Ancient Ancestry and Genetic Genealogy DNA testing for only $79


On Wednesday, January 13, we announced a new Ancestry.com DNA release.  Coinciding with this release is the introduction of some very exciting new features and the introduction of new pricing for the DNA services.

Let’s talk about the stellar new pricing.  At last, a low cost DNA testing option that not only provides for a discovery of your deep ancestry and genetic lineage, but also includes a significant number of markers to deliver a valuable genetic genealogy tool for comparing with other researchers.

For only $79, you can discover that you may belong to the haplogroup R1b, the Artisans, who first arrived in Europe from West Asia about 35,000 to 40,000 years ago at the dawning of the Aurignacian culture  (culture yielding significant technological advances), such as is my paternal ancestry.  You will also see the route your ancestors took as they traveled from Africa.  Did you know that about 70% of individuals currently residing in southern England are members of the Artisans group?  Therefore, you should have a lot of “relatives” in your R1b DNA Group!

Have you ever wondered what other modern-day R1b people like to eat or what their favorite TV show is?  A neat graph displays the distribution of answers to several fun facts, such as these, for each group member to answer about themselves.  What a cool way to see how you match up with others in the group.

Additionally, the $79 test allows you to build your family tree by playing the matching game with your DNA   results.  Comparing your results with another participant’s is an objective way to determine how closely you may share a common ancestor with the potential match.  Some of you may connect instantly, while others connect as Ancestry.com DNA grows.  The database will work for you by automatically comparing your results and even notify you of new potential matches as new results are added.

The Y46 test has also been discounted.  The full range of services and pricing can be found here.

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January 21st, 2009
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Reader Comments

Comment Number:
1
Written by:
J.Gavins
Posted on:
January 21, 2009 at 6:57 pm

I did the maternal DNA test and I have not found it helpful. Actually, I don’t know anymore now then before. I’ve looked at the list with no differences, sent the email, however I don’t know any of the people on the list. I see my DNA, but what about it if I can’t acquire any info? Does Ancestry use other data bases other than its own? I’ve read about the test, however what’s teh purpose if you can’t gather any info?

Comment Number:
2
Written by:
Ginny
Posted on:
January 22, 2009 at 3:44 pm

I have been thinking about getting A DNA test for a few months.

I was just wondering how does this work. Where do you get all the DNA of the people from years ago.

Does alot of people who have paid to get a DNA test- not have any results because no one with thier DNA type got tested.

thank you

Comment Number:
3
Written by:
Wendy Jessen, Ancestry.com
Posted on:
January 23, 2009 at 10:55 am

J.Gavins, the great benefit with maternal DNA testing is really in the anthropological insight it provides (ancient ancestry). Genealogically, it is not as helpful as YDNA with potential matches yielding a possible common ancestor which you may be able to idetify. With regards to the genealogical component of mtDNA results, it is best used to eliminate possible hypotheses. Your results are automatically compared to new results as they enter the database and we notify you of matches. In addition to Ancestry.com DNA, we also provide a quick look up of the SMGF.org database directly from your login account on your results page. While some users do find useful matches immediately, for others it takes time–time for the database to grow and time for personal research to take place from which appropriate hypotheses can be formulated. Resources on the internet such as ISOGG or Wikipedia are good places to visit.

Comment Number:
4
Written by:
Wendy Jessen, Ancestry.com
Posted on:
January 23, 2009 at 11:12 am

Ginny, the DNA of people in the past is represented by people living today. We each carry a “piece” of our ancestors through our DNA; so your husband’s DNA sample will be representative of his father’s father’s father’s lineage. More information can be found here . Note, there are some limitations of what can be determined from our DNA tests, based on the limitations of the science supporting the interpretation, so if you have questions, please feel free to contact dna@ancestry.com with your individual genealogical scenario.

All people who are tested will receive a result indicating their personal “signature.” Some people who are tested also receive immediate indication of “matches” or people with whom they share a common DNA signature; others, however, receive matches as the database grows–either way, we will notify you when a match is discovered. More on what you receive when tested can be found here .

Comment Number:
5
Written by:
Judy Florian
Posted on:
January 24, 2009 at 7:50 am

I have a question and suggestion for the DNA area.

The only 2 positively identified Baker men in my direct line died in 1815 (father) and 1816 (son); the daughter in the line died 1822.

I am unfortunate that I cannot find the correct line of Baker either backward or forward. The daughter Baker married Lane; I have Lane from 1780 to present.

My question / suggestion is to have a section in the DNA area on Ancestry where people like me could list the little bit we do know of a line and to request that if someone in a surname DNA group recognizes our stragglers, to please make contact. So maybe someone who did Baker testing might realize my Joseph Baker or my Phillip Baker belongs with that group based on locality or other clues.

It’s frustrating to have no male or female living person to test.

Would ANY info be gleaned if I, only, get tested? Both parents deceased; all aunts & uncles deceased.

My idea of being able to post within the DNA area is the only idea I can think of to try to connect with those who’ve done the DNA ~and~ presumably have done research for ancestors/locality.

Judy

Comment Number:
6
Written by:
Rick Gann
Posted on:
January 24, 2009 at 9:49 am

How can we participate if we have already been tested and have our results?

Comment Number:
7
Written by:
Bill Parr
Posted on:
January 24, 2009 at 10:08 am

My Y-chromosome DNA matches with five others, including a sixth cousin. Our MCRA was born in 1692. I have over 1,000 Parrs in my FTM and over 20,000 persons in my database. Very important — There are several other DNA databases to include your results. You can also monitor DNA for other surnames to build your family tree. There is a lot to understand. I’ve been a researcher for 35 years, and DNA is the most significant development in genealogy, ever. We need more testers who are willing to learn and understand the results.

Comment Number:
8
Written by:
DANA PORRARO
Posted on:
January 24, 2009 at 2:11 pm

DOES DNA FROM A FEMALE YIELD THE SAME INFORMATION AS FROM A MALE?

Comment Number:
9
Written by:
Betsy
Posted on:
January 25, 2009 at 1:00 am

Can you tell us how many markers are included in the $79 DNA test you just announced?

Comment Number:
10
Written by:
Wendy Jessen, Ancestry.com
Posted on:
January 25, 2009 at 10:45 am

Judy, I feel your pain. I also have a line that has “daughtered out” which has many questions on which I would like to utilize DNA testing, but can not at this time. Being tested yourself would not yield any information about your desired Baker line, but would provide ancient ancestral insight along your direct maternal line.

For collaborative assistance, you may want to try sending a join request to a Baker Group. You could join as a guest and communicate with the administrator of your interest.

Comment Number:
11
Written by:
Wendy Jessen, Ancestry.com
Posted on:
January 25, 2009 at 10:49 am

Rick, to Transfer DNA Results from another Lab, click on the link on the home page on the right hand side beneath the image.

Comment Number:
12
Written by:
Wendy Jessen, Ancestry.com
Posted on:
January 25, 2009 at 11:05 am

Dana, traditionally the most popular form of DNA testing uses the Y chromosome which only males have. As a female, you can get a male relative (father, brother, uncle, male cousin for example) to represent your paternal line. Genetic Genealogy testing which females personally participate in, in the majority of cases, involves the mtDNA which both males and females have. This form of testing is best for revealing ancient ancestry or disproving maternal lineage questions. There are a series of general DNA questions and answers available on our website. You can start here.

Comment Number:
13
Written by:
Wendy Jessen, Ancestry.com
Posted on:
January 25, 2009 at 11:23 am

Betsy, the Y33 DNA test is $79. A full listing of the markers can be found here.

Comment Number:
14
Written by:
alexandria
Posted on:
January 25, 2009 at 3:52 pm

I was wondering if the dna test is actually guaranteed to show you lost members of your family from thousands of years ago?

Comment Number:
15
Written by:
Crystal
Posted on:
January 25, 2009 at 9:39 pm

I was very happy with the speed of the turnaround on my test.

The only thing that I am curious about is attaching the results to someone in an already established tree. It seems to be difficult, if not impossible to merge the results into an existing tree.

Any suggestions?

Comment Number:
16
Written by:
Charlotte Reiter
Posted on:
January 26, 2009 at 7:41 am

Have you thought about sharing the DNA info with the National Geographic Genographic Project? I have done the Project(maternal) I found out that some of my ancesters were came from France.I found my Grandmothers birth family through Ancestry and that new cousin told me we have ancesters that came from France.I would not have found these new cousins if it hadn”t been for an email I sent through Ancestry. Charlotte

Comment Number:
17
Written by:
Wendy Jessen, Ancestry.com
Posted on:
January 27, 2009 at 12:43 am

Alexandria, DNA testing does not reveal specific ancestor names. The results are a compilation of values representing your “signature.” It is trough a comparison of your signature with others and the marriage of tranditional genealogical research that you can determine IF you and another person share a common ancestor and if so, where you could target your research efforts in order to obtain clues as to whom that ancestor may be.

Comment Number:
18
Written by:
Nancy McMullen
Posted on:
January 27, 2009 at 2:50 pm

I had my son, Michael’s DNA tested through Ancestry.com. The account shows his results are available and I can pull up the map where he lives and that is about it. The results have been available since Jan 21, do I need to wait a while longer for the results? Are they mailed to him through snail mail? I used my account with Ancestry.com, do they come to me through snail mail? I have read all the questions and answer pages and looked at the examples but am unable to find any link to what you show we will get when we have the DNA test done. There are a number of McMullen families that came to the United States at various times and we are trying to sort out the relationships.
Thank you

Comment Number:
19
Written by:
Wendy Jessen, Ancestry.com
Posted on:
January 27, 2009 at 6:15 pm

Crystal, thank you for your comment. Recently, we were experiencing some technical difficulties with the tree propagation functionality, but you should still have been able to attach the results to your tree.

Make sure that you are either an editor or owner of the tree to which you are trying to attach results. If you are already in this role and still having difficulty, please contact dna@ancestry.com with more details of your individual situation. They can assist you and will be happy to make a record of your suggestions to make the process better.

Comment Number:
20
Written by:
John McCartney
Posted on:
January 27, 2009 at 9:53 pm

Wendy,
I recently did the Y46 test at Ancestry. I’ve also plugged my numbers in at Ysearch and Ybase.
These sites apparently use the FTDNA reporting standard. Are recent Ancestry results fully compatible with the FTDNA standard or is some conversion necessary?
It appears for example that my value of 15.3 at DYS464c needs to be rounded up to 16 for these sites.
The FAQs on the above sites are a bit confusing. One seems to indicate that several other values need to be changed.
Thank you,
John

Comment Number:
21
Written by:
Wendy Jessen, Ancestry.com
Posted on:
January 27, 2009 at 11:52 pm

Nancy, presently, results must be attached to the DNA provider’s account. If he/she does not have one, an account is created for them. The new account login is sent via email. In the case of user A purchasing for user B, user A would receive the email with the login. Sometimes this email has been routed to a spam or junk folder.

In any event, please contact dna@ancestry.com with your user name under which the purchase was made and they will provide you with the login information to access the results (click here to see an example of what your results will be.)

Comment Number:
22
Written by:
Phillip Crow
Posted on:
January 28, 2009 at 7:30 am

With Ancestry’s 33 and 46 marker Y DNA tests, how many of Ancestry’s test markers are the same test markers tested by Family Tree DNA’s 37 and 67 marker Y DNA tests?

Comment Number:
23
Written by:
Cliff
Posted on:
January 28, 2009 at 2:43 pm

That is pretty cool that they have lowered the price Wendy , i am thinking of having the test done myself

Comment Number:
24
Written by:
Dick Shaefer
Posted on:
January 28, 2009 at 6:46 pm

When matches are posted are those matches only for the same test as the individual or does it include all individuals whether they had the 33 or 44 marker test? Thank you

Comment Number:
25
Written by:
SJ Dimond
Posted on:
January 29, 2009 at 12:41 pm

Your advertising states “Ancient Ancestry and Genetic Genealogy DNA testing for only $79″

Does this mean you are now *actually testing* Ancient Ancestry SNPs? Or are you still guessing as my results show?

Comment Number:
26
Written by:
Wendy Jessen, Ancestry.com
Posted on:
January 29, 2009 at 3:23 pm

John and Phillip, SMGF has a good conversion list with all of the markers and the various companies, and how to adjust between them. It can be found here.

Comment Number:
27
Written by:
Wendy Jessen, Ancestry.com
Posted on:
January 29, 2009 at 3:32 pm

Our Ancient Ancestry haplogroups are derived using a haplogroup predictor containing SNP data. It is routinely updated with new, revised and additional data and industry nomenclature designations.

Comment Number:
28
Written by:
Wendy Jessen, Ancestry.com
Posted on:
January 30, 2009 at 10:23 pm

Dick, the matching algorithm will consider all like data sets, so even if there was a manually entered 12 marker test result each of which matched your similar markers, then you would see a 12/12 match with that user.

Comment Number:
29
Written by:
sam
Posted on:
January 31, 2009 at 11:35 am

The mtDNA test was a waste if money. It does not tell me anything. I strongly recomend that it not be perchased. I all so got the yDna for a friend, same results, nothing of use. The Cherokee by blood website recomend this test. The results did not tell him anything about Native American heritage.

Comment Number:
30
Written by:
Wendy Jessen, Ancestry.com
Posted on:
February 2, 2009 at 11:19 am

Sam, I’m sorry your expectation was not met. Neither the haplogroup prediction nor your DNA test result will reveal ethnicity nor the precise tribe from which you may descend. An FAQ about this topic is available on the site here. Should anyone ever have any questions about what our tests may provide, our client services team is well educated and happy to answer these prior to your test purchase.

Comment Number:
31
Written by:
Genetic Testing
Posted on:
February 4, 2009 at 8:03 am

[...] Ancestry.com Blog – Ancient Ancestry and Genetic Genealogy DNA At last, a low cost DNA testing option that not only provides for a discovery of your deep ancestry and genetic lineage, but also includes a significant number of markers to deliver a valuable service. [...]

Comment Number:
32
Written by:
Eduardo Lobo Cabral de Mello
Posted on:
February 7, 2009 at 6:18 am

Say I order a Y33 test. I send back the swab and get the results. Then I decide to do the Y46 test, for more information. Is there an “upgrade” option, or would I have to pay the full price for the Y46? Also, would I have to send in another swab, or would you be able to complement the test (from 33 to 46) from the earlier swab?

Comment Number:
33
Written by:
Wendy Jessen, Ancestry.com
Posted on:
February 9, 2009 at 12:33 pm

Eduardo, the process you just described for upgrading from a 33 to 46 marker test is being constructed. It has not yet been implemented into the website. Once it does, you will be able to simply upgrade the additional markers at a price less than the original 46 and given that there was a clean sample provided initially on the Y33, you should not need to send in a new swab. Please keep visiting http://www.dna.ancestry.com for new updates.

Comment Number:
34
Written by:
Mike
Posted on:
February 13, 2009 at 6:03 pm

What is the difference between the Y33 and 46 test and what additional information do you receive?

Comment Number:
35
Written by:
Wendy Jessen, Ancestry.com
Posted on:
February 14, 2009 at 1:52 pm

Mike, the Y 46 provides an additional 13 markers over the Y33 thus providing a more precise comparison (tighter MRCA) with other participants who also have the advanced test.