DNA Heritage database and Ybase transferred to Family Tree DNA

Significant news today with the transfer of the DNA Heritage database and customers to Family Tree DNA. This will now bring several Scottish surname projects under the wing of FTDNA such as the original Lindsay DNA Project.

Below is part of the message from Alastair Greenshields, principal of DNA Heritage:

April 2011   
Dear Customers,

Today we have signed an agreement with Family Tree DNA to transfer the DNA Heritage database, and also the Ybase domain, site and database.  In a few weeks time, the DNA Heritage domain will also be transferred.

Customers within the DNA Heritage database will be able to opt-in to be uploaded into the FTDNA database.  Family Tree DNA will organize this opt-in process.  New orders can then later be taken through Family Tree DNA.  Project Funds for Surname Projects will remain intact in the transfer.

In recent months sales have lowered which impacts the rate at which we can cover the costs of the lab process.  With no immediate rise in sales, this became unsustainable so we started the process of finding a suitable company that could a) absorb the customer database and b) continue testing at the same markers.  The number of companies that are able to do this is limited but we hope that our past customers will be happy with the transfer.

Because of the income from the sale of assets, testing will resume at our current labs and we shall complete all those in process, and also for those that have pre-paid.

See this link for more information:
http://www.familytreedna.com/landing/dna-heritage.aspx

The Gene Code - new series from the BBC

A new series is currently showing on BBC 4 on Monday evenings (also available on BBC iPlayer, but not accessible outside the UK).

Programme 1 - The Book of Life
Dr Adam Rutherford takes the viewer on a rollercoaster ride as he explores the consequences of one of the biggest scientific projects of all time - the decoding of the entire human genome in 2000. Adam discovers that every human carries the entire story of life on earth hidden in his or her DNA and sees how we are all linked directly to the origins of life and to the first creatures with backbones. He also investigates the implications of the fact that for much of its existence, the human race was an endangered species.

Programme 2 - Unlocking the Code
How we are coming to understand the very process by which our DNA makes each of us unique.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b010j64w

Family Tree DNA announce launch of new Y-DNA 111 marker test

This test is primarily for those who have close matches at 67 markers and are seeking to tighten the calculation to Most Recent Common Ancestor by testing an additional 44 markers.

The new test is available as an upgrade for customers with existing Y-DNA67 results and also as a standalone test for individuals looking to prove a close relationship on the direct paternal line:
Y Refine 67 to 111 (Upgrade)    $101
Y-DNA111    $339

Order via your Family Tree DNA homepage > Order Test & Upgrades > Order Standard Tests or if you are a new customer via this link order FTDNA test

The additional markers being tested are listed on this page - Family Tree DNA STR markers