Date: Wed,  8 Jun 2005 23:32:13 -0230 (NDT)
From: dapike@math.mun.ca (David Pike)
To: PIKE-DNA-L@rootsweb.com
Subject: [PIKE-DNA] NGS Genographic Project


I promised in an earlier email that I would let people know
when procedures were in place to allow FamilyTreeDNA customers
to upload their data into the database for the National Geographic
Society Genographic Project (NGSGP).  This is now possible, by
following the link (and instructions) on your personal webpage
at FTDNA (but there might be a hitch for some of us, as noted 
below).

The goals of the Genographic Project are anthropological
in nature, not genealogical.  So the Y-chromosome data they
are tracking is limited to just the first 12 markers of
the Y-DNA tests, along with haplogroup assignments.  Some
people will have noticed that the haplogroups assigned
by FamilyTreeDNA are actually predictions, estimated by
looking at our 12-marker values and comparing these values
against values for other people that have actually had their
haplogroups confirmed by way of what's call a SNP test.
In most cases, the prediction heuristics seem to work well,
but in some cases there is some ambiguity.  This is the
case with at least 2 of the 15 members of our Pike DNA project,
for whom the obvious prediction is not entirely without question.

Back to the Genographic Project, because it needs reliable
haplogroup data, not all FTDNA customers will be able to
upload into the NGSGP database with ease.  In all cases
there is a "nominal fee" of $15 US for those who choose to
upload their FTDNA data into the NGSGP database.  However,
for those whose haplogroup prediction is not certain enough
for the NGSGP standards, a SNP test is required to accurately
determine the haplogroup before the upload to NGSPG can take
place... the cost of a SNP test at FTDNA is $65 US.

I should further note that people who originally sign up 
with NGSGP (that is they get their first DNA test through
the Genographic Project, and not through FTDNA) get an
educational DVD and other material associated with the
Genographic Project.  I'm told that FTDNA customers who
upload their data into the Genographic Project and join
it in this manner will *not* get the DVD.  It should also
be noted that the Genographic Project is anonymous, which
is in keeping with the fact that their interest is not 
genealogical in nature.

That kind of brings people up to date on the Genographic 
Project, although there are some issues that potential newcomers
to our surname project might want to consider ... I'll be updating
the "How to Join" and "FAQ" pages on our project website with this
information soon (in a day or so), but certainly if anybody wants
more details, then just ask me.  If there is interest, I can also
post a message on this mailing list too.

This email is not meant to be an endorsement of the Genographic Project
or a solicitation for people to join it.  Certainly each individual is
welcome to do so, or to choose to not do so, at his/her discretion.
My intent was to try to present the facts about the project as I know them,
so that people would be able to make a somewhat informed choice.

Now let me say a few things about haplogoups...
For the most part I haven't said much about them on our project website,
largely because they aren't substantially helpful for genealogical purposes.
Basically, there are a limited number (maybe 20 or so) major anthropological
groupings of human Y-chromosomes.  More technically, these are based on
very specific mutations that occur once in history and are then passed on
forever... I hasten to point out that here we're talking about completely
different mutations than those that are reported in the 12,25,or 37 marker
tests.  To see the tree of Y-chromosome haplogroups, follow this link:

http://www.familytreedna.com/haplotree.html

The major groups are pretty clear, but then there are many subgroups,
such as the subgroups of the R1b haplogroup.  Looking at the tree,
we see that R1b branches off from R1, which branches off from R,
which branches off from P, and so forth going backwards in time.
As I understand it, the haplogroup mutations are cumulative in the
sense that anybody in the R1b group, for example, has inherited the
R1b mutation, as well as the mutations that define each of R1, R, P,
and the "ancestral groups" of P.  What makes this so is that the
defining mutation for each group has occurred in its own unique
location on the Y-chromosome.

- David.