FTDNA – Peter Staple Heritage Group (PSHG)

2018 DNA Day Sales

Posted on April 21, 2018January 27, 2019 by bmstaples

Wednesday, April 25, 2018 is National DNA Day! Details about the recognition of the day can be found on the NIH’s National Human Genome Research Institute website.

FamilyTreeDNA.com is celebrating by offering sales on several products.

The Y-111 test, a requirement for full PSHG membership, is on sale for $289 USD (normally $359 retail / $339 through project order).

PSHG Members who have already taken the Y111 STR test can upgrade to the Big Y-500 for only $349 USD (normally $449)! This is a great price for those interested in finding their Direct Paternal Lineage (DPL) SNPs below FGC-13609.

FTDNA has announced a new product called Big Y-500 which is a combination test of the traditional Big Y + Y111 for $649 USD (normally $799). We’ll explore the Big Y-500 test and the changes from the traditional Big Y test in a future Blog post.

Details for the sale can be found on their sale website (https://www.familytreedna.com/sale/dna-day); however, PSHG members (or prospective members) should contact an admin before ordering. FTDNA sales end 4/28/2018.

Other non-Y DNA tests are also on sale including mtFull Sequence and Family Finder (autosomal DNA). Not to be outdone, Ancestry.com’s autosomal DNA test is at it’s lowest price of $59 USD until 4/29/2018.

Happy testing!

FTDNA Holiday Sale – Update!

Posted on November 12, 2017January 27, 2019 by bmstaples

The 2017 Holiday Sale has begun at Family Tree DNA. The Y-111 DNA Test (required for PSHG Membership) is on sale for $299 – a savings of $60 off of the regular price. Visit https://www.familytreedna.com/sale for sale details.

The sale will continue until December 31, 2017. As we draw closer to the holidays, Admins expect to receive coupon codes to further reduce costs.

UPDATE – 15 NOV 2017

FTDNA Users and Group Administrators are now receiving weekly coupons. As Group Administrators we have access to a collection of coupon codes, so contact an Admin if you’re interested in a specific test.

Coupons are ranging from:

$10 – $20 off for yDNA 37/67/111
$10 – $30 off for mtDNA
$5 off for Family Finder (atDNA)
$25 off for BigY

The holidays are a great time to test if you’ve been on the fence!

FTDNA Friends & Family Sale

Posted on July 31, 2017January 27, 2019 by bmstaples

FamilyTreeDNA notified Group Administrators that the “Friends & Family Sale” will start tomorrow, August 1^st at 10 am CDT.

The graphic below (courtesy of FTNDA) was included in the notification and seems to indicate that the Sales are primarily targeted to Add-on & Upgrade Tests.

This is a great opportunity for PSHG Members who have already tested with Y-111 and may be interested in ordering the BigY test; however, it’s not yet clear if the Y-111 new test will also be discounted – which is potentially disappointing for pending members.

Check back for updates!

Update – 2 Aug 2017: Y-111 single test is not included on the summer sale.

Partner Profiles – FTDNA

Posted on March 15, 2017January 27, 2019 by bmstaples

This is the second of our dual blog posts regarding current DNA testing partners. Please also check out our Partner Profile on YSEQ.

Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) is a modern powerhouse for DNA testing – Autosomal (atDNA), mtDNA, and yDNA. Its own website front page boasts, “We have the most comprehensive Y chromosome, autosomal, and mitochondrial ancestry DNA database for genetic genealogists!”[1] FTDNA circa 2006 received major contributions from familiar folks when Thomas & Astrid Krahn (see Partner Profile on YSEQ) sold the assets of their company DNA-Fingerprint and opened the Genomics Research Center in Houston, TX.[2] FamilyTreeDNA was founded by Bennett Greenspan (who today serves as President & CEO), Max Blankfeld and Jim Warren.[2]

The PSHG relies on FTDNA’s Y-111 STR test to place members into family groups and to confirm claims made by traditional genealogy. By analyzing the Y-111 STR results, group administrators can help to verify from which of Peter’s three sons (Peter Jr., John, or James) a member descends. The test also reveals mutations which can occur naturally through the family group generations. Click to follow to the PSHG at FTNDA group results.

FTNDA offers lesser marker Y-STR tests (12, 37, 67), but these do not provide enough marker information to be useful to the PSHG. The Y-STR test will unlock Certified Y-STR Results, Matches, Ancestral & Haplogroup Origins, Haplotree & SNPs data, and Maps related to Matches, Migration, and SNPs.[1]. A similar set of tools can be unlocked by purchasing a Mitochondrial (mtDNA) test to trace one’s maternal lineage. Family Finder is the Autosomal (atDNA) product comparable to AncestryDNA. Tools available with this product are: Matches, Chromosome Browser, Linked Relationship, myOrigins, and ancientOrigins. Returning to Y-DNA products, the Big Y test can provide a detailed SNP analysis and Matches. When analyzed by a project group such as R1b-U106, one can identify Singleton SNPs which can be further tested and named.

Family Tree DNA’s tests may appear to be expensive to the novice; however, genetic genealogists and DNA hobby enthusiasts appreciate the testing options and relative (compared to historical capabilities and prices) low cost. Keep an eye out for sales (Summer & Winter) and take advantage.

References:
[1] https://www.familytreedna.com/
[2] https://isogg.org/wiki/Family_Tree_DNA