It appears that currently I can only join the Devon DNA Project if I get tested by FTDNA. However, I've just ordered a test kit from Living DNA, which provides more detailed geographic estimates, particularly for those with British ancestry (similar to the'People of the British Isles' study that was released in 2015). Their test also includes Y-chromosome, X-chromosome and mitochondrial testing, in addition to the autosomal DNA. Is it possible that the Devon DNA Project might accept test results from Living DNA at some point in the forseeable (sp?) future? I'd very much like to participate in the project, as I've been able to document my direct male line ancestry back to my 9xgreat-grandfather, who died in Cornworthy in 1580 (I have some evidence of who his father was, but it's difficult to be certain as the parish registers only survive from the early 1560s onwards). Thanks!
Re: Living DNA testing
Posted by Debbie Kennett on 5/5/2017, 14:16:21, in reply to "Living DNA testing"
Tim
I'm afraid at the moment Living DNA results can't be transferred to the Family Tree DNA database because there are too many differences in the SNPs on the two different chips. It's possible that if FTDNA adopt a new chip in the future they might be able to accept Living DNA results but that is not likely to happen any time soon.
If you're interested in exploring your direct male line with DNA testing then ideally you should order a Y-STR test from Family Tree DNA. This will put you in the FTDNA matching databases. It is the matches that are the most useful part of a DNA test for genealogy purposes. The Living DNA test only covers SNPs which can be used for deep ancestry to identify a haplogroup but are not relevant for genealogy. Your Y-DNA SNP results from Living DNA could be used to complement Y-STR results from FTDNA. See the ISOGG Wiki page on Y-DNA testing for further information: https://isogg.org/wiki/Y_chromosome_DNA_tests If you do want to order a Y-DNA test through FTDNA you should apply to join the Devon Project as this will give you the project discount.
Thanks very much for your reply Debbie, which I only saw just now. I sent in my test kit last week, so I don't expect to have any results back for another 2 or 3 months. I may order a test from Family Tree DNA at some point in the future, although I'll probably wait until I've seen my Living DNA results first before deciding what to do next.
I had understood that newer SNP tests were approaching the point where they could be useful for genealogy as well as for deep ancestry. I don't know how many SNP locations need to be tested in order for that to be true, or what locations Living DNA actually tests. I didn't know anything about STRs or SNPs until a few weeks ago, so I'm still learning as I go along. Would it at least be possible to see whether my haplogroup/haplotype/subclade (I'm not exactly sure which terms apply) is common or not in Devon?
Just out of curiosity, is the Devon DNA project just based on Y-chromosome testing rather than autosomal DNA? I knew that was true for surname studies, but didn't know if it was the same for regional projects. I'm also not sure if Living DNA's autosomal results are comparable with FTDNA's - it would be a shame if they aren't, since I was hoping to upload my results to GEDMatch. Time will tell, I guess.
As more SNPs are discovered we are finding that they are coming down into a genealogical timeframe but you would really need to do a comprehensive Y-chromosome sequencing test (theBigY test with Family Tree DNA or the Y Elite test with Full Genomes Corporation) for this to apply. However, the difficulty at the moment is that this type of test is still comparatively expensive and there are fewer people in the databases for comparison whereas there is a pre-existing large database of STR results.
The Devon DNA Project's Y-DNA results are publicly displayed so you would be able to compare your haplogroup:
I accept Y-DNA, mtDNA and autosomal DNA in the Devon Project. However, the Living DNA test is not currently compatible with the FTDNA autosomal DNA database as they use a different chip and there aren't enough SNPs in common. The same problem applies to GEDmatch. That might change in the future if FTDNA convert to this new chip. The Illumina chips are being retired so eventually all companies will have to move to the GSA chip used by Living DNA.
You'll find that many surname projects do also accept autosomal DNA results.
It's been some time since I last looked at this forum and I thought I'd update my information just in case you or anyone else might be interested.
According to my Living DNA results, my Y-haplogroup is R-Z284, which is apparently a branch of the R1a line. Interestingly, this doesn't seem to match anyone on the Devon DNA results page, although I'm not always sure if/when one haplogroup is actually a downstream offshoot of another (the nomenclature can be quite confusing for a neophyte). But assuming that I'm correct - i.e., that there isn't a match at that level - would there be any point in taking a Y-STR test at this time, since I won't be close to any of the current testees?
Interestingly, my autosomal results indicated 32.7% Devon ancestry, which is quite a bit higher than I expected. If I had received an equal contribution from all of my 3xgreat-grandparents (not likely, I realize), the Devon component would have only been 18.75%, based on my documented ancestry. On the other hand, my Cornwall component tested at just 7.8%, compared to an 'expected' amount (based on averages) of 25%. Oh well, I suppose it's the surprises that make life interesting.
Thanks for letting me know. Yes it is difficult trying to work out the order of the SNPs.
I've checked the FTDNA tree and here is the SNP progression they give down to Z284:
M198>M417>PF6162>Z283>Z282>Y2395>Z284
M512 is in the same SNP block as M198.
I haven't split the R1a group in the Devon Project into subgroups as there aren't enough people. Some members haven't done any SNP testing at all whereas others have very refined assignments from BigY testing.
Take a look at the ISOGG SNP tree to see the full R tree:
You would need to order a Y-STR test from FTDNA if you want to participate in the projects and get matches in the database. You might like to take advantage of the sale which closes at the end of the year. The R1a project would be able to use your Living DNA SNPs to assign you to a subclade.