.
We encourage you to take advantage of this special GeneTree introductory offer!
Sincerely,
The SMGF TeamUnlock and view your personal mtDNA results now at GeneTree.com
SMGF takes great care in protecting your confidential information. SMGF does not transfer or share data with third parties without explicit donor consent.
I took a free DNA test two years ago during a local Family History Conference presented by the LDS church here in Spokane. SMGF sponsored the tests, which had to be submitted with a four- (or more) generation pedigree chart. At the time, the results were not available to the participants, but were used in comparing random DNA data collected from around the world.
This looks intriguing...I think I'll participate, especially considering Blaine's got a free new ebook available explaining DNA test results in layman's terminology at his blog, The Genetic Genealogist.
Monday, January 21, 2008
What I Missed from GeneaBlogger Land
Sheesh! Things move along quite quickly in GeneaBlogger Land! Last week when my Internet was out, I took my laptop to the local public library after work every day to check my e-mail, pay online bills, prepare my syllabuses for online classes I'm teaching, and skim through my Google Reader at my favorite geneabloggers' posts. Since I only had an hour and a half each day to do all that, I didn't get to linger for long at any one blog. Saturday after teaching my computer class on Footnote.com to members of the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society, I just came home and "played," trying to catch up on some of the reading I've missed. If you've been busy or offline for a while as well, here's what happened in the last week (and the last month, during which I've been too busy to make comments):
- *Chris Dunham returned after over three weeks' hiatus at The Genealogue, and is as funny as ever!
- *Several new blogs have been created. I'll post more about these later this week.
- *Jasia won a free genetic testing at Blaine Bettinger's The Genetic Genealogist! Congratulations! She's been blogging about it at Creative Gene.
- *Speaking of returning bloggers, David of OakvilleBlackWalnut has been posting like fury since late December.
- *Donna Pointkowski at What's Past is Prologue has started a new meme, "Where was your family 200 years ago?" which follows Lisa's meme of "Where was your family in 1908?" at 100 Years in America.
- *Kimberly Powell at About.com's Genealogy listed "10 Genealogy Blogs Worth Reading." I'm honored to be included in the links at "And the Rest...."
- *Denise Olsen of Family Matters challenges us to post lists of local or family history blogs we use in our research. I'll be posting mine later this week.
- *Joe Beine has posted more vital records links on his blog, Genealogy Roots Blog, here.
- *WorldVitalRecords.com has changed its name to FamilyLink.com to better reflect its mission.
- *The 40th Carnival of Genealogy has been posted! Topic: Living-relative connections.
- *The Cabinet of Curiosities Carnival #3 has been posted!
Sunday, January 20, 2008
James LeVoy Sorenson Passes
Leland Meitzler of Genealogy Blog reports that James LeVoy Sorenson, who established the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, has passed, stating that "he alone may have had more impact on genetic genealogy than everyone else involved."
Sunday, November 04, 2007
The 35th Carnival of Genealogy is Posted!
Blaine Bettinger, a.k.a. "Dr. DNA", a.k.a. "The Genetic Genealogist", is the host of the 35th Carnival of Genealogy, whose topic is, "Do You Have a Family Mystery That Might Be Solved by DNA?"
Nineteen bloggers submitted 21 posts with their questions regarding their families' ancestral mysteries--from finding Native American heritage to questioning how far we want to go, ethically, in uncovering family secrets--and Blaine answered each and every one.
In my husband's family, we have created the Midkiff Family DNA Project to determine whether all the Midkiffs found in North America have a common ancestor. Many of the various Midkiff family lines have "brickwalled" in the early 19th and late 18th centuries, including my husband's line, which "stops" with his earliest known ancestor, Franklin Preston MIDKIFF (c. 1800 - c. 1839) of Lincoln Co. (now Moore Co.), Tennessee. By testing various Midkiff men using the Y-DNA test, we now know of two other Midkiff lines that connect to Franklin, proving a common ancestor who lived sometime between 1700 - 1800, probably in Virginia. The two other lines are "brickwalled" at David MIDKIFF (c. 1769 - 1840s) and John MIDKIFF (b. c. 1740), both of Pittsylvania Co., Virgina. Our Family DNA Project is also in communication with the Metcalfe Family DNA Project, as we believe that "Midkiff" is an alternate spelling of that name.
If you are interested in learning more about DNA as it relates to genealogy, I suggest becoming a frequent reader of Blaine's blog, The Genetic Genealogist. He has a free e-book that can be downloaded here, which is called 10 DNA Testing Myths Busted, and Other Favorite Posts. It is available in .pdf format (read with Adobe Reader, a free program most of us have on our computers). He also recommends great books for those interested in learning more. There are five beginner books and 10 more scientific ones on his list, and I plan on reading every one! Currently, I'm reading The Seven Daughters of Eve: The Science That Reveals Our Genetic Ancestry by Bryan Sykes. It's a fascinating read involving many of my favorite mysteries that I used to love to watch on Nova, Unsolved Mysteries, and the like: Was Anna Anderson really the daughter of Czar Nicholas II? Are the Polynesians descendants of Asians or South Americans?
Another must-read blog for those interested in genetics is Megan's RootsWorld by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak. Megan, a professional genealogist, coined the term "genetealogy" and has written, among many books, Trace Your Roots with DNA. Her expertise in both genealogy and genetics is often featured in magazines, newspapers, and television shows, including the Hallmark Channel's New Morning, where we see how Megan returned a photo album found in the trash to its rightful owner, halfway around the world!
I have been lucky that twice in the past year I've had an opportunity to hear experts speak on this topic locally: first, Ugo Perego from the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation spoke at the North Stake Family History Center's Family History Conference in March; and then Bernie Middleton, a fellow member of EWGS, made an excellent presentation, "DNA in Genealogical Reseach" at our April general meeting. The study of DNA as it relates to family history is not going to go away. It is a useful, fascinating tool that can aid us in our research, and it behooves us to educate ourselves on this topic.
Nineteen bloggers submitted 21 posts with their questions regarding their families' ancestral mysteries--from finding Native American heritage to questioning how far we want to go, ethically, in uncovering family secrets--and Blaine answered each and every one.
In my husband's family, we have created the Midkiff Family DNA Project to determine whether all the Midkiffs found in North America have a common ancestor. Many of the various Midkiff family lines have "brickwalled" in the early 19th and late 18th centuries, including my husband's line, which "stops" with his earliest known ancestor, Franklin Preston MIDKIFF (c. 1800 - c. 1839) of Lincoln Co. (now Moore Co.), Tennessee. By testing various Midkiff men using the Y-DNA test, we now know of two other Midkiff lines that connect to Franklin, proving a common ancestor who lived sometime between 1700 - 1800, probably in Virginia. The two other lines are "brickwalled" at David MIDKIFF (c. 1769 - 1840s) and John MIDKIFF (b. c. 1740), both of Pittsylvania Co., Virgina. Our Family DNA Project is also in communication with the Metcalfe Family DNA Project, as we believe that "Midkiff" is an alternate spelling of that name.
If you are interested in learning more about DNA as it relates to genealogy, I suggest becoming a frequent reader of Blaine's blog, The Genetic Genealogist. He has a free e-book that can be downloaded here, which is called 10 DNA Testing Myths Busted, and Other Favorite Posts. It is available in .pdf format (read with Adobe Reader, a free program most of us have on our computers). He also recommends great books for those interested in learning more. There are five beginner books and 10 more scientific ones on his list, and I plan on reading every one! Currently, I'm reading The Seven Daughters of Eve: The Science That Reveals Our Genetic Ancestry by Bryan Sykes. It's a fascinating read involving many of my favorite mysteries that I used to love to watch on Nova, Unsolved Mysteries, and the like: Was Anna Anderson really the daughter of Czar Nicholas II? Are the Polynesians descendants of Asians or South Americans?
Another must-read blog for those interested in genetics is Megan's RootsWorld by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak. Megan, a professional genealogist, coined the term "genetealogy" and has written, among many books, Trace Your Roots with DNA. Her expertise in both genealogy and genetics is often featured in magazines, newspapers, and television shows, including the Hallmark Channel's New Morning, where we see how Megan returned a photo album found in the trash to its rightful owner, halfway around the world!
I have been lucky that twice in the past year I've had an opportunity to hear experts speak on this topic locally: first, Ugo Perego from the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation spoke at the North Stake Family History Center's Family History Conference in March; and then Bernie Middleton, a fellow member of EWGS, made an excellent presentation, "DNA in Genealogical Reseach" at our April general meeting. The study of DNA as it relates to family history is not going to go away. It is a useful, fascinating tool that can aid us in our research, and it behooves us to educate ourselves on this topic.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
New Prompt (Week Sixteen) at AnceStories2
I've just posted the newest set of journal prompts over at AnceStories2: Stories of Me for My Descendants. This week's topic is Your Children.
I thought I'd share a little about my children: I have two, a sixteen-year-old daughter and a thirteen-year-old son. My daughter, Melissa "Missy" Joy, was named for a character in a favorite book, Love Comes Softly, by Janette Oke. I read it back when it was the first and only book the author had written. It became a series, and she became a pioneer in the Christian Fiction field. When Love Comes Softly became a movie created by Hallmark, the father's character was played by Dale Midkiff. For years, people have asked if my children's father s family was related to the actor. Recently, I made contact with a step-relative of Dale's who had done quite a bit of genealogy on his family. She was able to show me that he descended from an ancestor who has a descendant that has taken a YDNA test for our Midkiff Family Tree DNA Project. There are three or four "distinct" Midkiff families who have members who have taken the YDNA test and the results show that there is a definite connection between them all, as early as the late 1700s. So, yes, Dale is related, but we're not sure how, as we can't seem to get past my children's father's 3rd-great-grandfather Midkiff.
My son, Matthew Jon, was named at the last minute. I was walking the halls of Sacred Heart Medical Center in early labor and I suggested to my son's father that we had better make sure we had a boy's name, just in case (we had decided upon Mandy for a girl's name). Good thing we came up with one! I like to say that Matthew was named after me, as that would have been my name if I had been a boy. Besides, he had to be named after me; he certainly couldn't be named before me! (I know, I know, bad joke!)
I thought I'd share a little about my children: I have two, a sixteen-year-old daughter and a thirteen-year-old son. My daughter, Melissa "Missy" Joy, was named for a character in a favorite book, Love Comes Softly, by Janette Oke. I read it back when it was the first and only book the author had written. It became a series, and she became a pioneer in the Christian Fiction field. When Love Comes Softly became a movie created by Hallmark, the father's character was played by Dale Midkiff. For years, people have asked if my children's father s family was related to the actor. Recently, I made contact with a step-relative of Dale's who had done quite a bit of genealogy on his family. She was able to show me that he descended from an ancestor who has a descendant that has taken a YDNA test for our Midkiff Family Tree DNA Project. There are three or four "distinct" Midkiff families who have members who have taken the YDNA test and the results show that there is a definite connection between them all, as early as the late 1700s. So, yes, Dale is related, but we're not sure how, as we can't seem to get past my children's father's 3rd-great-grandfather Midkiff.
My son, Matthew Jon, was named at the last minute. I was walking the halls of Sacred Heart Medical Center in early labor and I suggested to my son's father that we had better make sure we had a boy's name, just in case (we had decided upon Mandy for a girl's name). Good thing we came up with one! I like to say that Matthew was named after me, as that would have been my name if I had been a boy. Besides, he had to be named after me; he certainly couldn't be named before me! (I know, I know, bad joke!)
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Upcoming April EWGS Meeting
The Eastern Washington Genealogical Society will be having its April meeting next Saturday, the 7th, in the meeting rooms of the main floor of the Downtown Public Library (906 W. Main Ave.). Coffee, cookies, and conversation begin at 12:30 PM. The business portion of the meeting starts at 1:00 PM, followed by our speaker, society member Bernie Middleton. His topic will be "DNA in Genealogical Research." This is an important new feature in genealogy, and if you missed Ugo Perego at the LDS Genealogical Conference last month, you won't want to miss Bernie. There's a lot we all can learn about DNA testing and how it applies to genealogy.
The meeting will conclude at about 2:30 PM. Parking is available in the library parking garage (basement - access on Spokane Falls Boulevard) or nearby in River Park Square (there's a skywalk to the second floor of the library from the mall). Some people like to come early (the library opens at 10 AM) or stay late (closes at 6 PM) to do research in the genealogy room on the third floor. EWGS society volunteers, as well as the library staff, are available to assist you.
This meeting will be a great time to sign up for our Spring Seminar (May 5) featuring editor and publisher, Halvor Moorshead. His magazines, which you may have read, are Family Chronicle, Internet Genealogy and History Magazine...all excellent publications. A hobby that is especially dear to him is the identifying of family members in unmarked photos, to the extent that he has written two books about this: Dating Old Photographs: 1840 - 1929 and More Dating Old Photographs: Expert Advice and All New Photographs. Halvor will be speaking on:
"Web 2.0" - New Uses of the Internet for Genealogists "Genealogical Databases" - What's New and What's Coming Old Newspapers" - Researching them Online
"101 Clues from Old Photographs"
Find more details and register here: http://www.rootsweb.com/~waewgs/2007spring.htm
Hope to see you in both April and May!
The meeting will conclude at about 2:30 PM. Parking is available in the library parking garage (basement - access on Spokane Falls Boulevard) or nearby in River Park Square (there's a skywalk to the second floor of the library from the mall). Some people like to come early (the library opens at 10 AM) or stay late (closes at 6 PM) to do research in the genealogy room on the third floor. EWGS society volunteers, as well as the library staff, are available to assist you.
This meeting will be a great time to sign up for our Spring Seminar (May 5) featuring editor and publisher, Halvor Moorshead. His magazines, which you may have read, are Family Chronicle, Internet Genealogy and History Magazine...all excellent publications. A hobby that is especially dear to him is the identifying of family members in unmarked photos, to the extent that he has written two books about this: Dating Old Photographs: 1840 - 1929 and More Dating Old Photographs: Expert Advice and All New Photographs. Halvor will be speaking on:
Hope to see you in both April and May!
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