Breakthroughs In Genetic Research For Genealogy

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Breakthroughs In Genetic Research For Genealogy

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=54029

Family Tree DNA, whose growing array of DNA tests for genealogical

purposes has established them as the world leader in genetic

genealogy, will introduce ground-breaking new X chromosome tests (X-

STR) in early October. The X-STR tests are the first ever available

for genealogy applications by focusing on linked " haplotype blocks "

which are inherited intact over several generations. This test will

be processed locally at the company's recently established Genomic

Research Center. Headed by Krahn, whose German-based DNA-

Fingerprint company was recently merged into Family Tree DNA, the

state of the art Genomic Research Center is located at Family Tree

DNA's Houston, Texas headquarters.

Krahn, a graduate of the Technical University of Berlin, is an

expert in developing new molecular biological methods to resolve

questions in biological heritage. Since 2003, DNA-Fingerprint

specialized in more complex ancestry testing. This will give Family

Tree DNA the ability to increase its current 67-marker Y-DNA test,

the highest resolution Y-DNA test offered by any company in the

world today, to over 100 Y-DNA markers.

Additionally, the new lab has allowed Family Tree DNA to

significantly lower the price of its Full Mitochondria Genomic

Sequence (FGS), which it began to make available a year ago. The

Full Mitochondria Genomic Sequence is the last mtDNA test that

anyone will ever need to take because it encompasses the entire

molecule (all 16,659 base pairs) and is clearly the emerging

platform for all Anthropology testing. The new lab also affords the

capability to offer testing for CODIS markers for those who want to

compare test results against existing databases of these universally

used markers, including biographical databases.

Family Tree DNA has been able to cement its position at the

forefront of genetic genealogy by continually advancing the science

that enables genealogists around the world to expand their families'

research and to fill the gap between genealogy and anthropology. The

company has surpassed 112,000 individual entries in its genealogical

database, roughly 78,000 Y-DNA (male) test records and 34,000 mtDNA

(male and female) records, making each of these the largest DNA

databases for genealogical purposes in the world. They also

administer over 3500 individual surname projects comprising nearly

56,000 unique surnames.

Family Tree DNA has continually upgraded the tests it offers since

it began operations in May, 2000 and first made Y-DNA and mtDNA

testing available for genealogical purposes. The new X-STR tests,

which focus on the X chromosome contained in both men and women,

will broaden the possibilities for complex kinship testing. Studying

the X chromosome will allow for the development of testing for other

types of relationships than the tests the company currently has

available; for example, siblingship testing when the father is not

available. All databases are freely accessible to customers to view

using their unique ID number and PIN Code.

In addition to its comprehensive databases that offer comparisons

with hundreds of nationalities from around the world and placement

into the most likely of the distinct branches of the family tree of

Homo sapiens documented in the world, Family Tree DNA is the

designated DNA testing firm selected by National Geographic for all

public participants for its five-year Genographic Project to study

the migrations of mankind. Now in its second year of research, over

160,000 DNA test kits have been sold under this Project's auspices.

Family Tree DNA has recently been featured in Newsweek, Time, The

New York Times and on NBC-TV's Today Show.

To learn more about Family Tree DNA and its services, please visit

http://www.familytreeDNA.com.