In this short blog series titled Partner Profiles, we’ll introduce you to the two companies with which the PSHG currently does business. As DNA testing capabilities advance, we may profile new companies, or discuss companies which do Autosomal (atDNA) or mtDNA testing, but for now, we’ll focused on yDNA.
YSEQ DNA Origins was started by Thomas and Astrid Krahn in 2013. A new PSHG applicant’s introduction to yDNA testing is often through this German based lab’s SNP test kit. Thomas and Astrid previously owned DNA-Fingerprint (whose assets were bought by Family Tree DNA in 2006). [1] The buyout lead to Thomas and Astrid helping to open the Houston, TX based Genomics Research Center which, by September 2012, was restructured into Family Tree DNA, a division of Gene by Gene, Ltd.[2]
The PSHG is very fortunate in that we have identified two SNPs (FGC13609/FGC13605) which prove genetic descent from Peter Staple (c1642-1719). Along with the upstream SNPs, this is referred to as the PSHG Y-DNA HAPLOGROUP lineage. For many individuals, projects, and heritage groups, this is the Holy Grail of DNA test results. YSEQ is such a valuable partner because they offer inexpensive, individual SNP testing which can be used as an initial test to affordably confirm claims made by traditional genealogy.
According to the ISOGG Wiki article on YSEQ, “YSEQ offers a potentially unlimited menu of single SNPs to order (Wish a SNP).”[3] For members on the hunt for Direct Paternal Lineage SNPs, one could take the FamilyTreeDNA’s BigY test to identify Singleton SNPs and then use the Wish a SNP product to provide those locations for testing and naming. In addition to Y-SNP tests, YSEQ offers Y-STR and Whole genome testing.[3]
YSEQ has recently created a Facebook Public Group which will be useful for easily keeping up with their announcements, sales, and developments.[4]
Join us for our next blog post introducing Family Tree DNA.
References:
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Tree_DNA
[2] https://isogg.org/wiki/Family_Tree_DNA
[3] https://isogg.org/wiki/YSEQ
[4] https://www.facebook.com/groups/1251774588234936/
Peter Staple Heritage Group (PSHG) 