Family Tree DNA has launched a new free public service. MitoSearch allows any person who has already received his or her HVR-1 or HVR-2 results from any testing lab to upload those results for comparison purposes. MitoSearch will then compare that person's DNA numbers against others who voluntarily have done the same. Both people are notified of close matches.
Registered users on the site can search for genetic matches, search by mutations, or search by haplogroup. (If you are unfamiliar with those terms, I would suggest you read the introductory material at http://www.familytreedna.com/dna101.html.) The site also accepts GEDCOM uploads from people who match can see if the genealogies match as well.
In conjunction with this new service, Family Tree DNA is offering several of their tests at highly discounted prices during the month of October 2004. Details of the special offers may be found at http://www.familytreedna.com/mtDNA_promo.asp
DNA genealogy seems to be "the next big thing" in genealogy research. Services such as MitoSearch should help unlock a lot of "undocumented secrets."
More information can be found at http://www.MitoSearch.org
