Family Tree DNA: Genetic Testing Service
Bennett Greenspan, FounderKevin Brook, Affiliate
Family Tree DNA is a genetics testing service which allows men and women to compare their paternal and maternal DNA respectively with the DNA of other men and women from around the world. This can help establish links with cousins many times removed, and can help identify which haplotypes a person possesses (which can sometimes pinpoint a geographic or ethnic origin for a family's heritage). If you closely match a person in the database, you will be able to contact that person if there is mutual consent by both parties.
Multiple general types of paternal marker tests are available: a37 marker Y-DNA test, a111 marker Y-DNA test, and a mostcomprehensiveBig Y-700 Y-DNA test.The 111 marker test is more intricate than the 37 marker test, but both tests will compare your DNA with those of every other test subject. The 111 marker and Big Y tests are meant for highly specific genealogical testing, particularly if you're participating in a specific family surname study or need to substantially narrow the timeframe of relatedness. Only men qualify for Y-DNA testing.
The mtDNA testing service -- namelymtFull Sequence -- is also available for identifying a maternal lineage. Both men and women can sign up for a mtDNA test.
TheFamily Finder autosomal DNA test introduced on May 3, 2010 searches for links across all ancestral lines. It enables any man or woman to find relatives like grandparents, aunts, uncles, half-siblings, first cousins, second cousins, third cousins, and fourth cousins.myOrigins,introduced on May 6, 2014 and updated on April 4, 2017, estimates aperson's ethnic composition by comparing one's autosomal DNA toreference samples from populations around the world.
Family Tree DNA specializes in a number of areas, includingAmerican Indian ancestry, Melungeon ancestry,Scottish andIrish ancestry, andJewish ancestry, and there are also many ongoing surname projects, but people from all ethnic backgrounds are invited to use these services.
