Ancestry put out the the following press release this morning. The Chicago Sun-Times picked up on this story and they have an interesting article by Howard Wolinsky on their website.

Integration of DNA, Historical Records and Online Community of 15 Million Users Creates Ultimate Social Network for Family History

PROVO, UTAH – October 16, 2007 – Ancestry.com, the world’s largest online resource for family history, today launched DNA Ancestry – a new service combining the precision of DNA testing with Ancestry.com’s unrivaled collection of 5 billion names in historical records and the site’s unmatched online family history community.

This DNA testing service, online at dna.ancestry.com, provides Ancestry.com’s growing network of more than 15 million users a tool that helps solve family-tree mysteries through science. By taking a simple cheek-swab test and comparing DNA test results in DNA Ancestry’s expanding results database, individuals may be able to extend the branches of their family trees, prove (or disprove) family legends, discover living relatives they never knew existed and find new leads where traditional paper trails dead end.

“DNA testing in family history is reaching critical mass,” said Megan Smolenyak, Chief Family Historian for Ancestry.com and co-author of the no. 1 selling book on genetic genealogy, Tracing Your Roots with DNA. “As more people add their results, the DNA Ancestry database becomes a powerful asset for users to make connections and discover their family tree. Already, many people have taken a simple DNA test to uncover genetic cousins and tap into their research, gathering names, dates, places and stories for their own family tree.”

DNA Ancestry offers Y-DNA and mtDNA tests – the two types of DNA tests most useful in family history, ranging in price from $149 to $199. The Y-DNA test analyzes the DNA in the Y chromosome, which is passed virtually unchanged from father to son. Test results can help users identify living individuals who share Y-DNA as well as predict ancient ancestors’ origins. Women can benefit from Y-DNA by having their father or other related male take the test. The mtDNA test analyzes DNA in an individual’s mitochondrial DNA, which passes from a mother to her children. Test results predict ancient ancestors’ origins and migration route from Africa and can aid in identifying living cousins.

In the coming months, DNA results will integrate with online Ancestry.com family trees. Users DNA results can be added to their family trees, which already contain uploaded family photographs, stories and other media files, historical documents found on Ancestry.com and life timelines of their ancestors. Adding DNA results to a family tree multiplies a user’s chances to find and make connections with genetic cousins – and extend their family tree’s branches.

By year’s end, DNA Ancestry users will be able to create and join DNA Groups – organized social networks that let users work together to discover genetic connections. For example, people with the last name “Washington” could use their DNA tests results to determine how they are all related.

“Ultimately, we are combining three major pillars of family history research – DNA, historical records and social networking – to offer users an unmatched, revolutionary family history resource,” said Tim Sullivan, CEO of The Generations Network, parent company of Ancestry.com. “DNA can be a powerful family-tree building catalyst, regardless of whether you are just beginning to find your roots or a seasoned genealogist experiencing research barriers.”

DNA Ancestry uses the state-of-the-art DNA laboratories of Sorenson Genomics, the world’s first laboratory accredited for genealogy testing services, to analyze users’ DNA samples. A pioneer in the relatively new science of genetic genealogy, Sorenson Genomics has provided genetic testing solutions to help genealogists extend branches of family trees since 2001.

You can download the DNA Ancestry media kit here.  

About Ancestry.com
With 24,000 searchable databases and titles and more than 800,000 paying subscribers, Ancestry.com is the No. 1 online source for family history information. Since its launch in 1997, Ancestry.com has been the premier resource for family history, simplifying genealogical research for millions of people by providing them with many easy-to-use tools and resources to build their own unique family trees. The site is home to the only complete online U.S. Federal Census collection, 1790-1930, as well as the world’s largest online collection of U.S. ship passenger list records featuring more than 100 million names, 1820-1960. Ancestry.com is part of The Generations Network, Inc., a leading network of family-focused interactive properties, including MyFamily.com, Rootsweb.com, Genealogy.com and Family Tree Maker. In total, The Generations Network properties receive 8.2 million unique visitors worldwide and over 429 million page views a month (© comScore Media Metrix, August 2007).