Welcome to our Genetic Project Web Log, for the Month of April.
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St * r * * v * nt GENETIC Project
April 25, 2004
I have finally solved the printing problem for this site. You can print through the browser now. I wont go into detail, but if you check your Print Preview through the File menu of your browser, you will see how each page will print. The image and link box on these pages will not be printed; just the text and headings are printed on a white background.
The details of the problem and cure are described here:
Print Problem Description
April 18, 2004
My Swabs have been returned.
I have also changed the address of the Home Page, to the more conventional ...dna/index.html, instead of ...dna/OurDNA.html. This allows for an address of http://www.sturgood.com/dna which will get you to the home page. You may change your bookmark, or will automatically be re-directed. No other pages on the site have changed addresses.
April 15, 2004
Have received my kit this week. Arrived on Monday, a large envelope, regular mail, 6 days after order. I am aware of 5 kits ordered. Three from the DE spelling and two from TE spelling.
Click this link to see a picture of the contents of the test kit I received.
DNA Sample Kit from DNA Heritage
April 9, 2004
We have put out the call for participants for a jump start of the project. There is a link on the Sign-Up ! page to order a kit for a 43 marker y-chromosome test from DNA Heritage. The price is $199. This price is between the $155 for 26 markers from Relative Genetics (its back), and $289 that Family Tree DNA is asking for 37 markers. It includes all 26 of RG and 32 of the FTDNA 37 markers.
With the cheaper price for 25 markers from Relative Genetics back, we need to discuss the differences between the number of markers. A question has been posed in the group about it, and I have posted it, and answer on the FAQ page.
The short answer is that more markers shortens the time to the Most Recent Common Ancestor. If,
- I match somebody on all 12 markers of a 12 marker test, then we had a common ancestor 14 generations ago.
- I match somebody on all 24/26 markers of a 24/26 marker test, then we had a common ancestor 7 generations ago.
- I match somebody on all 37 markers of a 37 marker test, then we had a common ancestor 5 generations ago.
- I match somebody on all 43 markers of a 43 marker test, then we had a common ancestor 4 generations ago.
The FAQ page is located here:
Counting my order, I know of 3 kits that have been ordered as of April 8.
April 6, 2004
Things are in a state of flux. Apparently the $155 price from Relative Genetics is gone. So are back to $195 pricing for 26 markers from them. Since the 43 marker test from DNA Heritage includes the markers used in the 26 marker test of the other companies; I believe we should start by ordering some tests from them.
Calling All Males with any spelling of our Name
I have ordered one test in my name, to get this thing going.
They will not charge me for the test until I send it back to be tested. As mentioned below, there will be no project status on this. Your results will be posted on a personal page in the Oracle Database. You will have to either send me the results or give me the access codes; if I am to post the results on the web site along with the genealogy. The information will be identified only by a number unless you specifically OK the use of your name.
I will get a link to DNA Heritage's order page on the Sign-Up page. As of Tuesday the 6th of April, DNA Heritage had 166 tests left at this price. The pace of ordering has seemed to slow a little, so there is time.
April 3, 2004
This page is rapidly turning into a Web log or Blog; devoted to DNA testing and how it can help us. With DNA Heritage back in the mix, we have added a sense of expediency.
First of all thanks to Alistair of DNA Heritage for the sharper graphic now on the page.
The discussion has turned to the number and type of markers available for what price. This discussion only applies to a y-chromosome, male surname, test. 43 markers for $199 from DNA Heritage for a limited time, 37 markers for $289 from Family Tree DNA and a new price of $155 for 26 markers from Relative Genetics.
The 43 marker test by DNA Heritage includes 31 of the 37 markers that Family Tree DNA uses. It also includes 35 of the 37 markers used by YBase, a online database.
For the detail minded, the differences revolve around the DYS 44x and 45x markers used by DNA Heritage, and 607, 570, 576, CDYa and CDYb that Family Tree DNA tests. The 43 markers also include 11 of the 15 particular markers that Family Tree DNA claims mutate at a faster rate and thus are better able to refine surname lines.
As for Relative Genetics, all 26 that they test are included in the 43 of DNA Heritage. However, both Relative Genetics and DNA Heritage use the same lab, Sorenson Genomics in Utah. DNA Heritage by contract, and Relative Genetics as part of the Sorenson family of companies. I expect Relative Genetics to offer the same 43 markers soon.
Summary:
Take advantage of DNA Heritage's deal within the next week to 10 days, (they seem to be dropping the number about 10 a day). This would net us a quick baseline of the y-chromosome for as many male surnames as we can muster, and then figuring out where to go from there. For $90 per test more, Family Tree nets us 5 different markers tested, 4 of which are claimed to be faster mutaters, and project status. It also has the advantage of being started at any time, continuing at the same price, and tied in with mtDNA tests. Results from both can be posted to the two major online databases, YBase and YSearch
ybase, associated with DNA Heritage
ysearch, associated with Family Tree DNA
March 31, 2004
Apparently DNA Heritage is back in action. They are offering a promotion of 43 markers tested for $199. The hook is that they are only offering 250 tests at this price. As noted below, DNA Heritage contacted me saying they had to discontinue the use of the lab they were contracted with because they could not keep up with the volume of business. You can read this here:
Read all about it here:
Only 222 left.
March 28, 2004
It has been 3 weeks. I have added a graphical depiction of the route of both the y-chromosome and mtDNA through the family tree here:
Other than that, nothing has changed. I have a feeling people are wanting to get the show on the road. So it is time to make a selection of the testing service and get started. I have heard nothing about anybody's preference for Relative Genetics or Family Tree DNA. So I will give it another week and if no other comments will decide next Sunday, April 4. Will probably be able to put up a link to the order process by Easter weekend.
March 7, 2004
The web site is up and running. Links to tutorials, files, project examples, companies have been posted. Wayne has started a sponsorship program, we have posted notifications and invitations, and have received positive responses from volunteers.
We currently have at least 2 participants from the documented Sturtevant group, the documented Sturdevant group, as well as a documented Sturtivant from England. We have at least 1 undocumented line, who hopes to be placed definitively in one group or the other. We also have a couple of volunteers for Justus.
We have not received any response from the southern Sturdivants.
Next Step
So now that we have a number and diversity of participants interested in testing, the next step is to select a service. As noted previously, DNA Heritage has bowed out of the running, so we are down to the two big ones.
Family Tree DNA
Relative Genetics
You will find links to their home pages on the left. You can also read responses from them to my initial inquiries in the files section of this site.
Both companies have provided links to the Project Pages of their sites. These are demos, that show how you will sign up and order a test kit, what your results may look like, what the project administrator sees, how you can change your privacy settings, and the like. Please explore all these resources, as our next task is to select one of these companies to work with.
We hope to begin testing in April. Please, if you are at all interested in adding your genetic genealogy to our project, familiarize yourself with these companies and give us your feedback.
Project Demo from Family Tree DNA
Project Demo from Relative Genetics. Log in, using my email address and password familyDNA.
A New Look
Gary mentioned some may be put off by the sometimes unseemliness of DNA testing. People much more responsive to "genetic" or "genesis". We also replaced the homemade DNA logo with a professional double helix graphic from DNA Heritage. Used by their permission as long as we have a link to them. So, visit them with the link on the left.
You will find the "New" link on the Home Page only.
Where are We?
As of the last weekend in February, we have received responses from all 3 companies that are listed on the left. Their responses have been posted in the group, but we will try to put them on the files section.
DNA Heritage has lost its laboratory and is currently not offering tests. However, they still have a web site, and it has a lot of information on it.
This leaves us with 2 choices for the dna testing project.
Family Tree DNA
Relative Genetics
Our next step is to decide on which one of these companies to use. I would like to hear your thoughts on it.
Test Sponsorship
Wayne Sturdevant has offered to set-up, administer, and contribute to a fund to help finance DNA testing. I will not post Wayne's contact on the web site, but it has been posted in the group. If you are not a member of the group and wish to contribute to the Sponsorship Pool, or would like to nominate someone for sponsorship, please contact me.
Thank you to all who have indicated their willingness to contribute. "Paying it Forward" does really work in genealogy.
Participants
We have met the number of 6 participants required for a group pricing. We have at least 2 documented surname descendants of Samuel of Massachussets and John of Connecticut lines. We also have a couple of unknowns hoping to be placed in the line of one or the other of these individuals.
Project Examples
We have added a section for actual Project examples posted on the Web. The first one is the Barton project, which was contributed by Duane, a member of the group, and is an example of the work of Relative Genetics. There is a link to this project on their site as well. Nicely set up, as a pdf, can download all or view a page at a time. Thanks Duane.
