[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Researching Beyond the Family Tree

[Earl.Schultz]

Don't expect amazing results right off the bat because so far there are not
a lot of participants.  I provided my DNA to the Sorenson Project which is a
way that you can get your DNA checked for free.  If you participate they
also give you a coupon for a discount at one of the other DNA testing firms
(FamilyTree, I think).  Their website is:  http://smgf.org/  Note that once
you donate your DNA you can find yourself on their site and see if there are
any close relatives in their database.

If you get your DNA tested, you should go for the 37 marker test (men)
because that is the only way to get a close match to someone who may be
related.  But you may also find out something unexpected.  I found someone
in the US who is a 100% match on 37 markers which means we should be closely
related.  I think that may make a story in our Journal at some point.

Also, you're only doing one or at most two direct ancestral lines out of the
hundreds or thousands that you have.  However, I do recommend that you at
least provide your DNA to the Sorenson Project.

Earl Schultz

On Mar 4, 2006, at 5:13 AM, Lorne Bohn wrote:

> Greetings.
>
> Many of us have been able to research individual family  back only
> so far and are curious as to what area those decendants came from.
> I have been reading an article in the July 11/2005 issue of Time
> Magazine (pg. 32) which featured a report on using DNA to determine
> (aparently quite accurately) where families come from.
>
> There are a number of companies which will do this research for
> you.  Prices seem to range from around $95 to about $399 depending
> on the information and region.   Searches can be done on
> mitocondrial DNA (mother's side), Y-DNA (father's side) and
> autosomal which looks for genetic markers on all chromosomes and
> determines a location.  Web sites are listed below.
>
> There are also some DNA databanks that one can access for free to
> contact other individuals who have the same DNA.  This opens a very
> interesting opportunity to combine research with other individuals
> to fill in family trees.
>
> http://www.ysearch.org/
> http://www.ybase.org/
>
> Interesting stuff!  I thought I'd pass it along and I would
> appreciate it if anyone would let me know if they have had any
> experience in this area or if they know more about it?  Please
> cantact lbohn at shaw.ca
>
> Best regards to the group,
>
> Lorne Bohn
> (Canada)
>