Latest News from Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation and GeneTree

I received the following two emails from SMGF and GeneTree this evening and wanted to update my readers. For emphasis and easy scanning, I bolded the very important sentences regarding the continuation of the "freely accessible" website SMGF.org and the limited continuing availability of the Genetree.com website. 

The Sorenson database is an extremely valuable tool for the genetic genealogy community, so I am happy to hear that that it will continue to be available to all researchers for the "foreseeable future". Let's hope it stays that way for a very long time! I'm also pleased to see that Tim Janzen's earlier report that new results would soon be published on SMGF.org has, indeed, come to fruition. 

The GeneTree website will be available only through the end of the year, so please don't forget to download your results!

Dear Friends of SMGF,
SMGF is happy to announce the addition of new haplotypes and genealogical records to the Sorenson mtDNA and Y-chromosome databases. We invite you to search these updated databases to find new family connections at http://www.smgf.org.
From the time it was founded in 1999 by molecular genealogy pioneer, James Levoy Sorenson, the mission of SMGF has been to support an important public purpose, namely the advancement of DNA-based genealogy research. Thanks to the continued philanthropic support of Mr. Sorenson and his family and the generosity of enthusiastic SMGF participants, SMGF has built the most comprehensive database of linked DNA and pedigree information in the world. Additionally, SMGF has contributed greatly to the emerging field of genetic genealogy in other ways, such as providing online DNA databases to the public and publishing numerous scientific articles detailing new discoveries.
In order to remain a leader in this rapidly growing and dynamic field, SMGF's resources and capabilities would have to be substantially increased. Therefore, SMGF has decided that AncestryDNA is better positioned to provide the benefit to the public that is central to SMGF's mission. For this reason, SMGF's DNA-related assets were acquired by AncestryDNA in March 2012 (link to press release). SMGF is very excited to join AncestryDNA, and we are confident that the pioneering work begun at SMGF will continue to grow and have an even greater impact on the future scientific understanding and public outreach of genetic genealogy.
As we redirect our efforts to the integration with AncestryDNA it will be necessary to discontinue updates to the smgf.org website. Therefore, this will be the last update made to the Sorenson online databases. This update includes all of the Y-chromosome and mtDNA haplotypes that were generated by SMGF over the course of its operations.
The smgf.org site will continue to operate for the foreseeable future as a freely accessible tool for the genetic genealogy community, so we invite users to continue searching for family connections on smgf.org. We express our sincerest thanks to all those who participated in the SMGF project.
Sincerely,
The SMGF Team 

and

Dear GeneTree Customer,
You may have recently heard the exciting news that GeneTree has been acquired by AncestryDNA™ ( http://corporate.ancestry.com/press/press-releases/2012/05/ancestry.com-dna-launches/ ). As we redirect our efforts to the integration with AncestryDNA it will be necessary to discontinue the GeneTree.com website. However, as a valued GeneTree customer, you will be able to access GeneTree.com through the rest of this year, until January 1, 2013. Following this date, access to your account will no longer be available through the GeneTree site, so we recommend that you download your DNA results and pedigree data while the site is still available.
If you’d like to learn more about how to download and continue using your information and family tree outside of GeneTree, see click here To help answer some frequently asked questions, please visit our FAQs. We greatly appreciate you being a part of GeneTree and hope that you continue with your genetic genealogy and family history research.
Sincerely, The GeneTree Team

An Important Update on SMGF from Dr. Tim Janzen

Dr. Tim Janzen generously shared some very important information with me regarding the future of Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF). With his kind permission, I have decided to share this timely update with my readers in Tim's own words, as follows:
 
Since early May 2012 it has been officially known that Ancestry.com is purchasing the genetic genealogy company GeneTree. At that same time it was announced that Ancestry.com had also acquired the DNA related assets from the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation. (See this post for background regarding that announcement.) Exactly how this would impact the SMGF has been quite unclear since the announcement was made. The origin of the SMGF dates back to 1999 when the billionaire James Sorensen and the geneticist Scott Woodward established the foundation. 

The vision of the SMGF and the promises it made to the genetic genealogy community are summarized here. I will quote some of the content from that web page as follows:  

"The Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to building the world's foremost collection of DNA and corresponding genealogical information. The Foundation is a world leader in DNA research with direct application to genealogy. SMGF was inspired by discussions in 1999 between philanthropist James LeVoy Sorenson and BYU Professor Scott Woodward about using DNA in genealogy. Since that time, SMGF has collected more than 100,000 DNA samples, together with four-generation pedigree charts, from volunteers in more than 100 countries around the world. Y-chromosome DNA results and pedigree charts are available for searching in the Sorenson Database. Y-DNA results and pedigrees help you trace your direct paternal line. Mitochondrial DNA results and pedigree charts are available for searching in the Sorenson Database. Mitochondrial DNA results and pedigrees help you trace your direct maternal line. The Foundation is also conducting research on autosomal DNA, and plans to release the Sorenson Autosomal Database in the near future. Autosomal DNA results and pedigrees can help you trace all family lines. We invite you to participate in the SMGF project and search the Sorenson Database. Help grow the genetic family tree, one branch at a time." 

The SMGF was heavily funded by James Sorenson until his death in 2008. After that time the SMGF appears to have significantly slowed its testing of the samples sent to the foundation and the staff has also been reduced substantially. At its peak the SMGF employed about 40 full-time genealogists working on entering the information contributed on pedigree charts into its integrated genealogy database, which had 2,694,224 unique ancestors in it at the time the database was last updated in March 2011. The SMGF stopped offering free kits from its web site over 2 years ago. Additional information about the SMGF may be found here.

On June 2, 2012, Steve Perkins blogged that he queried the SMGF about the status of their databases. The response he received from the SMFG may be found on his blog here.

In that correspondence, SMGF indicated that they would not be releasing the autosomal DNA data that they have accumulated since the foundation started. As of August 2009 the SMGF had tested 78,568 samples for an average of 68.5 autosomal STRs and had tested 73,394 samples for 13 X chromosome STRs. This information has never been made public. 

I have been heavily involved in collecting samples for the SMGF on a volunteer basis since 2006. I have either directly or indirectly collected about 2000 samples and associated pedigree charts that I have sent to the SMGF. About 85% of those samples were from people of Low German Mennonite ancestry. The available Y chromosome data from those Mennonite samples is available here. I have been looking forward to seeing the release of the SMGF's autosomal and X chromosome databases for many years. Now it would appear that this data won't be released anytime in the near future. 

Due to concerns I had about the future of the SMGF, I e-mailed my contact Ali Nelson there on May 31. I received her response on June 5 as below:

"Due to Ancestry.com's acquisition of GeneTree and SMGF, we are no longer updating the database. That will be up to Ancestry to decide how and when to do updates and I don't have any more information than that. SMGF is also not running any more samples - everything now belongs to Ancestry so it is up to them to run the remaining samples. We are winding things down here in the office and actually will not exist for much longer so I don't see any reason for you to send us an updated copy of the Grandma database. All of our assets now belong to Ancestry.com and they are making all of the decisions from here on out. You can contact Ancestry.com directly and hopefully they can give you more details. They have an email address devoted to questions regarding SMGF so you can try contacting them there first - it is smgfsupport@ancestry.com."

On June 21 Ali Nelson sent additional information as follows: 

"In regard to the SMGF website, it is still going to remain functional.  In fact, we will be doing an update in the next week or two so a lot of new samples will go online."  

Ali also said that the SMGF will be officially closing its doors on or about July 13.

The information provided by Ali Nelson in her responses are disappointing in a number of ways as follows:

1. She confirmed that SMGF is closing its doors and will not be operating much longer.
2. The SMGF's Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA databases will be updated within the next several weeks for the very last time.  When and if Ancestry.com decides to do additional updates to the SMGF databases remains to be seen.
3. It is unclear when, if ever, additional testing of samples currently at the SMGF will be carried out.  There are thousands of samples at the SMGF for whom no Y chromosome or mitochondrial DNA results have been released.

On the positive side, the SMGF will soon be releasing new data for many people whose data hasn't previously been released. It is also good that the SMGF DNA samples are still safe and sound and are under the watchful care of a large relatively stable company. Hopefully Ancestry.com will provide funds for testing the samples for which no Y chromosome or mitochondrial DNA results are available and will also update the SMGF Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA databases from time to time. I would also be grateful if Ancestry.com eventually releases the SMGF's autosomal and X chromosome databases. While it is true that the use of large autosomal SNP arrays has largely supplanted the testing of autosomal STRs, the release of the SMGF's autosomal STR database would be of significant interest and benefit to the genetic genealogy community. In my opinion the demise of the SMGF is a significant loss to the entire genetic genealogy community. The SMGF had an altruistic vision to create an integrated genealogy database with correlated genetic data that would be accessible to the general public. I remain hopeful that something good will come from this and that Ancestry.com will pick up the mission where the SMGF left off.

[*Update 7/11/12 - An email from SMGF]

Tim Janzen is a family practice physician in Portland, Oregon and a highly respected genetic genealogist. He serves as one of six 23andMe Ancestry Ambassadors as well as on the ISOGG Y-DNA Haplogroup Tree committee. He is a leading researcher in the use of  autosomal DNA for genealogical purposes.

Ancestry.com Buys GeneTree (Another Competitor) and Launches Their New Autosomal DNA Product to Subscribers

I had suspected for some time that Ancestry.com had acquired GeneTree, especially since GeneTree stopped taking orders a couple of weeks ago and some key personnel had moved on to other projects. GeneTree now has this announcement on their website (misspelling theirs):

Great News!

We are pleased to announce that Ancestry.com DNA has acquired GeneTree and the DNA related assets from the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation. We are excited to work with Ancestery.com DNA and continue to advance the field of genetic genealogy. More information to come.

AncestryDNA is being offered only to Ancestry.com's 1.87 million current subscribers for $99. The best news of the day is contained in the press release which quotes a Harris Interactive study (of over 5,000 people) that found 56% of Americans surveyed were interested in taking a DNA test for genealogy!

Ancestry.com's official statement stops short of announcing the acquisition of GeneTree, stating, "In March, Ancestry.com DNA, LLC acquired access to an extensive collection of DNA assets from Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, a non-profit organization." In doing so, they also acquired the former Director of Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF) and President of GeneTree, Scott Woodward, who is AncestryDNA's new Executive Director of "Genome Discovery". This statement begs the question, How do you "acquire access" to a non-profit organization's most important assets, including their Director without essentially buying it, and if they bought it, why don't they just say so? As a consumer, I don't know all the legalities involved, but GeneTree, the for-profit arm of SMGF, clearly states on their website that they were acquired. Doesn't that mean that they, as a company, were bought? Could it be that Ancestry.com is wary of announcing another acquisition of a competitor so soon after that of Archives.com (announced on 4/25/12)?

[Update - I have been informed that it is a legal distinction and one cannot "buy" a foundation, but my question is still this: We are pleased to announce that Ancestry.com DNA has acquired GeneTree and the DNA related assets from the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation.  (bolding mine) Aren't the "DNA related assets" pretty much everything when according to their website, "The Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to building the world's foremost collection of DNA and corresponding genealogical information"? What is the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation going to do now?]

Subscribers can get more info on the test here. (I don't see a link to purchase it yet.) Note that the test appears to still be in Beta.

Here is the announcement:

Ancestry.com Launches New AncestryDNA Service: The Next Generation of DNA Science Poised to Enrich Family History Research

Affordable DNA Test Combines Depth of Ancestry.com Family History Database With an Extensive Collection of DNA Samples to Open New Doors to Family Discovery

PROVO, Utah, May 3, 2012 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- Ancestry.com ACOM -2.98% , today announced the launch of its highly anticipated AncestryDNA(TM) service, a new affordable DNA test that enables purchasers of the DNA test and subscribers of Ancestry.com to combine new state-of-the-art DNA science with the world's largest online family history resource and a broad global database of DNA samples.

The new DNA test analyzes a person's genome at over 700,000 marker locations, cross referencing an extensive worldwide DNA database with the aim of providing exciting insights into their ethnic backgrounds and helping them find distant cousins who may hold the keys to exciting family history discoveries. By combining these genetic matches with Ancestry.com's 34 million family trees and 9 billion records, AncestryDNA intends to provide a differentiated experience that helps find common ancestors dating back as far as the middle 18th Century.

"We've worked hard at Ancestry.com for more than a year building, testing, and reinventing our approach to genetic genealogy," said Tim Sullivan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ancestry.com. "We think AncestryDNA has created a unique and engaging experience that will provide existing Ancestry.com subscribers with an entirely new way to make amazing discoveries about their family history. We are excited to be making AncestryDNA available to loyal Ancestry.com subscribers first…but we look forward to eventually opening up this service to everyone. We think it will allow us to extend our mission to help people discover, preserve, and share their family history to an even greater audience."

AncestryDNA helps determine geographic and ethnic origins by comparing test-takers' unique DNA signatures to the DNA of people from across the globe -- drawn from the preeminent collection of DNA samples assembled by the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation. The current version of the test includes 22 worldwide geographical and ethnic categories, including six regions in Europe, five regions in Africa, and Native American.

"We think the newest DNA technology will dramatically change family history research. For the experienced genealogist it will help break down brick walls and for the casual family historian it will make it easier than ever to get started," said Ken Chahine, Ph.D., J.D. Senior Vice President and General Manager of Ancestry.com DNA, LLC. "While the science is cutting edge, the new online experience is simpler and more intuitive than ever before. We've already had overwhelming response and positive feedback from beta users as they discover relatives and uncover the treasures their ancestors passed down through DNA. DNA picks up where the paper trail leaves off. Genomic science can extend family history research into parts of the world where few paper records are available."

Interest in exploring family history is rising quickly, especially on the scientific front, and that interest extends all the way back to the "old country," wherever it may be. In fact, 56 percent of Americans recently surveyed by Harris Interactive are interested in taking a DNA genealogy test, up from 42 percent less than a year ago*. What's more, people's family history interests reach back beyond arrival in America -- nearly two in three respondents told Harris that learning about pre-U.S. family members is one of the most important benefits of researching family history.

Pricing and Availability

Due to very strong early interest and demand, AncestryDNA will initially be made available by invitation-only to Ancestry.com subscribers for $99, with the expectation that the service will be made available to the general public later this year. To learn more about AncestryDNA, or to sign up to be notified once it's available, please visit www.ancestrydna.com .

In preparing to bring AncestryDNA to market with the best science and a broad set of research assets, AncestryDNA has organized a distinguished and independent Science Advisory Board and has also acquired access to DNA samples, many of which had been assembled by the non-profit Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation. AncestryDNA will be offered through Ancestry.com DNA, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ancestry.com.

Science Advisory Board

With the continued focus on developing a solid DNA platform that stays ahead of the genetic genealogy trends, AncestryDNA has assembled a well-respected Scientific Advisory Board that can advise the company on best practices in the emerging field of DNA and genomic testing. The board consists of:

Carlos D. Bustamante, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Genetics at Stanford University School of Medicine
Mark J. Daly, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine Harvard Medical SchoolCenter for Human Genetics
John Novembre, Ph.D., Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles
Jeffrey R. Botkin, M.D., M.P.H., Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Ethics, Associate Vice President for Research, University of Utah
Philip Awadalla, Ph.D., Director of the CARTaGENE BioBank, Saint Justine Hospital, Montreal, Canada
 

Addition of DNA Assets from the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation

In March, Ancestry.com DNA, LLC acquired access to an extensive collection of DNA assets from Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, a non-profit organization. Founded by molecular genealogy pioneer, James LeVoy Sorenson, this organization has been dedicated to building the world's foremost collection of DNA samples and corresponding genealogical information. Over the last 12 years, the Sorenson Foundation collected a one-of-a-kind DNA database of tens of thousands of DNA samples with documented family histories in more than 100 countries on six continents. This DNA database gives AncestryDNA test-takers an expanded family history genetic resource, and should enable new levels of discovery about people's family backgrounds.

Jim Sorensen, President of Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, added, "We are pleased to bring this far reaching, unique DNA collection to AncestryDNA. My father, James L. Sorenson, envisioned creating a genetic map of the peoples of the world that shows relationships shared by the entire human family and with the shared vision and resources of AncestryDNA his legacy will greatly expand. We are confident in the capabilities and dedication of the team to realize the potential of genetic genealogy faster than anyone else in the field. We see this as a great benefit to consumers as well as the scientific community by combining some of the best science with the leader in family history." 

Jim Sorensen (shouldn't it be "Sorenson"? maybe the vowel change is like one of those father to son Y-chromosome mutational events that we see every so often) says above that his father "envisioned creating a genetic map of the peoples of the world that shows relationships shared by the entire human family".  I think that is what all of us serious genetic genealogists are hoping for the future of our avocation, but how will Ancestry.com help us to reach this goal when they don't even provide the underlying genetic data to their customers? If we do not know which segments of our DNA match our cousins, how will we know which segments to map to our shared ancestors or even which segments are identified as originating from specific areas of the world, the exact information which is necessary to create this "genetic map"?


**I have written in detail about this new test here.**

FTDNA Now Accepting Y-DNA Third Party Results

Yesterday, Family Tree DNA announced the launch of a new feature: Y-DNA Third Party uploads.

This will allow for the upload of 33 and 46-marker Y-DNA test results from Ancestry.com,  GeneTree and Sorenson's SMGF.  FTDNA explains in their August 5th press release, "This comes as a natural development since the necessary tools were created to import the customer database it recently acquired from DNA Heritage after that company ceased its operations." Since DNA testing for Ancestry.com, Genetree and SMGF all use the same lab that DNA Heritage did, it is logical to include these other companies in this long-wished-for new service.

This is great news for Y-DNA Surname Projects administrators and their participants and should help us all to further our research goals and break down those genealogical brickwalls!

More information from the press release:

Family Tree DNA will be charging a nominal fee of $19 to import third party results into its database. This $19 fee will be credited to customers who later order upgrades or add-ons. For an additional $39, customers who transfer their third party results will also have additional markers tested so that they can receive matches to Family Tree DNA's 25 or 37-marker level, ancestral origins, and other features of the personal page.

The $19 fee will provide the customer with a Family Tree DNA personal page which will allow them to join Family Tree DNA projects. This means that results will be available to the administrator and included on the project's public page for comparison with other project members.

The $58 fee ($19 transfer fee + $39 for the added markers to Family Tree DNA's 25 or 37-marker level) will include the same features provided to Family Tree DNA customers in their personal pages, including matches and Haplogroup prediction.

From FTDNA's FAQs:

Transfer options are:

Option	Price	Project Membership	Database Matching	Haplogroup Prediction
Transfer Y-DNA33	$19	Yes	No	No
Transfer Y-DNA46	$19	Yes	No	No
Transfer Y-DNA33 + Y-DNA25*	$58	Yes	Yes	Yes
Transfer Y-DNA46 + Y-DNA37*	$58	Yes	Yes	Yes

* If you upgrade after ordering a basic transfer, the cost will be $49 US.

For any additional questions, please refer to FTDNA’s FAQs.
To order your transfer, please go here.

[Disclosure - My company StudioINTV has an existing production agreement with FTDNA that has no bearing on the opinions I express. I also receive a small commission from FTDNA on non-sale orders through my affiliate link, which I use to fund DNA tests. I receive no other compensation in relation to any of the companies or products referenced in my blog.]

More Holiday DNA Deals - From FTDNA and GeneTree

23andMe is not the only company that has cut their prices for the holiday. Both GeneTree and FTDNA are offering sales on their Y-DNA tests.

FTDNA's is offering a discount on Y-DNA upgrades. With more and more markers being offered all the time, this is a good chance to get the most of your Y-DNA results with the #1 most trusted company offering this test. If you have tested only 12 markers, you can upgrade to 37 for $69 ($30 off) or 67 for $149 ($40 off).  If you have tested 25 markers, you can upgrade to 67 for $148 ($39 off) and 37 marker tests can be upgraded to 67 for $79 ($20 off). These prices should appear when you log in to your personal page and click on the special offers link in the left hand navigation bar. Orders must be placed and paid for by December 1st. Obviously, you must have already tested at least 12 markers at FTDNA to qualify for this offer. Hopefully, FTDNA will have another offer before the end of the year to entice new customers into their huge database.

GeneTree's sale is on their Y-46 marker test. They are offering it for only $79.95 ($100 off) through Monday, Nov 29, 2010. I don't have any experience with this company, but the upside to testing with them is that, by doing so, your results are included in Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation's database. Judging from the recent media articles, GeneTree is making a real effort to build a meaningful database of integrated "paper" genealogy research and DNA results. They encourage users to input their genealogy into their database by building family trees on their site. I really like this concept and will be keeping my eyes and ears open for more on this company.

23andMe's sale has now opened up to the public with no code required. According to a post on their Facebook page, the sale is expected to last through Monday. There now appears to be an option to order their product at the regular $499 price without the requirement of the PGS subscription. (Look under the red "Order Now" button for the blue writing, "Order for $499 with no subscription commitment".) This is very interesting. Perhaps they are rethinking the subscription requirement due to the negative feedback from their existing customers and the genetic genealogy community.

[Disclosure - My company StudioINTV has an existing production agreement with FTDNA that has no bearing on the opinions I express. I receive no other compensation in relation to any of the companies or products referenced in my blog.]

Genetic Genealogy in the News: Another misleading, inaccurate story

ABC4.com out of Salt Lake City recently ran an article about genealogy and DNA testing. I am always happy to see my hobby in the news, however, I have real concerns about some of the claims that are being made in this story. As a long time genealogist and experienced genetic genealogist, I find this story very misleading and, potentially, detrimental to the industry.

First of all, the article states that "Amanda Gilbert is the only person in the world who can claim accused witch, Rebecca Nurse, and persecutor, Reverend John Hale as grandparents."  Wow, really? These people lived in 1692. They could each potentially have thousands of descendants. A quick search of the Internet or Ancestry.com turns up many who claim descendancy from each Reverend Hale and Rebecca Nurse. I guess it is possible that Ms. Gilbert is the ONLY one descended from both Hale and Nurse, but that is quite a claim. Doesn't she have any siblings or children? Did the reporter do the extensive genealogical research necessary to substantiate this claim? Before I made such a far-reaching statement, I would be sure and do a thorough and extensive genealogical study of each of the subjects, following all descendants down to the present day. I could chalk it up to naivete and a lack of understanding of genealogy on the part of the reporter, but the problem appears to go deeper than that.

The article goes on to "quote" Scott Woodward, president of the DNA testing company GeneTree and principal investigator at the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, “We can identify the pieces of DNA that belong to each one of those individuals in the past, and then we compare that to other people’s DNA and identify the great, great, great grandparents you have in common” and referring to Gilbert's DNA, “We put that into the data base and started looking around. She’s also related to the Reverend John Hale.”

I am simply dumbfounded by these statements. It certainly sounds as if he is referring to autosomal DNA testing. As a Beta tester for the only two companies who have introduced commercial relative matching through autosomal DNA testing so far (23andMe and FTDNA) and an active member of the genetic genealogy community and ISOGG (International Society of Genetic Genealogy), I find these claims incredulous. There are many of us who have been working long hours studying our autosomal DNA results, attempting to determine which pieces of DNA came down to us from which ancestors, but it is difficult and slow work. This type of DNA research is new and, to my knowledge, none of us yet claim to be able to definitively identify the blocks of autosomal DNA from specific ancestors more than a couple of generations back. There may be a few on the forefront of autosomal DNA family studies who, in limited examples, appear to have strong evidence that links blocks of DNA to a specific ancestor, but they stop short of making absolute claims at this early date. I have confidence that, in the future, we will be able to accomplish this, but not until MANY more people are tested with solid genealogies. To make matters worse, the way it is written, Woodward seems to be claiming to be able to identify DNA from an ancestor who lived more than three hundred years ago! The companies and the scientists leading the way in this new science (autosomal DNA testing), are tentative about predicting shared ancestry more than a couple of hundred years in the past at MOST. If GeneTree has evidence that they can do what Woodward seems to be claiming, there are many of us who would love to see it and will happily and enthusiastically congratulate them on their accomplishment.

Since, according to their website, GeneTree doesn't even do commercial autosomal testing, perhaps Mr. Woodward is referring to Y-DNA testing. In that case, his claim that DNA showed that Ms. Gilbert is descended from Rev. Hale may be possible, but it couldn't have been her DNA. Maybe Ms. Gilbert has a male relative who was tested by GeneTree and whose Y-DNA matched those Hales known to descend from the Reverend. It is certainly possible that the reporter may have misunderstood and taken Mr. Woodward's statements out of context. If this is what he meant, then more explanation was certainly needed. Perhaps GeneTree can clarify this. I know from personal experience with the press that what you say is not always what they write, so we should give Mr. Woodward and GeneTree the benefit of the doubt in regard to these seemingly outrageous claims.

Whether intentional or not, these types of public statements could spell big trouble for the future of DNA Ancestry testing.  One always runs the risk of being misquoted by the press, therefore DTC genetic testing companies would be prudent to err on the side of caution in their claims and interviews. As we all know, regulatory agencies have their eye on these companies. If those of us involved in the industry make what appear to be unsubstantiated or misleading statements in regard to what can and cannot be accomplished with DNA testing, it gives these agencies an excuse to interfere, even in ancestry testing. While we cannot always prevent how we are portrayed in the press, we can be very clear about the current limitations of DNA Ancestry testing. Any time we speak to the press, we need to keep in mind that the reporters writing about our complex industry may not have the necessary expertise to fully understand what we are saying, so we should make a concerted effort to educate them. When and if an article is published that contains inaccuracies or misstatements, it must be our responsibility to publicly refute it.  In order to minimize the risk of misinformation and misleading claims, we need cooperation and industry-wide standards among DNA Ancestry testing companies. It is my fear that if we do not take proactive steps toward some form of self-regulation, we are inviting outside interference.

** Please read the update in the comment section below from Dr. Ann Turner.

[Disclosure - My company StudioINTV has an existing production agreement with FTDNA that has no bearing on the opinions I express. I receive no other compensation in relation to any of the companies or products referenced in my blog.]