Family Tree DNA Now Offering Webinars!

The following announcement was posted in Family Tree DNA's newsletter Facts & Genes, Vol. 9, Issue 3, Summer 2011.

Family Tree DNA has partnered with Relative Roots to offer quality, convenient and affordable Genetic Genealogy education to Family Tree DNA customers! We're now offering webinars (web-based seminars) as an option for our customers to learn more about our tests and your own results.

How it Works

Attend our live or on-demand webinars (web-based seminars) from the comfort of your own home! You'll view the presentation using your own computer and listen to the presenter using your computer speakers or telephone. Attendees of our live webinars are able to ask questions just as if you were attending a presentation in-person. Registrants of our on-demand webinars can access a recording of our live webinars at a time that is convenient for you. Each webinar session lasts 60-90 minutes.

Topics

We're launching our webinars with four topics:

Beginner:

Introduction to Genetic Genealogy at Family Tree DNA

Intermediate:

Genetic Genealogy Demystified: Reading and Understanding Your Family Tree DNA Results, Part 1: Y-DNA

Genetic Genealogy Demystified: Reading and Understanding Your Family Tree DNA Results, Part 2: mtDNA
Genetic Genealogy Demystified: Reading and Understanding Your Family Tree DNA Results, Part 3: Family Finder

Stay tuned for more topics to be added to the schedule in the coming months!

Cost

Introduction to Genetic Genealogy - FREE!All others - $10 each, or 3 for $25

Webinar Discount

For a limited time, register for all three Genetic Genealogy Demystified webinars for only $20! Simply add all 3 webinars to the shopping cart to get the 3/$25 special, then also enter coupon code RRW5GGD3FGA for an additional $5 discount. Offer expires September 15, 2011.

Family Tree DNA Discount

Webinar attendees will receive a limited-time discount on select new tests and upgrades to help offset the cost of attending the webinar. A coupon code will be provided at the end of each live webinar and will also be available to those who view the on-demand recordings.

Webinar Schedule

Our core webinars are currently repeated every month. Following is the webinar schedule for August:

August 25 - Genetic Genealogy Demystified: Reading and Understanding Your Family Tree DNA Results, Part 2: mtDNA

August 30 - Genetic Genealogy Demystified: Reading and Understanding Your Family Tree DNA Results, Part 3: Family Finder

September Schedule:

September 6 - Introduction to Genetic Genealogy at Family Tree DNA

September 15 - Genetic Genealogy Demystified: Reading and Understanding Your Family Tree DNA Results, Part 1: Y-DNA

September 20 - Genetic Genealogy Demystified: Reading and Understanding Your Family Tree DNA Results, Part 2: mtDNA

September 27 - Genetic Genealogy Demystified: Reading and Understanding Your Family Tree DNA Results, Part 3: Family Finder

Register Today!

For registration, more details about each of the webinars and schedule updates, please visit: http://www.relativeroots.net/webinars/ftdna/

About Relative Roots

Relative Roots is a Florida-based genealogy consulting and education company, owned and operated by Elise Friedman. Elise became a Family Tree DNA customer in 2005 while working on her own genealogy brick walls. She quickly became a proponent of genetic genealogy as a tool for genealogists, and today she's a volunteer administrator for several surname, geographical and haplogroup projects at Family Tree DNA. Over the years, she has given presentations on genetic genealogy at a variety of genealogy society meetings and genealogy conferences. Then earlier this year, Elise took her presentations online and began offering genetic genealogy webinars through her company, Relative Roots. Family Tree DNA is very pleased to now have Elise as our education partner so we can offer this new educational opportunity to our customers.

Testimony:  I personally know Elise Friedman.  She is very knowledgeable and offers a quality product.  No doubt participating in her Webinars will be most helpful for the public's understanding of Genetic Genealogy.   --- Emily Aulicino

Family Tree DNA Allows Transfers from SMGF, GeneTree and Ancestry.com

Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) has completed the process to allow customers from Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF), GeneTree and Ancestry.com to transfer their test results to FTDNA.   This option began when DNA Heritage (DNAH) ceased operations on April 19, 2011 and transferred their results to Family Tree DNA; however, FTDNA decided to expand the format of accepting DNAH’s result to include anyone who tested at SMGF, GeneTree and Ancestry.com, thus given thousands of people the opportunity to join the largest DNA database for genealogy.

The transfer options are:
1.  Transfer Y-DNA33 or Y-DNA46 marker test for $19 and join a Project
2.  Transfer Y-DNA33 marker test and purchase an FTDNA Y-DNA 25 marker test for $58 to join a Project, receive a Haplogroup prediction and receive matches in the FTDNA database.

3.  Transfer Y-DNA 46 marker test and purchase an FTDNA37 marker test for $58 to join a Project, receive a Haplogroup prediction and receive matches in the FTDNA database.

You may take part in the Family Tree DNA Y-DNA Transfer program by following these steps.

1. Go to the Y-DNA Transfer page, http://www.familytreedna.com/landing/ydna-transfer.aspx.
2. Select the transfer package that is right for you, and click on the Order Now button beside it.
3. Click the Next button and complete the Contact Information form.
4. Click the Next button and complete the Shipping and Billing form.
5. Review and complete your order.

For non-DNA H transfers, testers will need to both enter their lab values and submit a screen shot of their results.

See the FAQ for more inforamtion.

In summary

Testers from the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF), GeneTree and Ancestry.com may transfer their Y-DNA results to Family Tree DNA.

For a small fee testers can receive the full benefits offered to all Family Tree DNA customers which included, in part:
 * Sample storage
 * Testing upgrades
 * Haplogroup predictions
 * Project membership
 * Availability to the largest database solely for genealogists
 * Comparison to the entire database every time test results are received
 * Notification of matches via email
 * Personal webpages
 * No monthly fees

Emily
aulicino, 4 Aug 2011

Family Tree DNA Summer Sale 2011

This email has just arrived from Family Tree DNA.  The sale doesn't start for another hour, but only lasts a week...

Dear Project Administrator,
Last summer, we offered special pricing to attract new members to your projects. This was the most successful offering of its type in our company's history. Our project administrators that got behind the recruitment efforts saw their projects grow, and, thus, our database also grew. With this in mind, we'd like to offer a summer special again this year.

Y-DNA37 for $119 (Regular price would be $149)
Y-DNA67 for $199 (Regular price would be $239)

Family Finder for $199 (Regular price would be $289)
Family Finder + Y-DNA37 for $318 (Regular price would be $438)
Family Finder + mtDNAPlus for $318 (Regular Price would be $438)
mtDNA Full Sequence for $219 (Regular Price would be $299)
SuperDNA for $418 (Regular Price would be $518, includes Y-DNA67 and mtFullSequence)
Comprehensive Genome for $617 (Regular Price would be $797, includes Y-DNA67, mtFullSequence and Family Finder)
In addition, existing Family Tree DNA customers may order the Family Finder add-on for $199
The promotion will start today, Friday the 15th at 6PM CST and will end Thursday, July 21, 11:59PM CST.

Kits need to be paid for by the end of the promotion.
As always, thank you for your continued support.


Best wishes,
Emily
Email me if you need help with understanding DNA testing or have questions on what test to purchase.  You can also click on the FTDNA icon to the right to order.
 aulicino@hevanet.com

Family Tree DNA Announces DNA Heritage Transfers

Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) is now allowing customers from DNA Heritage to transfer their test results to FTDNA.  This option began when DNA Heritage (DNAH) ceased operations on April 19, 2011 and transferred their results to FTDNA. 

Please note that you can only transfer Y-DNA results from DNA Heritage as they used the Sorenson Lab who does not use the same mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) panels that FTDNA uses.

Two Options

FTDNA now allows DNAH customers to transfer their Y-DNA results with two different options.

In the first option, a customer may transfer their DNA Heritage Y-DNA46 marker test to FTDNA free of charge and would be able to join various Projects.  This conversion will have a 25 marker match.  See the FAQ below for more detail.

However, with the second option, a DNAH customer may transfer their Y-DNA46 marker test and for $39 US order FTDNA’s 37 marker test.  Since DNAH’s 46-marker test does not completely coincide with FTDNA’s 37-marker test, purchasing this test is a wise decision on many levels.  As with the first option, you can join various DNA projects, but with the purchase of the 37-marker test, you can match others in the FTDNA database.  You can then purchase any of the Family Tree DNA tests in the future.  See the FAQ below for more detail.

Given that FTDNA focuses on genealogy, has the largest database for genealogists, offers more types of tests than other companies offer, and stores your test sample (DNAH did not store it), $39 for a 37-marker test is a STEAL! Normally one would pay $149!

According to FTDNA’s FAQs, the owner or primary kit manager for a DNAH Y-DNA sample can opt-in using the following link https://www.familytreedna/landing/dna-heritage.aspx.

To request the Y-DNA37 marker test, you will have to submit a DNA sample as DNAH does not store DNA samples.  Of course, by providing a new sample you will have a stored sample for future upgrades.

To see a sample of the FTDNA webpages for individual testers see:
myFTDNA User Guide, http://www.familytreedna.com/faq/answers/36.aspx.

Project Administrators at DNAH

Project Administrators for DNAH will share a project with the FTDNA administrator, if FTDNA has an existing project.  If there is no existing project, the administrator from DNAH can establish one through FTDNA.

This is definately a plus as any administrator needs to have a co-partner to help when one is on vacation, ill, or decides to retire from the job.

To see the administrator pages at FTDNA, check the following:

Check the Group Administrator Pages (GAP) Reference FAQ, http://www.familytreedna.com/faq/answers/default.aspx?faqid=7

Group Administrator Pages (GAP) How To FAQ, http://www.familytreedna.com/faq/answers/default.aspx?faqid=20

Read More in the FAQ, http://www.familytreedna.com/faq/answers.aspx?id=40

In summary

Testers from DNA Heritage may transfer their Y-DNA results to FTDNA.

For a small fee, testers can receive the full benefits offered to all FTDNA customers, which include:
 Sample storage
 Testing upgrades
 Haplogroup predictions
 Project membership
 Availability to the largest database solely for genealogists
 Comparison to the entire database every time FTDNA adds test results to the database.
 Notification of matches via email
 Personal webpages
 No monthly fees

FTDNA and DNAH Administrators will partner if the DNA Project already exists.  If not, a new one will be created.

Emily
©Aulicino, 29 Jun 2011

Family Tree DNA Summer Sale

Family Tree DNA is repeating last summer's upgrade sale as it was such a huge success.

As testers upgrade, the resolution of results and comparisons greatly improves. So, please spread the word and we'll make this year's upgrade sale even bigger!

From June 15, 2011 through June 22, 2011, we will reduce the following prices.

Summer Upgrade Sale
Family Finder ...Was $289... Now $199
Y-DNA 12 to 25 ....Was $49.... Now $35
Y-DNA 12 to 37 ....Was $99.... Now $69
Y-DNA 12 to 67 ....Was $189.... Now $148
Y-DNA 25 to 37 ....Was $49.... Now $35
Y-DNA 25 to 67 ....Was $148.... Now $114
Y-DNA 37 to 67 ....Was $99.... Now $79
mt to FMS ....Was $269.... Now $229
mtPlus to FMS ....Was $239 ....Now $199

To order an upgrade at these special prices ...

1.  Log into your personal pages with your kit number and password.

2.  Click on the "Special Offers" link found on the left-hand navigation bar.

ALL ORDERS MUST BE PLACED AND PAID FOR BY MIDNIGHT, JUNE 22, 2011, TO RECEIVE THE SALE PRICE.

False Holocaust Memoir

This story has been repeated on several blogs today, but is important enough to share again as each blog has different audiences.

Forensic genealogist Dr. Colleen Fitzpatrick is featured in an Australian story concerning allegations that a wartime memoir is false.

The Herald Sun story on Alex Kurzem, 75, who authored an international best-selling book ("The Mascot") describes the investigation by Fitzpatrick and her team.

She was instrumental in exposing Holocaust fakes Misha Defonseca and Herman Rosenblat some three years ago. Defonseca was forced to admit that "Surviving with Wolves" was false, and Rosenblat confessed he made up much of his "Angel at the Fence."

Kurzem has refused the newspaper's offer "to organise and pay for medical and DNA tests to help prove his identity and whether or not he is Jewish." He has refused unless he is paid $100,000 to undergo those tests.

His book allegedly describes his life as a Russian Jewish child, age 5, who survived the Holocaust by becoming the mascot of a Latvian military unit. The story was an award-winning 2004 ABC documentary and a movie about his life is being made by a French company.

According to the news story, Dr. Fitzpatrick's team also includes Melbourne Holocaust Centre senior staff and US psychologist Dr. Barry Resnick. Their files detail doubt about Kurzem, which has sparked three investigations by the Jewish Claims Conference, the German government compensation and pension department and the US Attorney's office.

Kurzem claims he watched his Jewish mother and siblings executed by the Nazis.

Read the complete story at the link above.

Family Tree DNA takes over DNAHeritage

DNAHeritage is GONE!


The following message from this URL just crossed my desk and is directly quoted below:

http://www.dnaheritage.com/default.asp


As of April 19 2011, DNA Heritage has ceased its operations and is in the process of transferring the domains DNAHeritage.com and Ybase.org to Family Tree DNA.

All the tests in progress will be processed by our current lab and the results will be delivered to our customers.

In order to ensure the continuity of the existing surname projects Family Tree DNA will study the best options to integrate our customers' results into their database.

Once Family Tree DNA decides on the option(s), our customers will be given the opportunity to opt-in to their database.



If you have questions about the transition or

need to place an order please check:

http://www.familytreedna.com/landing/dna-heritage.aspx