Month: June 2013

Family Tree DNA Announces “Sizzling Summer Sale” – Family Finder Autosomal Test Only $99

Blaine Bettinger

Family Tree DNA has announced yet another new sale, with the popular Family Finder being available for only $99 for a limited time:

Dear Valued Customer,

Summer is once again upon us and it is time for our Sizzling Summer event! Our successful summers over the last two years have led us to offer you great values again this year.

We have been working with Illumina to offer our Family Finder autosomal test for only $99 during our summer event. In fact, if we receive enough orders at $99, Illumina may be able to help us keep it at this extremely low of rate of $99!

As you take advantage of our summer event, remember that the permanency of the $99 Family Finder test is actually in your hands!

Beginning on Thursday, June 27, 2013 and running until Friday, July 26, 2013, we will offer the following: ... Click to read more!

New Search Features at AncestryDNA and a Sneak Peek at New Ethnicity Estimates

Blaine Bettinger 3 Comments

AncestryDNA_logo

Yesterday, AncestryDNA announced on the Ancestry.com Facebook page the launch of a long-awaited search function for surnames and locations of genetic matches.

The top bar of the AncestryDNA Member Matches section now looks like this:

AncestryDNA

Clicking in the “Search matches” box causes the box to expand and reveal the new search boxes:

AncestryDNA

Both seem to work well, and I suggest you use the search feature to mine your matches.  For example, I found a number of matches for several unique surnames and locations in my tree that I had missed in the flood of matches over the past six months.

New Ethnicity Estimates Coming Soon

At “The First DNA Day at the Southern California Genealogy Society Jamboree,” I discussed the changes to the ethnicity algorithms and reference populations that AncestryDNA was planning to implement by the end of 2013: ... Click to read more!

Updates to 23andMe’s DNA Relatives Temporarily on Hold

Blaine Bettinger 2 Comments


Discover yourself at 23andMeFor the next week or so, 23andMe is pausing updates to the DNA Relatives feature.  This feature provides a list of genetic matches and estimates the range of relationship.

According to this week’s 23andMe update entitled “Release Notes: 7 June 2013,” (you must log in to view), “The computation time for DNA Relatives and Ancestry Composition has been growing.”

Going into greater detail at “DNA Relatives computations temporarily on hold,” 23andMe explains that due to the increased computational time, and in an effort to reduce the time it takes to generate DNA Relatives matches, updates are paused.  Accordingly, “[t]his means that you won’t be receiving new matches to your existing DNA Relatives list, and if you haven’t received your matches yet there may be some additional waiting time.” ... Click to read more!

New Press Release from DNATraits Regarding the Supreme Court’s Holding in Myriad

Blaine Bettinger 1 Comment

DNATraits, a division of Houston-based genomics and genetics testing company Gene By Gene, Ltd., (parent company of Family Tree DNA) just announced a press release regarding today’s decision in Association for Molecular Pathology, et al. v. Myriad Genetics, Inc. patent case regarding the human BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes

From the press release:

 

Supreme Court Ruling Today Allows DNATraits to Offer Low Cost BRCA Breast and Ovarian Cancer Gene Testing in U.S.

In effort to increase access to potentially lifesaving BRCA1 and BRCA2 tests, DNATraits can now offer tests for $995, a fraction of the cost of similar tests prior to the court decision

HOUSTON — Jun. 13, 2013 – Thanks to today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision opening the door to greater access to genetic medicine by American patients and their health care providers, testing for genes specifically linked to breast, ovarian and other cancers will now be more widely available and at a lower cost than ever before. ... Click to read more!

Family Tree DNA Announces Special Father’s Day Sale

Blaine Bettinger 2 Comments

On the heels of a special $49 Autosomal DNA Transfer sale, Family Tree DNA has announced a new FATHER’S DAY SALE! For a very limited time only, Y-DNA upgrades are available at a very reduced price.  From the announcement:

Since last summer’s upgrade sale was such huge success, we thought we’d repeat history! We are offering discounts to our Y-DNA upgrade products just in time for father’s day. So, please spread the word and we’ll make this year’s upgrade sale even bigger!

ALL ORDERS MUST BE PLACED AND PAID FOR BY 11:59pm, JUNE 19, 2013, TO RECEIVE THE SALE PRICE.

Reduced Prices

From June 12, 2013 through June 19, 2013,  the following sale prices are available:

Y-DNA 12 to 25  was $49                Now $35 ... Click to read more!

The Genetic Genealogist Named a Top Blog for 2013!

Blaine Bettinger 2 Comments

Internet GenealogyThanks to Miriam at AnceStories, I learned today that The Genetic Genealogist was named one of the 25 Top Genealogy Blogs by Internet Genealogy!  Congrats to Miriam as well, who was also named one of the 25 Top Genealogy Blogs.  Miriam has a list of the other 23 sites on her blog.

I haven’t been able to read the article yet, but according to the website here is the description:

Blogged: 25 Top Genealogy Blogs to Help Speed Your Research!  Tony Bandy highlights twenty-five blogs you can dig your teeth into.

I’m honored by this, and I think it reflects the increasing interest in DNA and Genetic Genealogy that genealogists continue to express.  We’re approaching a critical mass at which point DNA must be part of every genealogists’ toolbox, and at least a consideration in any serious genealogical search. ... Click to read more!

Andy Page Fills New President Position at 23andMe

Blaine Bettinger 1 Comment


Discover yourself at 23andMeAccording to an article posted today at AllThingsD (“23andMe Names Former Gilt Exec Andy Page as President“), personal genetics company 23andMe has created a new position within the company, that of President, and has filled the position with Andy Page.  Page is a former President and CFO of Gilt, an online retail enterprise.  He left that position earlier this year (see “Gilt’s President And Former CFO Andy Page To Leave The Company“).

From the article by Kara Swisher:

The reason for the addition, said CEO and co-founder Anne Wojcicki, is to push for more customer growth — 23andMe is trying to reach one million members by the end of the year — and the scaling of its operations.

Page, who will report to Wojcicki, will be in charge of a wide swath of 23andMe, including product and engineering, marketing, finance, business development, laboratory operations and legal and regulatory issues. He will also be tasked with helping develop business strategy. ... Click to read more!

Family Tree DNA Announces Family Finder Transfer Sale – $49

Blaine Bettinger 2 Comments

For a limited time, Family Tree DNA is offering Family Finder Transfers for $49, reduced from the normal cost of $99.

The Family Finder Transfer program gives those who have taken an autosomal DNA test with Ancestry.com or 23andMe the ability to import their autosomal DNA results to Family Tree DNA.

According to the website, purchasers of the Family Finder Transfer program receive:

  • A myFTDNA 2.0 account (personal page), if a new customer;
  • Autosomal DNA results uploaded to and stored on Family Tree DNA’s servers;
  • Matching to all autosomal Family Finder results in our matching database;
  • Ethnic origins results from our Population Finder program; and
  • All standard tools and pages associated with the autosomal Family Finder test and the Population Finder program.

The uploaded files are batched once a week then run through the conversion program, and results typically take between 6-10 weeks based on volume.  Customers are notified by e-mail when their results are available.

Why Transfer Your Results to FTDNA?

If you’ve already tested at Ancestry.com or 23andMe, you might wonder if there are any benefits to transferring your results to Family Tree DNA. ... Click to read more!

The First DNA Day at the Southern California Genealogy Society Jamboree

Blaine Bettinger 5 Comments

So here I am, sitting at the airport waiting for my first flight on the long journey back to NY from the first ever Family History and DNA Day at the Southern California Genealogy Society Jamboree.

The event was an incredible success, with stellar speakers, inspiring and entertaining talks from Spencer Wells and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and excellent organization and execution.

Below is just a brief summary of the highlights I believe are worth mentioning, but be sure to check out other posts that have or will come out soon, including this one from The Legal Genealogist, and this one from Dick Eastman.

(A side note: as I was sitting in the airport waiting for my flight from Newark to San Francisco, I looked up and saw a familiar face – Judy Russell from The Legal Genealogist! We shared the next two flights, although Judy was furiously dealing with an unfortunate hack attack on her website, which has since been resolved). ... Click to read more!