GeneTree and Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation to Collaborate

The following announcement was written by Genetree and by the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (two different divisions of the Sorenson companies):

Participants in the Foundation’s DNA Database, the World’s Most Diverse Collection of Correlated Genetic and Genealogical Information, Can Receive the Mitochondrial DNA Profiles from Their Submitted DNA Samples for an Introductory Price of $19.50 Through GeneTree

SALT LAKE CITY -- GeneTree, a DNA-enabled family history-sharing Web site designed to help people understand where their personal histories belong within the greater human genetic story, and the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF), a non-profit scientific organization currently expanding the world’s most diverse collection of genetic genealogy information, today announced a special offer that enables participants who have contributed DNA samples and genealogical pedigree charts to the SMGF Database project to receive deeply discounted DNA profiles in order to take advantage of the resources available on the GeneTree family history social networking site.

“SMGF has not been able to provide individual DNA results back to study participants,” said Dr. Scott Woodward, executive director of SMGF. “The collaboration with GeneTree allows us to return results in a compelling, confidential way and we’re pleased to be able to offer this exceptional opportunity to those individuals who have participated in helping build the SMGF database. Many SMGF participants have expressed the desire to make greater family connections and collaborate on family history research using DNA tools; SMGF’s arrangement with GeneTree enables this.”

In order to be eligible for this special GeneTree/SMGF offer, participants must have ordered an SMGF participation kit prior to October 23, 2007 and returned the properly completed DNA kit, postmarked no later than December 31, 2007, to SMGF.

SMGF participants who meet these criteria will be able to access their mitochondrial DNA profiles (genetic information passed from mothers to all of their children) along with their SMGF-submitted pedigree information through the GeneTree Web site, generally within two weeks of their request. These profiles can be used to search for and connect with potential genetic relatives on the GeneTree site.

In 2000, SMGF began collecting DNA samples to build the Sorenson Database, the world's most comprehensive and diverse collection of genetic information correlated with genealogical records. Currently, the database contains nearly 100,000 DNA samples and over six million corresponding genealogical records from participants in more than 170 nations throughout the world, and the Foundation continues to accelerate the growth of the database.

The GeneTree site, launched October 23, 2007, has licensed the SMGF database to further the family history research and social networking purposes of its members. A basic GeneTree membership is free. In addition, GeneTree offers cost-effective mitochondrial DNA tests. A $99 GeneTree test provides genetic sequence information collected from one of three major mitochondrial regions; a $149 test provides information from all three regions.

“GeneTree’s DNA testing services are extremely cost-effective, but we wanted to reward the people who chose to participate in the SMGF project before the advent of GeneTree, to help them take advantage of all the opportunities for social networking and collaborative family tree building available on that site,” said Matt Cupal, president and COO of GeneTree. “Providing participants with their genetic profiles for only $19.50 is the best way we could think of to say, ‘Thank you for participating in this project to connect the world’s individuals and families.’”

Additional information and instructions for obtaining SMGF DNA profiles for participation in GeneTree is available at www.genetree.com/dna/unlock_smgf.

Comments

[Happy Dae]

Go ahead, shop for mtDNA Testing prices. Even GeneTree's standard price is quite reasonable. I'll see if me Mum would object to an inner cheek swab...

Happy Dae.
http://www.ShoeStringGenealogy.com

[Mary Lou Barnett (Klemm)]

I wonder if this takes in the DNA information we gave at the Sarasota Genealogy
Society in Sarasota, FL several years ago, when National Geographic took samples, but said they would not be able to tell us the results as it was going into a world base. Will we now be able to get the results? There were speakers from three
different DNA companies there.

[Ann Turner]

Mary Lou,

The National Geographic's Genographic Project is a different study. If SMGF collected samples at an event in Sarasota, they would have required a pedigree to go along with it. Does that ring a bell? You can go to the SMGF site and search the mtDNA database for surnames in your pedigree to see if your sample has been analyzed.

[Ann Lamb]

I submitted sample for myself and for my husband with our 4 generation pedigrees after a Family History Expo in Bellevue, WA. I just went online to the Genetree site and ordered the report for myself. I was already a user. To order a report for my husband, I will need to sign him up as a user first. Can anyone comment on how useful the mitochondrial DNA information is in genealogy?

[Chuck Callari]

Can someone tell me the difference between the information we would get from Genetree at $19.50, and logging onto the Sorenson website itself and getting one's DNA info from there for free?

[Jason Presley]

While I've been able to find my y-DNA in the SMGF database, I haven't been able to figure out how to search the mtDNA database to get any relevant results. So far, it looks like GeneTree is only offering to retreive the mtDNA results.

[theKiwi]

To find your mtDNA in the Sorenson database, you need to search for your maternal grandmothers' names in the database - so your mother's surname, her mother's surname, her mother's surname etc.

My wife found mine that way, but making sense of the results is another matter. I'm thinking maybe it's worth the $20 to have GeneTree do the matching for me.

Roger