Answers to The 20 Most Commonly Asked Questions
Q.) How does DNA testing help genealogical research?
A.) The
YDNA testing (which is primarily what this project uses) pulls
a series of markers from the DNA pattern in the Y-chromosome.
Y you ask? The Y-chromosome is passed from father to son only
and remains nearly unchanged over the course of hundreds of years.
This means that the Y-chromosome I carry matches almost exactly
with that of my 9th-great-grandfather. This helps identify (or
connect) various "possible" cousins together, by indicating
a common ancestry.
Here is a real-life example from my own testing. My 5th-great-grandfather (George Williams) had a brother (Reuben Williams) as indicated in their fathers will (Richard Williams). However, shortly after 1800, Reuben simply fell off the planet and for many years was lost to me. Then, a few months ago, I was contacted by a researcher who was trying to prove that her Reuben Williams ancestor was the same that I was looking for. The documentation was mostly there (indicating his migration to Georga) with the criticl thread of connection between Reuben and Richard missing. So, we tracked down a direct male Williams descendant of Reuben and had him tested. When the results came back, we matched...we both had the same Y-Chromosome, which is only possible if we had the same ancestor. While the testing cannot tell us that Reuben was the son of Richard, it does bridge the documentation gap.
This also works the opposite way, by disproving lineages. The above example also helped to show that a long held and published lineage was indeed incorrect. Another brother of George and Reuben was Richard Jr., and for many years, a large group of Williams established that our ancestry was the same, their connection being via Richard Jr. However, when we had a descendant tested, the results were not even a close match, meaning that there is no way our two branches descend from the same ancestor. While some may think this is bad news, in reality it is good news. I helps narrow down one lineage that isn't the right family and helps refocus wayward research.
Q.) Who can participate?
A.) Actually, anyone can participate in the project. The question is really a matter of who can take the test. Because the y-chromosome is handed down, only from father to son, only direct male Williams descendants can take the YDNA test. However, anyone can take the mtDNA test, since both men and women inherit mitochondrial information from the mother.
Does this mean that women cannot participate in the YDNA project? The answer is NO! It is more challenging for women to participate in the YDNA test, but nowhere near impossible. Quite simple, the woman will need to find a donor male to take the test for them. This can be the father, brother, uncle, cousin, etc. just as long as they are a male Williams descended from the lineage she is interested in. They will all have the same y-chrom.
Q.) How is the test done...do I need to give some blood or hair?
A.) Your genetic test kit consists of a cheek scraper and a collection tube. In about five minutes, you will be able to read the instructions and perform a painless cheek scraping. The effect of using the scraper is about the same as brushing your cheek with a soft bristle toothbrush. A backup scraper & tube is included to insure that a good sample is obtained by the lab. Make sure you complete both kits!
Q.) Why and when would I want to get involved in the DNA testing?
A.) Genealogical DNA testing was created for the serious amateurs and the professional genealogists who wish to extend their family trees by confirming a link where no conventional source records exist. In some cases testing can also be used to determine if a person is part of a larger group of people: for example, Jews will be able to confirm they are of Cohanim lineage. The tests are also perfect for individuals who want to perform Surname-based family tree reconstruction projects. This works in conjunction with your existing genealogical research and the tests help you fill in the gaps where no records exist.
There isn't really any "timeframe" so to speak, that would be ideal for someone to begin participating. And, based on current testing, there is no trend showing that people at brick walls are testing more than those who are simply trying to prove what they already believe to be true.
Q.) What are the basic costs?
A.) The
costs for the various tests are pretty straight forward. Since
we have established a group project with Family Tree DNA, we have
been given the discounted group rates for the test kits. The mtDNA tests are $89 for the low resolution pass and $159 for the high resolution test.
For the YDNA tests, the following prices apply (note: these prices include the application of our group discount). Keep in mind that you can begin with either the 12 or 25 marker test and later upgrade to the 37 or 67 marker level test if you'd like.
- The 12-marker kit
costs $99
- The 25-marker kit costs $148
- The 37-marker kit costs $189
- The 67-marker kit costs $269
- The 12-25
marker upgrade is an additional $49
- The 12-37-marker upgrade is an additional $99
- The 12-67-marker upgrade is an additional $189
- The 25-37-marker upgrade is an additional $49
- The 37-67-marker upgrade is an additional $148
Q.) Which DNA test should I have done?
A.) In nearly all cases, I suggest that (when possible) folks begin with the 25-marker test. There are a number of reasons for this. First, because of the commonality of the Williams surname (currently the 3rd most common in the US), we tend to see a lot of false positives with the 12-marker test. Whenever we have a participant get a unexpected 12/12 match with another tester, the next step is to upgrade to the 25-marker test to confirm the match. If you have to upgrade from the 12 to 25-marker test, you will have to wait an additional 4-6 weeks for the those results, whereas when you perform the 25-marker initially, the 25 marker results are returned within the same week that the 12-marker results are delivered..
Q.) Can my information/identity be compromised and misused? Will the goverment get my information?
A.) It is important to note that Family Tree DNA adopts a "double safety net" in regard to your sample: Arizona Research Labs at the campus of the University of Arizona keeps the DNA associated to a number and not a name, while Family Tree DNA offices keep the database with no access to the actual sample.
The Williams DNA Project website does not post any usable personal information. The testers name, kit number and test results are all that is published in the results table. In a nutshell, there is no reasonable way for a criminal or the government to figure out which James Williams you are, out of the probably 250,000 living in the US alone. Your test results are, in their true form, nothing but a set of numbers and only have value when used in genealogy, by comparing your numbers with other testers to see if you have the same values. Participants are requested to provide pedigree information but information on any living individuals is removed to protect their privacy.
Q.) What happens to my sample once the testing is complete?
A.) The DNA extracted from your sample is kept by the lab for a period of 25 years for your exclusive use. This way, if you ever need to upgrade, you won't need to submit a new sample...the lab will simply extract the material they need to test from the samply you have already provided.
Q.) Will the test show any genetic medical defects?
A.) No. We won't know if you show positive for a disease, as we are only testing your DNA to look at small handful of specific markers on the Y Chromosome which do not provide any kind of medical information.
Q.) What is the difference between YDNA and mtDNA?
A.) Y-Chromosome DNA is passed down from the father (not the mother) along the male line and all the male children will then pass it down to all his male children and so on. Because the yDNA is passed down from the father along the male line, yDNA testing can allow you to uncover the male line of your family tree.
Mitochondrial DNA is passed down from the mother (not the father) to all of her children. Her female children will then pass it down to all of her children, and so on. Because the mitochondrial DNA is passed down from the mother along the female line, mitochondrial DNA testing can allow you to uncover the female line of your family tree. Please be aware maternal lines are harder to track since their surnames change with their marriages, you would need a documented/proven maternal trail for this test to be worth much beyond the Haplogroup identification. We certainly hope the mtDNA tests improve gaining us more information over the next few years.
Q.) Will my results show whether or not I have Native American ancestry?
A.) The Haplogroup results of your test will indicate which section of the world your DNA pattern migrated from. This includes Native American ancestry. In short, yes and no. You haplogroup will indicate whether or not you have Native American ancestry in your paternal Williams ancestry only. It will not indicate ancestry in any of your other ancestral lines. For more information on Haplogroups, be sure to check the information on the Forums.
Q.) Can I use the testing to help determine paternity?
A. The Williams DNA Project testing attempts to determine if 2 people thought to be unrelated actually had a common ancestor as well as help prove a circumstantial shared ancestry that cannot be proved due to a gap in records. Overall, the project's specific purpose is to help recreate lost family links. Our test is for genealogy NOT for paternity, alimony or other legal purposes.
Q.) What does it mean when I 'match' a tester of a different surname?
A.) This can actually mean two possible things, both dependant on which level of test the match occurs on. If the match is on a 12-marker test, then we usually ignore the matche. Over the last couple of years, we have been able to determine that becuase of the commonality of the Williams name, off-surname 12-marker matches are nearly always false positives.
However, if the match, occurs on either the 25 or 37-marker tests (especially 24/25, 25/25, 36/37 and 37/37 marker matches), we need to investigate this closely. We have seen this a couple of times in the project and it usually means that there has been some type of non-paternal event which has occured somewhere in the ancestry. This "event" could be a number of things ranging from adoption to marital infidelity and always merits more research.
Q.) Will the testing tell me what country my ancestors are from?
A.) No. Although Haplogroup portion of yourtest will indicate which part of the world your DNA type migrated from, there is no way for it to indicate which specific country your ancestors are from.
Q.) I am researching a family with many distinct branches. How many people from each branch should I use?
A.) This is an important and very practical question that speaks to the heart of genealogical testing and research. The chance that a match does not exist due to infidelity or unreported adoptions occurs 2%-5% of the time per generation. For families trying to do family reconstruction, it is prudent to test 2 different known male cousins from each different branch. In cases of unexpected results, FTDNA will retest at no charge to confirm that a lab error is not an issue. In case that a retest is done and the resutls are confirmed, a $50 charge will be applied.
Q.) I see some women's names in the YDNA results table; I thought only males could test with the YDNA?
A.) Yes on both counts. Only males can take the YDNA test. The women indicated in the results table are the researchers who recruited a family male to take the test for them. Usually, in this kind of scenario, the tester has no interest in genealogy and doesn't want to be including in the information. Other times, the tester wants to remain anonymouse. In these cases, I indicate the researcher instead of the tester.
Q.) Will I have the right to remove my genetic profile from the database at some later time?
A.) Yes. Just like an email list, if you decide that you want your data deleted from the database and the website, you may email your request (including your kit number) to FTDNA and Adrian asking that it be deleted from the database and website.
Q.) How long does it take for the results to come back?
A.) From the time you return the two specimens to FTDNA, it will take approximately seven weeks to test your DNA sample, analyze the specimens and compare the results to data in the existing genetic library.
Q.) How do I pay for a kit that needs to be sent to someone else?
A.) This is usually (though not always) the case when a researcher recruits a male Williams to take the test for them. The researcher pays for the kit, but the kit needs to go to recruitee. By far, the easiest way to handle this is to pay for the kit with a credit/debit card. Simply complete the form to order the kit (be sure to use the testers name and not your own), including the testers mailing information. If they want to be kept in the communication loop of the results, place their email address in the form and be sure to include your own in the additional address field. Finally, select which kit you want send and select the credit card method of payment. Follow the instruction and pay for the kit online. The kit will be sent to the address you indicated in the form. If you don't have a credit/debit card, you will need to select the "invoice" method of payment and work it out the best way to get the money for the test to your recruitee.
Q.) Do I really need to sign the release form?
A.) Yes, it is imperative that you complete and sign the relase form. It is the only way that your results will be compared with all the tests in the pool (over 50,000) AND will allow FTDNA to share your results and contact email address with other testers you match.
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Frequently Asked Questions