DNA Projects Portal Site Blog

10th: Moved

2011-07-10T13:02:00.003+12:00

The project diary for the DNA Projects Portal aka DNA Surnames has moved to here.
Domain names were rationalised some time ago, and it was time the diary followed suit.

All old posts have been migrated.

16th: Upgrade sale

2011-06-16T12:15:00.002+12:00

Family Tree DNA have just announced an upgrade sale.

Summer Upgrade Sale
Family Finder Was $289 Now $199
Y-DNA 12 to 25 Was $49 Now $35
Y-DNA 12 to 37 Was $99 Now $69
Y-DNA 12 to 67 Was $189 Now $148
Y-DNA 25 to 37 Was $49 Now $35
Y-DNA 25 to 67 Was $148 Now $114
Y-DNA 37 to 67 Was $99 Now $79
mt to FMS Was $269 Now $229
mtPlus to FMS Was $239 Now $199

To order an upgrade at these special prices log into your personal page with your kit number and password. Click on the "Special Offers" link found on the left-hand navigation bar. ALL ORDERS MUST BE PLACED AND PAID FOR BY MIDNIGHT, JUNE 22, 2011, TO RECEIVE THE SALE PRICE.

So anyone interested in seeing what more markers will tell them about their matches, here's a good opportunity to be in.

9th: Possible promotion; new project link

2011-06-09T14:51:00.003+12:00

Just noticed on Family Tree DNA's facebook products page, that they seem to be about to run a promotion soon - if they get 3000 more "likes" on facebook!

That aside, the DNA Projects Portal has had a link included to a new DNA project.
Don would love to hear from any direct male line BIDGOOD (and variants) who may be willing to join his project and see what they can discover about this surname.

As always, check the individual dna project diaries for their latest news.

15th: Family Tree DNA- DNA Day

2011-04-15T10:21:00.003+12:00

Check out Family Tree DNA's Facebook page for some specials available just for today.
eg Y-DNA37 $129, and a Y-DNA37 to 67 upgrade at $79, and the introductory offer for the Y-DNA67 to Y-DNA111 upgrade finishes with this promotion.

The coupon code, DNADAY2011, will expire on Friday at midnight (CT).

8th: New test announced

2011-04-08T20:26:00.003+12:00

Family Tree DNA have announced a new Y-DNA test, Y-DNA111, which will be of particular interest to those with close/exact matches at the Y-DNA67 level.
Read about here, remembering that discounts apply to tests ordered via your appropriate surname project.

Family Tree DNA Matches

2011-03-21T07:41:00.000+13:00

The following may be of interest to those enrolled in more than one project:
It is being posted because a close match wasn't being shown for one participant (KitB in the example below), the reason being that he had enrolled in another project, and that was the one selected (his secondary project) on his matches page.
Even though he had "match against entire database" selected, his closest match, which was with someone enrolled in his primary project, was not being shown.
The matching person (Kit A in the example below) had his preferences set to match only with that project, which, according to the explanation below from FT DNA, is not going to show up on Kit B's matches until Kit B's project is changed to the same project.
============
If kit A has his preferences set to be compared against his surname projects only, he will only be compared against participants who are in that project AND have that project selected on their personal page (if they are in more than one project). If kit B has his options set to be compared against the entire database, his results will be compared against everyone else that also has their preferences set to be compared against the entire database AND those who are in the project that is selected on his page at the time.
============
From this, it could be deduced that it is therefore best to set your preferences to match against the entire database, and make sure that you have your main project selected when you check your matches.

21st: Bit of fun

2010-12-21T11:06:00.000+13:00

Probably a bit late for the Christmas shopping, but I happened upon this site:
The DNA Store
No, I don't endorse it, know nothing about them other than what is available from their site, and thought others may care to see some of the products they feature.

Seasons Greetings to all and may 2011 bring us all great genetic genealogy discoveries.

10th: New project

2010-12-10T14:28:00.001+13:00

A McKeich project has been added into the projects portal list - no accompanying project diary, just the World Family summary pages

2nd: Sale time

2010-12-02T14:33:00.002+13:00

From Family Tree DNA:
--------
It's time once again for Family Tree DNA's annual end-of-year promotion.

Starting tonight, and until December 31st, we will reduce the price of our YDNA37, YDNA67, mtDNAPlus, and Family Finder tests.
Price for NEW KITS: Regular Price (Promotional Price)
YDNA37 $149 ($119)
YDNA67 $239 ($199)
mtDNAPlus $159 ($129)
Family Finder $289 ($249)
Price for UPGRADE:
Family Finder $289 ($229)

Orders must be in and paid for by Dec. 31, 2010, to receive this offer.

--------
So, find your project, and order through them to get the above discounts.

As always, check the project diaries above right for the latest news on your project of interest.

25th: Upgrade offer

2010-11-25T13:14:00.000+13:00

If your current Y-dna test was for fewer than 67 markers, you may be interested in exploring what more markers may tell you about your matches.
Now is the time to jump in and upgrade appropriately as Family Tree DNA have just announced a short term upgrade offer (copied below):
-----

Dear Family Tree DNA Customer,

As we enter the Thanksgiving weekend, we would like to extend to you a one-week promotion for upgrades:
   Current Group Price SALE PRICE
Y12-37 $99    $69
Y12-67 $189    $149
Y25-67 $148    $109
Y37-67 $99      $79

To order this special offer, log in to your personal page and click on the special offers link in the left hand navigation bar. A link to the login page is provided below. ALL ORDERS MUST BE PLACED AND PAID FOR BY MIDNIGHT DECEMBER 1st 2010 TO RECEIVE THE SALE PRICES.
------

22nd: Special offer

2010-10-22T19:24:00.001+13:00

From Family Tree DNA
----
We would like to inform you of a new limited-time offer available for new customers of Family Tree DNA

Family Finder + Y-DNA12 Regular Price: $388 Introductory Price: $299
Family Finder + mtDNA Regular Price: $388 Introductory Price: $299

----
As their main page announces this, it is not restricted to orders via surname projects, although you may get added benefits of support/information from a relevant surname project.

As always, for news from the surname projects, check their project diaries from the inks above rhs.

26th: Discounted kits - order date extended

2010-06-26T10:34:00.000+12:00

Family Tree DNA have advised that kits ordered up to the 30th Jun will attract the previously advertised discounts - but still have to be paid for by the 30th June.
Check out your relevant surname project and be in - help us all unravel those ancient jigsaws.

5th: Family Tree DNA Summer Sale

2010-06-06T08:07:00.000+12:00

Once again Family Tree DNA are offering summer discounts for test ordered via projects and paid for by 25th June.

Here are the details:

	Y-DNA37 for $119 (Regular (project) price would be $149)
	Y-DNA67 for $199 (Regular project)price would be $239)
	Y-DNA37+mtDNA for $159 (Combined test (via project) would cost $238)

The promotion will start June 5 and will end June 25. Kits need to be paid for by June 30, 2010.

These are a considerable discount on the normal, non-project, prices.

To take advantage of these go to the project for your surname of interest and follow their join project links, and order a suitable test.

37 markers is really a minimum for testing for relationships between families, 67 markers is even better.

Read about testing in general at
http://www.worldfamilies.net/dnatesting

and the FAQs from Family Tree DNA at
https://www.familytreedna.com/faq/

20th: New project added

2010-05-20T15:48:00.000+12:00

A FAMILTON Surname DNA Project has been added to the list of those with some details on the DNA Projects Portal.
Same set up as most of the others:

Project Diary on Blogspot,
Summary pages on the WorldFamilies Network,
Supplementary pages on the Projects Portal.

All we need now are representatives from the lines we're trying to prove are related.

1st: Family Finder

2010-05-01T13:50:00.000+12:00

Results are starting to come in for Family Tree DNA's Family Finder first few beta tests.
Although I only found several very distant relations, whom I'll probably never connect too, it does look rather interesting.
One name on my list of matches I did recognise, the Director of ISOGG.
As one of my distant cousins said, how appropriate that you are related.

Terry, on the World Families Network has posted an interesting article about his experiences with it.

24th: Family Finder

2010-02-24T12:25:00.000+13:00

Some of you may have already noticed Family Tree DNA's new product, Family Finder.
So far it doesn't appear on their main list of products, but information can be accessed via your personal pages once logged in.
They are having a special introductory offer to project administrators, which I am for of a number of projects.
So, if you want me to use my introductory offer for your existing test kit under any of the "hats" the offer has not yet been used up for, contact me via the applicable project.
Basically it means that for closer relationships, we are no longer restricted to direct paternal and maternal lines, and us females get more options from our own dna without having to find a male to test for the direct paternal line.
There's a little video clip explaining the how on the link.
Log in to your personal page and have a read.

4th: Family Tree DNA Holiday Promotion

2009-11-04T13:17:00.000+13:00

Family Tree DNA have announced a holiday promotion, reducing the prices of selected kits order and paid for by 31 December 2009.

So, if you've been thinking about what dna testing may be able to do for your genealogy research, now is a good time to jump in, or to track down those distant cousins that you need to prove this theory or that and convince them to join.
From their announcement:
-------------------
Y-DNA37 – promotional price $119 (reg. price $149)
Y-DNA67 – promotional price $209 (reg. price $239)
mtDNAPlus – promotional price $139 (reg. price $149)
SuperDNA – promotional price $488 (reg. price $665)

Orders for the above tests need to be placed and paid for by December 31, 2009 to receive the sale price.

In addition here are the newly released permanent prices for the Full Mitochondria Sequence:

New kit (mtDNA Full Sequence) … $279
Upgrade from HVR1 … $229
Upgrade from HVR2 … $209
mtDNA Full Sequence after testing Y-DNA … $249

--------------
So, if your surname is one of those already on the DNA Projects Portal pages, follow the Join Project links for your Surname to be automatically enrolled in your project.
(I note that Family Tree DNA's Product page doesn't yet reflect these prices).

For further information on what DNA testing may or may not be able to tell you, read the FAQs on both the WorldFamilies Network or the Family Tree DNA pages.

9th: mtDNA pricing special offer to 31st Oct 2009

2009-10-09T15:09:00.001+13:00

Those of you who have already tested you mitochondrial dna with Family Tree DNA should have received notification by now of a substantial price reduction to upgrade your mtDNA results.
(The full sequence mtDNA also appears to have been reduced).
The message says, in part:
=========================
A new price for the full mtDNA test will be introduced in November but until then we are offering our current customers a promotional price through October 31st, 2009:

$179 (was $410) for those who have already tested up to HVR2 (the order item is HVR2 to MEGA)
$199 (was $420) for those who have already tested HVR1 (the order item is HVR1 to MEGA)

To Order:
Log in to you personal page at www.familytreedna.com

Click "Special Offers"
Select "mtHVR1toMega or mtHVR2toMEGA from the dropdown order list
Click "Continue" to proceed to the payment screen and complete your order

Orders need to placed and paid for by the end of the day, October 31st, 2009.

Depending upon the time that it takes to process these upgrade orders using our new hardware, we may experience a back order or lag time in November. If this occurs we expect to resolve the backlog in December, so to avoid any delay in attaining your results please place your order early in this sales cycle.
===============

8th: Links to area projects included

2009-10-08T14:52:00.000+13:00

Links have been added for two area (rather than surname related) dna projects, those for Devon and The Border Reivers.

Check out the A-F index, projects denoting an area rather than a surname, are, unsurprisingly, shown with (Area) after the project name.

Most of the updates to the site have been project specific.
As always, check the individual surname blogs for the latest activity.

27th: General update

2009-07-26T13:58:00.003+12:00

Lineages sub section of the DNA Projects Portal has had a general update to fix several missing links.

Only a few days to go to the end of the Family Tree DNA Summer Sale. Be in quick if you've been thinking about representing your family in a DNA project.

Check out the Wanted! pages for your surname in the Lineages section link above for those lines particularly needed to help solve mysteries.

And, as always, check out the individual project diaries at right for what's new.

3rd: Another promotion

2009-07-03T11:09:00.002+12:00

Hot off the press from FamilyTree DNA:
(extraxted from an email to Group Administrators)
=========================
In light of this success (our recent Y-37+mtDNA sale ) and in conjunction with many reunions or events where one of us will be speaking, including the Clans Gathering 2009 and the Highland Games in Scotland, we have decided to offer for the month of July a variation of our recent promotion:
Y-DNA37 – promotional price $119 (reg. price $149)
Y-DNA67 – promotional price $199 (reg. price $238)
mtDNAPlus – promotional price $119 (reg. price $149)

These are the best prices, marker for marker, of any company in the market.
IMPORTANT: since this promotion will run through the month of July, we encourage you to spread the word starting now, as the natural tendency is for people to order at the last minute, and we will not extend it beyond this month
....
Bennett Greenspan
President
www.familytreedna.com
713-868-1438
"History Unearthed Daily"
=========================
This is an excellent price for the Y-DNA67 test, which is recommended for the projects I personally am involved with on this site.
Be in.

2nd: Upgrade promotion results

2009-07-02T20:11:00.001+12:00

Some of the upgrade promotion results are starting to come through (batch 309 at least), so check out the individual project diaries at right for any updates.

15th: No excuses left

2009-06-15T13:56:00.003+12:00

Family Tree DNA are again offering a summer discount which provides an excellent entry into the world of dna testing - enough markers for genealogically significant matching (their Y-DNA37 test), with an mtDNA test thrown in for good measure.
The total cost is cheaper than their normal Y-DNA37 test alone and at $US119 significantly cheaper than the usual cost of their combined Y-DNA37 + mtDNA.

Tests have to be ordered and paid for by Jun 30th.

To join in the fun and see what you may or may not discover about your genetic heritage, go to either World Families Network, of direct to Family Tree DNA, and join up.

As usual, see individual project diaries at right for changes.

14th: Upgrade promotion

2009-05-14T19:31:00.003+12:00

Family Tree DNA have announced an upgrade promotion (not for new kits).

Emails are being sent to eligible participants with instructions on how to claim the discounted upgrade prices (reputed to be an average of 25% off the normal cost).

Note the instructions in the email:
To order this special offer log into your personal page and click on the special offers link on the left hand navigation bar.

As an indication, normal upgrade prices are in the vicinity of $US 49 for each of 12 to 25, 25 to 37 markers, and $US 99 for 37 to 67 markers.

So, if you want to see how your results might match at a higher level, get in while this lasts (only for the week from May 14th through May 23nd).

13th: DAVIDSON and McADIE

2009-05-14T03:19:00.002+12:00

The DAVIDSON supplementary pages have been revamped in line with the earlier changes to the other surnames. However, these pages only contain those who match the Chirnside family of John DAVIDSON, a very very small extract from the main DAVIDSON project.

See each particular project blog for other updates (eg McADIE).

6th: Further to yesterday

2009-05-06T22:43:00.003+12:00

Following on from yesterday's refresh, the Portal section of the website has also now been fully reloaded, including the new McADIE project in the throes of being established (one member already).

Each project may now have up to 3 DNA Study links:
1 for the basic project information held on Family Tree DNA
1 for the summary results and patriarch lineages held on World Families Network
and another for any more detailed results, and dna signature charts with analysis held on the Lineages portion of the DNA Projects Portal web site.

Whereas listing in the Portal section of the website is open to anyone caring to send me an email, the latter two generally only apply to those surnames of interest to the webmistress.

5th: Site revamp

2009-05-05T18:52:00.003+12:00

The lineage portion of the DNA Projects Portal has had a revamp.

The program I use to build these pages (Second Site) has just been released with a new version that makes it much easier to present dna results both in grids and in "signature charts" (click on the links for examples).

Therefore most of the surname pages now have a dna results and charts section incorporated in these pages instead of referring you off to other sites.

See the individual surname project diaries for any project specific details.

2nd: Full site update

2009-04-02T23:15:00.000+13:00

With a rash of FAIRBAIRN updates received, and assorted new pages related to the new WIGHT project, the DNA Projects Portal site has had a full reload.

The new WIGHT project has one member already.

More members most welcome in all the projects.

31st: WIGHT project added

2009-03-31T13:11:00.000+13:00

The newly created WIGHT Surname DNA Project has been added to the DNA Projects Portal.

As usual, check the project diaries at right for individual project updates.

17th: DAVIDSON results received

2009-03-17T23:49:00.000+13:00

DAVIDSON DNA results in, and related pages updated. Only very low level matches available, yet to be explored.

16th: RICHARDSON match/update

2009-03-16T20:47:00.003+13:00

Some of the RICHARDSON related pages have been updated to reflect the newly received results, including a distant match (yet to be explored).

11th: Full Lineages section update

2009-03-11T19:36:00.000+13:00

The full Lineages section of the DNA Projects Portal has been reloaded to ensure all latest results are reflected.
Check the individual project Diaries (top right) for further details of what may have changed.

5th: Site updates

2009-02-06T00:58:00.003+13:00

Site has had a general information update, check the individual project diaries at right for further details.
A link to Wikipedia for the E haplogroup has been included as one of the ROWE project shows as belonging to "E1b1a".
Main changes are a couple of ROWE lineages have been brought in from the WorldFamilies site, and several FAIRBAIRN project updates.

17th: Project updates - SINTON and FAIRBAIRN

2009-01-17T09:19:00.003+13:00

Check the SINTON and FAIRBAIRN project diaries for their new results.
Their respective Projects Portal Lineages (SINTON, FAIRBAIRN), and related information, updated as a result.

9th: Assorted content updates

2009-01-09T22:49:00.002+13:00

Check out the FAIRBAIRN Project Diary for new members, and content explanations.
Ditto DAW(E).

3rd: Finlayson

2009-01-03T16:23:00.002+13:00

Some additional details added for the FINLAYSON dna project to expand on the info available at the WFN pages.

30th: FAIRBAIRNs mainly

2008-12-31T03:40:00.002+13:00

DNA Projects Portal Site updated.

Main changes were in the FAIRBAIRNs, see that project's diary for the details.

Preliminary links to an existing DAVIDSON dna project have been included, along with an outline lineage for a family I'd like a representative of.

29th: DAWEs

2008-12-29T23:22:00.000+13:00

The DAWE lineage section has been updated to include a new (matching) participant.

22nd: RICHARDSON updates

2008-12-23T09:08:00.003+13:00

Updated the RICHARDSON info to show we now have a representative for William's line, down from John RICHARDSON and Elizabeth SHIEL.
Changed the All names index on the Lineages section to a better format, now called Surname Index.

12th: Lineage updates

2008-12-13T18:45:00.002+13:00

New results for the SINTONs and a new participant in the FAIRBAIRN project, see their respective project diaries.

For the HENDERSONs represented in the lineages section, a results table has been incorporated into this site (rather than with the overall project) as the overall project(s) (Clan HENDERSON and Gunn Sept) are rather large and there is no match, so of little interest to this particular lineage.

Also included a particular RICHARDSON lineage of interest to me - participants wanted.

13th: RICHARDSONs and all name index added

2008-12-13T00:04:00.001+13:00

Added a link on the Portal to an existing Richardson project, and incorporated a chart for "my" RICHARDSONs into the Lineages section in the hope of attracting a participant or two to represent them.

Added an "all names" index to the Lineages section, ie across individual projects.

9th: Wanted! Fairbairns and other updates

2008-12-09T17:09:00.003+13:00

I think I've finished tidying up all missing links, and have added all known researchers and patriarchs for all projects apart from ROWE.
For the ROWE project I have begun by adding the Devon lineage of two of the dna participants (my lot funnily enough ).
The FAIRBAIRN Wanted! page has had a couple more lineages links added in, more to come.
Remember that FamilyTree DNA are offering new test discounts until the end of December for kits ordered via a surname project.
Check out the respective project, and order via the Join this project link on the appropriate WorldFamlies site, or at Family Tree DNA - but make sure the order is via a surname project, or the discounts don't apply.

30th: What changed:

2008-11-30T18:00:00.003+13:00

Tidied up some missing links and added a grouped alphabetic surname project index to aid site navigation.

In the lineage sections, the FAIRBAIRN project has had several missing links remedied, and a number of lineages added to the Wanted! section.
Ditto SINTONs.

NB if anyone is wondering whether to venture into the realm of DNA testing, now would be an excellent time as FamilyTreeDNA are offering Christmas discounts for new tests (as opposed to upgrades of existing ones).
The discounts only apply if you join via a surname project, so pick your surname of interest, and follow the Join Project links.

If you have any questions not answered by the FAQs available on the relevant project pages or at FamilyTree DNA, please don't hesitate to contact the Project Administrator, as we'd love for you to be reassured that this is a completely harmless process, and you wont have police knocking on your door because of your dna, nor any medical conditions exposed. Those are completely different, much more elaborate tests.

27th: It's the turn of the DAW(E)s

2008-11-28T01:01:00.002+13:00

Check out the DAWE introductory page.
Although we only have one participant in this project so far, time will presumably remedy that.

So far, I've only included my main line under the WANTED! page.
When time permits I will add a couple of other Devon families that also connect in various ways.

Assorted SINTON data has also been tidied and published.

26th: Check out the RUNCIMAN additions

2008-11-26T19:59:00.002+13:00

All the RUNCIMAN data has been reviewed to ensure that all participants are there with their accurate info, related lineages etc and cross linked to relevant information.

I believe this information is now completely up to date.

If you can help with a participant for the Wanted! list, I'd like to hear from you.
(This goes across the whole site, although I've yet to add the rest of the Wanted! lists.)

If you have bookmarked some of the underlying pages, the links may have changed as I reviewe/revise the database that drives these pages. Other than around the Haplogroup area, they shouldn't change after this, but no guarantees!

14th: FAIRBAIRN web page links updated

2008-11-14T16:57:00.003+13:00

Added/updated a few FAIRBAIRN family related web sites.
Happy to add any other FAIRBAIRN family data sites you may want included.
(Still to add more of the FAIRBAIRN DNA participants and their lineages.)

12th: SINTON lineages

2008-11-13T02:04:00.003+13:00

Added the Jedburgh and the Irish SINTON lineages.

Also tidied up several links and tweaked the navigation.

Check back soon, still a heap more people to add to the lineage section.

Might soon have some time to design a more relevant header picture!

10th: Lineage updates

2008-11-10T23:49:00.003+13:00

Added additional site links to SINTON and DAWE webpages.

Included lineage of Archibald & Margaret (McEWAN) HENDERSON.

Added the FINLAYSON DNA Project to the Projects list.

9th: Site launched

2008-11-09T23:47:00.002+13:00

Prototype DNA Projects Portal site launched. Definitely bare bones content on the lineage section, only two of the FAIRBAIRN lines are included to date.
Feedback, and more site links for each surname project, welcome.