Dear John Sturdevant, Thank you for your enquiry. Unfortunately, you catch us in a time of flux. The university genetics lab we had contracted to perform the Y-chromosome work were unable to keep up with the volume of samples and were getting progressively late. Thus we had to take the unenviable step of suspending orders until either the lab were able to resolve the issue themselves or an alternate lab were found. We are working hard around the problem, and although we are unable to accept any samples, we can of course answer any questions you may have regarding 'genetic genealogy'. Below is the letter we send out to those wishing to start up a Surname Project and because of our current situation is for information only. Kind Regards, Alastair Thank you very much for your enquiry to start your own Surname Project with DNA Heritage, your first step into the growing and exciting world of genealogy. Surname Projects are an extremely popular way to collaborate with others around the globe that share your surname. Finding answers to your genealogical questions is that much easier if many group members get tested at the same time - and all can benefit from a dramatically reduced cost of testing. Many Surname Project Administrators will want to take advantage of the much lower group-rate. To qualify for the group rate, your Project must have had 5 members that have been tested at the individual rate. The sixth and any additional members that join at a later date are only charged at the group-rate. Oracle =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As the Surname Project Administrator for your group, you can make use of the very effective Project Management tools at Oracle - our secure online customer database. Once logged on to Oracle you can easily: - see when samples have been sent out, returned and tested - view the results of all of your group members - track the overall status of each sample - edit contact details for each member - see the payment status of each sample - keep helpful notes - put your project details online for others to find - view requests to join your Project - add new members Once your account is set up (you will need to enter your details in the form at http://www.dnaheritage.com/oracle/newsurnameproject.asp), you can easily add new group members by entering their details directly into Oracle via your own online 'join' page. Alternatively, you can send your new members to that page so they may enter their own details. Sample kits are then sent out. Each of your group members will have access to their own personal pages which show their individual sample status and results, as well as a brief overview of the project. They are also able to update their own contact details. Because we understand that starting a Surname Project may be a little daunting at first, you may also wish to elect a 'co-administrator'. Although you will remain the link between your Project and DNA Heritage, the co-administrator will also have access to the Project Management pages, allowing you to combine your efforts into ensuring the success of your Project. You can elect a co-administrator via your Project Management pages at any time. To make the Project Management pages much more user-friendly, some elements of the web-pages are only shown when trigger events have happened, for example, when a new request to join your project has been made or when your results are in. This will hopefully make the overall view of your Surname Project that much clearer. For a demonstration of how Oracle can help to make your Project run without a hitch, take a look at http://www.dnaheritage.com/oracle.asp - you can tour Oracle from there. Choosing participants =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- This is an important part of the testing process. Many people are trying to determine the descendants of an ancestor. To do this effectively, you need to choose at least two people with very good written records that trace back to one single ancestor. The aim of such a project is to identify the 'ancestral haplotype' for that ancestor and thus his other descendants. If those two people match (or are very close), you will have likely found the 'ancestral haplotype'. You can then compare others with the same surname to the 'ancestral haplotype'. If a match occurs, a genetic link can be inferred. If there is not a close match, a link can be disproven. The most cost effective method is to find two cousins that have absolutely certain links with each other and with a common ancestor. The reason at least two people are needed is because 'non-paternity' events occur at about 2-5% per generation, and it is possible to spot such errors only when two or more people are tested. By testing many relatives through group testing, several questions involving different ancestors can be answered at the same time. If you need help in choosing suitable participants, please feel free to contact us. Markers =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Our 21-marker test was carefully developed to combine the ability to answer your genealogical questions with a very reasonable cost. A popular misconception is that more markers equates to a better test. This is not always the case and it depends on which markers are being used. We've chosen our markers because they've all been used in published scientific studies of populations around the world. 'Multi-copy' markers can be very problematic when making a comparison between two people. For example, DYS464c in one person may not be the same DYS464c in another person and so we have only included DYS385a and DYS385b in our test, which are both part of the forensic 'core' markers - this compares favourably to tests offered by some other companies who offer up to 8 multi-copy markers! On comparison with other laboratories, we offer the lowest cost per marker (excluding multi-copy markers) in the world, without sacrificing our high quality standards. Timescale =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- We aim to give your results back in less than 6 weeks from receipt of your sample. This allows us plenty of time to carefully analyse your DNA, ensuring we maintain the high quality standards you expect. You can track the progress of your sample online via Oracle. Your results =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As well as seeing your results via Oracle, we shall of course send you a results certificate which we hope you will keep safe. We shall also provide full interpretation of what your results mean to you and your group. Databases =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As most people will want to see if they match with others around the world, DNA Heritage designed Ybase (at http://www.ybase.org). Ybase is very different from other genetic/genealogy databases in that, although it is maintained by DNA Heritage, it has it's own separate web-site and is open to everyone. Anyone can add to it and anyone can search it. It is also the broadest database, accepting up to 36 markers. You can add your results and details of your eldest known ancestors so that others around the globe may find and connect up with you. By making this service freely available to the genealogical community at large, Ybase is the best way to find your genetic cousins. You may also directly compare yourself with the forensic-based YSTR database at http://www.ystr.org. Payment =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- On receipt of each test sample, we shall send out an email invoice via the Administrator. This email invoice will contain details of how to pay online. The invoice can be settled by credit or debit card. We can accept credit/debit card payments in five major currencies (GBP, USD, EUR, CAD & AUD) from VISA, MasterCard, Eurocard and Visa Delta. Additionally, we can also accept Solo, Switch and JCB from our UK customers. We take security very seriously. All of our electronic transactions are processed by Worldpay, part of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group. Please take this link: http://www.worldpay.com for details of Worldpay's state of the art security system. Starting your project with DNA Heritage =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- What to do now: Simply fill in your full details at http://www.dnaheritage.com/oracle/newsurnameproject.asp and we shall set up your account for you. We are always happy to discuss your Project objectives and to formulate a testing plan (i.e. who to test and why). There are also some useful tips and hints to help with the success of your Project at http://www.dnaheritage.com/mysurnameproject.asp. Once your account is set up, you are ready to go and take your first steps into genetic genealogy! Kind Regards, Alastair Greenshields Principal DNA Heritage 40 Preston Road Weymouth Dorset DT3 6PZ United Kingdom web: http://www.dnaheritage.com