DNA Results to be Added to Ancestry.com

For less than $200 (U.S.) and a cheek-swiped cotton swab, amateur historians apparently will soon add DNA results to family tree Web sites. Late Sunday evening rumors claim that a new partnership is about to be announced between Ancestry.com and Sorenson Genomics, a DNA research firm.

Ancestry.com reportedly plans to launch the DNA testing product by the end of summer, offering customers the possibility of finding DNA matches in the site's 24,000 genealogical databases.

Comments

[Aileen]

SORENSON already has my DNA which was taken about 2 years ago for a survey. Will they be required to consult with me before they share it with Ancestry.com?

[Dick Eastman]

Further details are available in this morning's Salt Lake City Deseret News at http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,665194518,00.html

[Jason Presley]

I'm curious to see how this is going to work since DNA results only tie directly to the person tested and living people are usually privatized out of all the data uploaded by users to Ancestry. I supposed they'll just be adding the SMGF family trees as a database on Ancestry, which will mean yet another set of redundant results. It would be nice if they'd tie the results in with the AWT or WorldConnect trees somehow like Sorensen already does with the trees on Family Search. Should be interesting.

[Diane]

Hi, Aileen,
According to Peggy Hayes at Relative Genetics, the SMGF database many genealogists contributed to isn't part of Relative Genetics, and isn't included in this partnership. (See http://www.familytreemagazine.com/insider/Ancestrycom+Reenters+The+DNA+Business.aspx.)
Diane

[Bryan Gidley]

Ancestry continues to dominate the genealogical landscape. It will be of interest to see how this affects the emerging DNA testing technologies and the applications to genealogy. I guess we will all have to wait to see what develops.

[Doug Atkinson]

So is this going to make use of the current SMGF database or will it be one more thing to "buy into" with Ancestry.com? I've already submitted DNA results to SMGF and am curious if those results will then be available automatically at the Ancestry site...

I really like the idea of being able to link those further into One World Tree etc...

I look forward to seeing what the end result is.

[Ann Turner]

I'm also curious to find out how this will work in practice, but it sounds like it will be several months before we find out. Relative Genetics has more details in its press release and FAQ:

http://relativegenetics.com/relativegenetics/news.htm#acrg

http://relativegenetics.com/relativegenetics/ancestry_faq.jsp

In the meantime, do keep in mind that Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF) is NOT involved in this transaction. SMGF is a stand-alone non-profit entity. It does use Sorenson Genomics for the actual DNA testing (as do other companies like Trace Genetics and African Ancestry), but samples are anonymized before submitting them to Sorenson Genomics. SMGF voluntarily complies with the Western Institutional Review Board's guidelines for research involving human subjects, which include maintaining privacy and control of records among other things.

[Alice Klobukowski]

I'm sure this question will come up by many of us who have DNA testing already completed by Family Tree DNA or other companies. Will we be able to use our results with Ancestry.com?

[Jennifer]

There are other testing companies out there and I'd like to link my mtDNA results to my ancestry.com account

[Jim Gordon, Co-Administrator-Gordon DNA Project]

Right now, this whole Ancestry/Sorenson Genomics (SG) is a very large tempest in a very small teapot. Right now the only thing we know is that future SG DNA testers will be able to upload their results to Ancestry and that those who have already tested w/SG will be able to compare their DNA results with those testers. That part of it is a "so what?" People who have already tested with SG can already do that, as will future SG testers.
The point that everyone is overlooking is that the results posted on Ancestry will be worthwhile ONLY to SG testers, unless SG provides a conversion algorithm for those who test with other companies.
The bottom line that everyone has overlooked so far is that this is a pure and simple BUSINESS arrangement! In other words, SG goes into business with Ancestry, offering DNA testing. Ancestry is the world's largest on-line genealogical source. Therefore, SG hopes to increase its share of the DNA testing market and Ancestry hopes to increase its customer base.
I would say we need to wait and see what the final arrangements will be. In he meantime, if you really want to compare your DNA to others, go to one of the surname DNA projects or to Y-Search (http://www.ysearch.org)and check it out for FREE!

[Alan Barber]

I agree with Jim, this a business arrangement. I don't see why all the whoopee. Ancestry is taking over the consumer marketing of Sorenson Genomics, currently provided by Relative Genetics. That's certainly a good thing because, as Ancestry pointed out in their press release, the size of the DNA database is very important. We are here witnessing the power of Ancestry's marketing. They will surely grow RG's database.

But the elephant in the room is Family Tree DNA, who has by far the largest database already--I've seen no one dispute that claim. What would be useful would be if Ancestry could suck in the databases of all the testing companies, then link that data to all the presumed co-owners of that DNA--male line ancestors for a Y-STR test, for example. It would have to be a highly automated, "opt-out" process to get sufficient participation IMHO. I see no suggestion that this is Ancestry's plan. Besides, it's unrealistic given privacy issues and the testing companies' possessiveness of their databases.

Another thing; Sorenson is really slow. I sent the foundation my DNA sample fourteen months ago and it still hasn't appeared in their database. In an email to me they said it takes 9-12 months but that they're a little behind right now. No kidding. Unless Ancestry gets better service from Sorenson than Sorenson (Foundation) gets from Sorenson (Genomics) this plan will be a non starter.

[Ann Turner]

Sorenson Genomics does the actual DNA testing for a variety of companies (e.g. DNA Heritage, Relative Genetics, Trace Genetics, African Ancestry), with a very fast turn-around time, and I expect Ancestry.com will get the same service.

Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF) is a stand-alone non-profit entity set up for research, and they don't necessarily follow a first-in first-out rule like commercial companies do. Samples may be selected according to their current research priorities (e.g. they might be looking at a specific geographical area), and verifying the genealogical pedigrees may take a varying amount of time as well. They do intend to process all samples in due course -- and you can't beat the price!