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Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2007-10 > 1193254422


From: "Dora Smith" <>
Subject: Re: [DNA] About Genebase and Ancestry.com - I got 'em :)
Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:33:42 -0500
References: <102420071845.19695.471F92C500009FD600004CEF2216538496CE050C0E9D080C9C0D@comcast.net>


Prepare to be amused. Umm hmmm.

Actually, I just got off the phone with Sorenson Development, which is who I
got when I dialed the number on my SMGF consent form; 801-461-9700. I
actually got the information while trying to learn how to directly call "the
SMGF group". Like, ... , you AREN'T SMGF?

The receptionist told me that I reached Sorenson Development, which owns all
the groups, including both Sorenson Genomics, and Sorenson Molecular
Genealogy Foundation.

The Sorenson Genomic web site does tell us that Sorenson Genomics is under
Sorenson development, and Mr. Sorenson (rest of name escapes me) is the
chief executive of both.

I didn't learn the status of my sample, however; the people in SMGF over at
another facility are not in at the moment. I had already tried the number
for Ulgo Peregino who is in charge of the project.

Yup, they have safeguards in place between their different units, but since
they all are actually owned together how good can those be, and anyhow, I
wouldn't count on it to be eternal any more than what goes on at Ancestry.

Not I'm paranoid; I've shared my information with them, and my genealogical
information with the Family History Center (which the SMGF databases are
tied into, and their both run by Mormons with the same goal of connecting
family members). I just like to know who is who. If there were a
problem, it would spread along its network, just teh way problems at
Ancestry do.

Yours,
Dora Smith
Austin, TX


----- Original Message -----
From: "Bonnie Schrack" <>
To: <>
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 1:45 PM
Subject: Re: [DNA] About Genebase and Ancestry.com


> Please don't be confused by the postings that have been posted by confused
> people. Here is a brief guide to some entities that have been mentioned:
>
> Sorenson Genomics: a private LAB which is contracted by many companies to
> do the actual testing for them. They are well-respected in the field, I
> believe. There is nothing disreputable about hiring them to do testing.
>
> Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation: a *non-profit* organization which
> operates separately from Sorenson Genomics. Both of these were founded by
> Mr. Sorenson, but that does not mean that either of them runs or is owned
> by the other. SMGF has the goal of helping people all over the world find
> their common ancestry as a way of unifying the human family, etc.
>
> Relative Genetics -- a company which formerly offered DNA testing and a
> full range of genetic genealogy services. They had the Sorenson Genomics
> lab doing their testing. They have now been absorbed by Ancestry.com, a
> superpower in the genealogy field.
>
> GeneTree -- a company which formerly focused on offering paternity and
> identity testing, which has now partnered with SMGF to allow people to
> find their matches in the SMGF database and with one another, and
> (eventually, we hope) make contact with their matches. It has social
> networking features. They also use the Sorenson Genomics lab for those
> who order tests.
>
> All of these companies are in some ways connected, that is, they're
> friendly with eachother, but that does not mean that there are no legal
> boundaries or protections that apply to their operations -- on the
> contrary. If you think about it, most large companies are interconnected
> with other related companies, but we don't usually give this a second
> thought. Maybe we should, but I feel like there's a little too much
> paranoia surrounding the Sorenson companies. I really haven't seen them
> do anything unethical.
>
> Well, enough for now, I have other work to do --
>
> Bonnie
>
>



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