WHITNEY-L Archives

Archiver > WHITNEY > 2004-03 > 1078625106


From: "Elaine Haberkamp" <>
Subject: RE: [WHITNEY-L] Re: Free DNA Test for Genealogy
Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2004 21:05:30 -0500


Very interesting. Thanks, Margaret, from another "senior citizen."

My daughter is a Genetic Counselor, working in a pre-natal clinic with
women at risk, either because of family history or age, of having a problem
pregnancy or a child with an inherited disease. This kind of research is so
very important.

Elaine Haberkamp



> [Original Message]
> From: <>
> To: <>
> Date: 3/6/2004 1:16:00 PM
> Subject: [WHITNEY-L] Re: Free DNA Test for Genealogy
>
>
>
> Laurie,
>
> I'm not sure what free DNA test you were referring to, but I can tell you
> about the free DNA testing done by BYU (Brigham Young University) which I
> participated in in 2001.
>
> In this test each participant had to provide a four generation ahnentafel
in
> order to participate. The university had received a multimillion dollar
> private grant to collect the DNA information. We each signed a release and
> specified the extent to which the information could be used and for what
> purposes. As I'm a "senior" citizen, I said they could do anything they
> wanted. [For our Salt Lake Institute Group they drew blood and planned to
> freeze some for future studies, but now they are just collecting swabs of
> cheek cells]. For women the database is the MTDNA mitro-condinal DNA
passed
> from mother to daughter; and for men the "Y" DNA passed from father to
son.
>
>
> As you can expect it is much more difficult to trace the MTDNA because the
> maiden surnames of wives are so often unrecorded. Thomas Roderick was one
> of the earliest collectors of DNA for genealogical purposes. He has
written
> many articles--some published in the National Genealogical Society
> Quarterly which discuss his findings. He has also made tapes of the
> lectures he has given at NGS and other conferences which are available.
>
> Why participate if you don't receive any information? By doing so you may
> contribute to finding causes or cures of inherited disease thus possibly
> preventing birth defects for future generations etc.
>
> Margaret Swanson


This thread: