Answers to The 20 Most Commonly Asked DNA Questions

Q.) How does DNA testing help genealogical research?
A.) The YDNA testing (which is primarily what our project uses) pulls a series of markers from the DNA pattern in the y-chromosome. 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 a man carries matches almost exactly, for example, with that of his 9th-great-grandfather. This helps identify (or connect) various "possible" cousins together, by indicating a common ancestry.

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 Reynolds 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 simply, 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 Reynolds descended from the lineage in which she is interested. They will all have the same y-chromosome.

Q.) How is the test done? Do I need to give some blood or hair?
A.) Your genetic test kit consists of two cheek scrapers and two collection tubes. 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 and tube is included to insure that a good sample is obtained by the lab. Make sure you complete both samples!

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 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. Generally speaking, the more markers tested or the more complex a test, the higher the price. Since we have established a group project with Family Tree DNA (FTDNA), we have been given the opportunity of offering a 25 marker test. (The 25 marker test is not offered outside of group projects). Also, as a group project, we are afforded discounted group rates for the test kits at costs less than normally offered.

     For the yDNA tests, the following are representative of typical prices for the various kits shown. (Note: These prices are subject to changes in FTDNA's pricing structure and may be discounted by seasonal specials; prices in effect at the time you order your test kit are shown on the application to join/order form for the Reynolds Project).

• 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, we suggest that those who wish to participate in our project begin with the 25-marker test. There are a number of reasons for this. First, because of the commonality of ancient descent in some surnames, 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 sually returned within the same week in which 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 has adopted 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 Reynolds DNA Project website does not post any usable personal information. The participant's name, kit number and test results are all that are published in the DNA Results table. In a nutshell, there is no reasonable way for a criminal or the government to figure out which William Reynolds you are out of the thousands of that name who live in the US and other nations. 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 lineage, or 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 will not need to submit a new sample. The lab will simply extract the material they need to test from the sample you have already provided.

Q.) Will the test show any genetic medical defects?
A.) No. We will not know if you show positive for a disease, as we are only testing your DNA to look at a small number of specific markers on the y chromosome. These 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 of teir his male children. 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, or mtDNA, 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 their children. Because the mitochondrial DNA is passed down from the mother along the female line, mtDNA testing can allow you to uncover the female line of your family tree. Please be aware that maternal lines are harder to track since their surnames change in many societies with their marriages, you would need a proven, documented maternal trail for this test to be worth much beyond the Haplogroup identification. We certainly hope that improvements in mtDNA testing are found in futue years, gaining us more detailed information.

Q.) Will my results show whether or not I have Native American ancestry?
A.) The Haplogroup results of your test will indicate from which section of the world your DNA pattern migrated. This includes Native American ancestry. In short, yes and no. Your haplogroup will indicate whether or not you have Native American ancestry in your paternal Reynolds 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 FTDNA web site.

Q.) Can I use the testing to help determine paternity?
A. The Reynolds DNA Project testing attempts to determine if 2 people thought to be unrelated actually had a shared, common ancestor, as well as help prove a suspected circumstantial ancestry that cannot be demonstrateded due to a gap in records. Overall, the project's specific purpose is to help re-establish lost family links. Our testing is for the purpose of genealogy NOT for paternity, alimony or other legal purposes.

Q.) What does it mean when my results 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 match. Over the last couple of years, we have been able to determine that, becuase of the antiquity and various derivative spellings of the Reynolds 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 the Haplogroup portion of your test will indicate generally from which part of the world your DNA type migrated, there is usually no way for it to indicate from which specific country your ancestors might have come.

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 two 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 reuested and the resutls are confirmed, FTDNA will apply an additional charge for this testing.

Q.) I see some women's names in the yDNA results table. I thought only males could participate in yDNA testing?
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 does not want to be included in the information. Other times, the tester wants to remain anonymous. In these cases, we indicate the name of the researcher instead of the name of the person tested.

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 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 usually take approximately four to six 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 (although not always) the case when a researcher recruits a male Reynolds 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 name and address of the person to be tested and not your own. 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 sent and select the credit card method of payment. Follow the instructions and pay for the kit online. The kit will be sent to the address you indicated in the form. If you do not have a credit/debit card, then you will need to select the "invoice" method of payment and work 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 release form. It is the only way that your results will be compared with all the tests in the FTDNA's data bank AND will allow FTDNA to share your results and contact other testers with whom you have a match.