MARSH FAMILIES
DNA PROJECT
John Marsh, Project Administrator, ajmarsh@arrrg.org
1) Information about the DNA Project

Return to Home Page:
DNA test companies being used for this project:
http://www.familytreedna.com
http://www.dnaheritage.com
http://www.ethnoancestry.com/

CONTENTS:

1) THE MARSH FAMILIES DNA STUDY:
2) PROJECT GROUP ADMINISTRATOR:
3) GOALS OF THE MARSH DNA PROJECT:
4) HOW DNA IS USED IN GENEALOGY:
5) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
6) REFERENCE INFORMATION ON DNA:
7) MUTATION RATES FOR INDIVIDUAL Y-DNA MARKERS:

1) THE MARSH FAMILIES DNA STUDY:

All males pass on their Y-Chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) to their sons, mostly unchanged. This means that all males descended on the direct male line from the same ancestor, have identical, or nearly identical Y-DNA. By testing the Y-DNA of Marsh males from around the World, we can find which are related. Sometimes we can also learn about the deep ancestry of the family, perhaps where the family may have originated, hundreds, or even thousands of years ago, and sometimes we get indications of possible early ancestors living hundreds of years ago.

A MARSH FAMILES DNA PROJECT was started on 23 Sept 2003. Males with related surnames of MARCH/ MARIS/ MARRIS/ MARESH/ MARSCH, and variant spellings, are also invited to participate in this project, as these surnames in some cases have common roots to persons using the surname Marsh.

Following is a detailed description of the project, and it's goals, how DNA is used for genealogical purposes, and reference information on DNA. If you are a Marsh interested in participating in the study, or have any questions, please contact the Project Group Administrator, John Marsh, at ajmarsh@arrrg.org . We would welcome participation of any male Marshes.
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2) PROJECT GROUP ADMINISTRATOR:

The Project Group Administrator: John Marsh

E-mail address: ajmarsh@arrrg.org (NOTE: at times e-mail is not always delivered, for a variety of reasons. I normally reply to email within 24 hours, so if you don't get a prompt reply, it is almost certain I never received your email. If that happens, try writing to me, or try e-mailing me again.)
Postal Address: AJ Marsh, 26 Highcrest Heights, Christchurch 8025, NEW ZEALAND.
Marsh Families DNA Web Site: http://marshdna.arrrg.org

The Marsh Families DNA Project is being run on a voluntary, non profit basis, by enthusiastic amateur genealogists, with an interest in contributing something of benefit to the wider community of Marsh genealogists around the World. Apart from John Marsh, there is a group of Marsh genealogist around the World, from different Marsh families, who lend moral support, and help out in various ways. Bill Marsh in Canada, well known for his research on Kent Marshes, was a motivating force behind the formation of this project, and is an active supporter. We would welcome involvement from any other Marsh genealogists, so if you feel you have something to offer the project, in any way, we would be pleased to hear from you.

3) GOALS OF THE MARSH DNA PROJECT, AND GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT:

Project for all male Marshes: The Marsh Families DNA Project is intended for any male with the surname of Marsh, or variant spellings. There is evidence that Maris, Marris, Maresh, Marsch, and March families in some cases have common roots with persons using the surname Marsh, so persons of these surnames are also invited to participate in the project. There are 260 variant spellings recorded for Marsh. (see http://www.imagepartners.co.uk/Thesaurus/Search.aspx ) Sometimes the surnames of variant spelling only relate to Marsh families if they arise in particular contexts. If anybody interested in the project has a surname which they believe is a related variant of Marsh, please contact the Project Administrator. Males "of surname Marsh" who may have obtained the name from adoption, or from a maternal line, are also welcome to participate in the project. Their male line descendants in the future will carry the name of Marsh, and may be interested to use the results of this study to help them trace their roots.

Marsh Y-DNA Database: The goal is to build up a database of Marsh family Y-DNA profiles to assist Marshes world wide to trace their ancestral roots, and also locate possible long lost branches of their families. See http://marshdna.arrrg.org/DNAresults.htm .

Only direct male line male Marshes can be tested- but females can help!: The Y-DNA (Y-Chromosome DNA) tests being done through this project only test a part of DNA which is passed on from fathers to their sons. Females don’t have Y-DNA, so are unable to be tested themselves. However, many females of Marsh descent are interested to learn about their ancestral Marsh Y-DNA. It may be possible for them to find a known direct male line Marsh relative (father, brother, uncle, grandfather, cousin etc) who would agree to be tested on their behalf. We now have quite a number of females of Marsh descend who have managed to drag a male relative into the project, (kicking and screaming ... or even willingly). Many thanks to these wonderful "Lady Marshes" for their support, and contributing such a lot to the success of the project.

DNA Test Companies- Prices for the Marsh Families DNA Project Group: The DNA testing market is becoming more competitive. Several companies are currently being used for Y-DNA tests for this project. Each company offers a different range of test options, testing different numbers of markers. Generally, the more markers tested, the more useful the results, and 25 would be a desirable minimum. However, if cost is an issue, the testing of a smaller number of markers is a good starting point. It is recommended that interested persons contact John Marsh to discuss which options might be appropriate, and which test company might better suit a specific case. Prices from the test companies below may change from time to time. Also, periodically there are discounts or special prices offered by various companies.
1) Family tree DNA: (NOTE: contact John Marsh at http://marshdna.arrrg.org to obtain access codes to obtain the following discounted prices for the Marsh Families DNA Project if testing with FTDNA. FTDNA offer free DNA storage.)
  Option 1: Y-DNA12 male 12 marker paternal test $99 USA (Group price) - STARTER
Option 2: Y-DNA25 male 25 marker paternal test $159 USA (Group price) - GOOD
  Option 3: Y-DNA37 male 37 marker paternal test $189 USA (Group price) - BETTER
  Option 4: Y-DNA67 male 67 marker paternal test $269 USA (Group price) - BEST
2) DNA Heritage: (NOTE: contact John Marsh at http://marshdna.arrrg.org to obtain access codes to use DNA Heritage for tests, and to discuss which specific markers should be selected. The markers set as the default setting are not the markers preferred for the Marsh DNA Project, and these need to be adjusted. DNA Heritage now propose to store DNA for 3 years.)
  Option 5: 25 markers $149.75 USA - GOOD
  Option 6: 43 markers $199 USA - BETTER
3) EthnoAncestry: (NOTE: contact John Marsh at http://marshdna.arrrg.org to obtain details of group orders periodically made to EthnoAncestry, which can significantly reduce the normal prices shown below. EthnoAncestry offer free DNA storage, and they use a high quality test kit which improves the chances of a good stored sample. They also offer DNA extraction and storage as a separate item, which enables DNA to be stored at a reasonable cost for testing in the future. A strength of Ethnoancestry is in their SNP testing, and they test many SNPs which no other test companies test. Some of the STR markers tested by EthnoAncestry are not tested by any other test company, and this makes their service distinctive.)
  Option 7: 27 markers $248 USA - GOOD
  Option 8: 45 markers $348 USA - BETTER
4) OTHER TEST COMPANIES: (NOTE: If someone is thinking of testing with another test company, feel free to contact John Marsh at http://marshdna.arrrg.org to discuss how services compare. If you are new to DNA testing, it might be helpful to discuss the significance of various difference in services offered by different test companies.)
Testing is easy: Different test companies have slightly different test kits, but most involve just rubbing a plastic scraper/ swab on the inside of the mouth. One surname project has a photographic "how to" guide, see... http://davedorsey.com/dna.html
Sponsorship: Some interested male line Marshes have indicated that the cost prevents them from participating, and other Marsh descendants who are not on the direct male line, have indicated they would contribute something towards the cost of tests if a male line Marsh relative was prepared to supply a DNA sample. If you are a Marsh male who would participate if assistance was given with test costs, or if you are a Marsh descendant who is prepared to contribute a donation large or small towards testing your Marsh relatives, please contact the Project Administrator. If anybody is prepared to make a donation towards test costs, this may have any conditions placed on it, eg that it apply to only a specific line of a specific family. The test company Family tree DNA has set up "general funds" for all the surname projects who use their company. They have set up a "Marsh General Fund" to handle donations for DNA testing. Only the Marsh Project Administrator can authorize allocation of the use of the money, and it can only be used for DNA testing. This system works well, and ensures that donations are only used for their intended purpose, DNA testing. To contribute, see www.familytreedna.com/contribution.html, but be sure to record on the form, that the donation is to the "Marsh" fund, as there are separate funds for about 1200 different surnames. I suggest any donors contact me, and advise if the donation is to be restricted for use to descendants of a particular family.
Option for FREE DNA TESTS: For those who find the cost of paying for DNA tests beyond their means, there is an option. Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF) are conducting a DNA genealogical research project, and at the moment are seeking persons to participate in this. They test 37 Y-DNA markers, (or 43 if you count parts of 2 part markers separately). They also test other parts of the DNA including mtDNA. They offer the DNA tests FREE to participants who qualify. Participants are required to be able to supply a 4 generation family tree, ie back to their gt grandparents. They publish the results on a web site, but don't name the participant. It can take 1 to 2 years to get results, but they are hoping to reduce that waiting time. However, they name ancestors of the participant born before1900, and because participants know their own ancestors, they are able to find their own results. See the database at http://smgf.org/page.jspx?name=sorensondatabase . (Information about the SMGF project is at http://www.live-pr.com/en/sorenson-molecular-genealogy-foundation-announces-r1048163003.htm ) Quite a number of the persons tested by paid test through the Marsh Families DNA Project, have also been tested for free in the Sorenson project, as it does give some useful supplementary DNA information to that given by the commercial test companies. To participate in the Sorenson study, see http://smgf.org/page.jspx?name=participate . If anybody wishes to know more about the Sorenson project, please contact John Marsh at ajmarsh@arrrg.org, or they can contact the Sorenson project direct and ask questions about the project. On the SMGF web site they have a Frequently Asked Questions section, see http://smgf.org/faq.html . I would be interested to hear of any Marshes who have been tested, or requested tests through the Sorenson project, as I may be able to help them find and interpret their results. For an article on the founder of the Sorenson project see... http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2007-07-01-sorenson_N.htm .

Results posted on Marsh Families DNA Web Site: When Y-DNA test results are available, each participant will (if they agree) have their results included on the Marsh Families DNA Project web site. Participants will not be identified by name (unless they request to be identified). The results will be identified by an anonymous number selected by the Project Administrator. The results are shown at http://marshdna.arrrg.org/DNAresults.htm .

Earliest known Marsh ancestor of participants: It is expected that participants will provide the Group Administrator with the name of the earliest known Marsh ancestor, and the location which that ancestor was from. This information will be given on the web site, if the participant agrees, in conjunction with the participant’s ID number, and the results. This is an important aspect of the project, as it is through the linking of Y-DNA to specific ancestors, and ancestral territories, that enables us to help each other to further our knowledge of our families.

Privacy: Privacy of participants is a very important consideration. No participant will be named on the Web Site without authority from the participant. The group administrator gives an undertaking to remove from the Marsh Families Web Site any information previously supplied by an individual participant, or test results relating to that participant, if requested to do so by the participant. If any participant has any particular concerns about privacy, these should be able to be accommodated.

Project Administrator to have discretionary authority: The purpose of this project is to enable kinsmen to make contact with each other, and help each other further their knowledge of their families. It is expected that unless directed otherwise by individual participants, the Project Administrator will have authority to discreetly arrange contact between participants whose test results, or other circumstances, indicate possible family connections.

Additional family history and contact information: Participants may offer contact information, and information on their family history or family tree, for inclusion on this web site. The Project Administrator will attempt to incorporate this information in a suitable way. As time allows, separate web pages will be added where links and some family tree information can be added for specific Marsh families. On the page at http://marshdna.arrrg.org/DNAprojects.htm are links to some of these specific Marsh family pages.

An evolving project: The Marsh Families DNA Project is an evolving entity. The Project Administrator is open to any suggestions from participants or others about how the project might be improved.

4) HOW DNA IS USED IN GENEALOGY:

The availability of DNA tests in recent times has offered genealogists some exciting possibilities. In males, part of the DNA, the Y chromosome (Y-DNA), is passed on from fathers to sons (but not to daughters) normally completely unchanged for many generations. This means when a father passes on his surname to his son, he also passes on his Y-DNA, which is like an invisible bar code version of the surname. If a Marsh in USA, and a Marsh in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, England or elsewhere, had a common direct male line ancestor 10 or 20 generations in the past, a DNA test would show that they have identical or very similar Y-DNA.

In genealogical Y-DNA testing, typically 12, 25, 37, 43, 67 or more "markers" are tested on the Y chromosome. However, research is rapidly advancing, and more than 100 markers are now currently commercially available, and before long there will be many more. There are different sorts of markers, eg STR markers, and SNP markers. We test STR markers in the Marsh DNA project, and some interested in their deeper ancestry have also tested SNP markers. It is not necessary to understand how DNA works to use it for genealogy. All you basically need to do, is see if the "marker scores" of one person "match" another person. A close match basically means a closer relationship. But what we are measuring in Y-DNA tests is interesting.

In the DNA molecule, there are component molecules, each known by different letters C, G, T, and A which are jointed together in spiral strings. There are around 60,000,000 letters making up the Y-DNA alone, which is only a small part of each DNA molecule. Mostly, the strings are seemly random collections of letters. However, sometimes parts of these strings are made up of a few letters which are repeated. For example, one of the markers which we test is a STR marker called DYS391. A small part of the DNA around this marker is shown below. The part shown in blue, is STR marker DYS391. Note that this is made up of 11 "repeats" of the 4 letters TCTA. When a father passes his Y-DNA on to his son, the whole 60,000,000 letters of the Y-DNA are copied. However, sometimes when the Y-DNA is copied, a "mutation" occurs, and one part is not copied exactly. Sometimes, in the copying process, when half of the TCTA repeats have been copied, the original DNA strand being copied accidentally gets slid along the copy it is making, and gets out of line by exactly one TCTA repeat segment, and it accidentally copies the TCTA repeats one time too many (or one time too few). ( http://web-books.com/MoBio/Free/Ch7F3.htm ) So in this case, we would count the father's repeats, and say he had 11 repeats of TCTA in DYS391, and his score on that marker is 11. However, if one of his sons had 12 TCTA repeats, his son would have a marker score of 12.

TTCAATCATACACCCATATCTGTCTGTCTG/TCTA/TCTA/TCTA/TCTA/TCTA/
TCTA/TCTA/TCTA/TCTA/TCTA/TCTA/TCTGCCTATCTGCCTGCCTACCTAT
CCCTCTATC

If a father had 6 sons, perhaps 5 of his sons would inherit the DYS391=11 that he had, but one son might inherit 12 in the way that I have described above. All of the other markers might have identical values for all 6 sons. This means in 10 generations time, the chances are that the descendants of the 5 sons with a value of DYS391=11, will still probably have a value of 11, but the descendants of the son with a value of 12 will probably have a value of 12 for that marker. This means that by testing a male’s Y-DNA, and seeing what values he has for the markers, sometimes it is possible to predict where he might be related on a particular family tree, particularly if he has some distinctive markers which only occur in one branch of the family. If we get lucky, sometimes we might be able to say that a person is probably descended from an identified ancestor living hundreds of years ago. In the Marsh project, we have be able to tell a number of participants that they likely descend from particular Marsh pioneers in USA in the 1600s. When we have sufficient participants from different branches of families, we should be able to identify specific branches which Marshes are likely to have come from.

With a Y-DNA test, if two males matched on 25 of 25 markers, it does not "prove" they are closely related, but it does indicate that it is "very likely". We look for corroborating evidence to support matching DNA results, and if the 2 males had the same surname, and traced their ancestors back to the same village, it clearly increases the likelihood of them being relatively closely related. If two males of the same surname matched on only 10 of 25 markers, it would be considered conclusive evidence that the two were not closely related on the direct male line, and their most recent common direct male line ancestor might have been many thousands of years ago. Statisticians have of formulas for estimating probabilities of how many generations back to a Most Recent Common Ancestor ("MRCA"), for different numbers of matches on markers.

The goal of the Marsh Families DNA Project is to test as many Marsh males as possible from as many different families and locations as possible, and build up over time a database of different Marsh family Y-DNA profiles. Ideally for very large Marsh families, 4 or more separate remote branches of the family should be tested, to get a better indication of what the ancestral Y-DNA profile would have been. If only one branch is tested, it could be the only branch that has mutations on it, and it might give a misleading indication of the probable ancestral Y-DNA for that family. As this database builds up, it will become a valuable tool for genealogists, and help Marshes around the World to gain clues to their ancestral origins, and possibly find long lost branches of their families. In the Marsh DNA project so far, we have linked a number of Marshes to their ancestry, confirmed suspected ancestries in some cases, and linked Marshes to their lost lines of cousins.

A secondary goal for participants in this project, would be the chance to learn something of their "deep ancestry". By this I mean indications of the broad tribal origins they stem from in the direct male line, over the past tens of thousands of years. The genetic scientists have developed basically a family tree of mankind, which identifies different "haplogroups", which are related groupings, and this enables us to identify the corner of the big picture that we individually fit into. (see http://isogg.org/tree/ & http://www.familytreedna.com/haplotree.html.) Working from the "haplotree", and distribution patterns of person of similar haplotypes, it is possible to in general terms plot the trail of our ancestors out of Africa, up to the last Ice Age, and sometimes get indications on the ancestral trail over the years since the Ice Age. On the results page at http://marshdna.arrrg.org/DNAresults.htm has been included a tree of all Marsh families identified in the Marsh DNA Project, and shows their approximate deep ancestry linkages, and the migration trails over the millennia.

5) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

The Project Administrator of the Marsh Families DNA Project, is using Y-DNA test results to attempt to trace relationships between various Marsh families around the World, and to trace deep ancestry origins. The Project Administrator is not an "expert" on all aspects of DNA, or Y-DNA, which are rapidly advancing areas of science. For anyone interested in more background information on the parts of DNA typically used in genealogy, it is suggested the "Frequently Asked Questions" sections of DNA Test Company web sites, and other related sites, may be helpful. See the following...
http://www.familytreedna.com/faq.html (Family Tree DNA- FAQs)
http://www.dnaheritage.com/faqs.asp (DNA Heritage- FAQs)
http://www.dna-fingerprint.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=FAQ&file=index (DNA Fingerprint- FAQs)
http://www.le.ac.uk/genetics/maj4/SurnamesFAQ041008.html (Dr Mark Jopling, Leicester University)

Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF) offering free tests in their research project, is investigating Y-DNA and mtDNA as used by most commercial test labs, but they are also looking at additional parts of the DNA to learn about genealogical relationships. For information more specific to SMGF see the following...
http://smgf.org/faq.html (Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation- FAQs)

6) REFERENCE INFORMATION ON DNA:

There is a huge amount of information on the internet about DNA testing in relation to Surname Study Projects, such as this Marsh study. Following I have listed sites with general reference information on various aspects of Y-DNA. I have roughly divided these links up under topic headings.

Participants in the Marsh DNA Project don't need to know about the "technical" side of DNA, but for those who are interested to know how it all works, they can have a look around the following sites. The information may seem bewildering, but once a person has been tested, and knows something about their own DNA, it makes it easier to make sense of the reference material. If you know what your Y-DNA is, you can look for information specifically relating to you own Y-DNA, and you don't have to be confused by volumes of information irrelevant to your own case.

If anybody has been looking through the following sites, and don't understand something, please contact the Project Administrator. He may be able to answer your query, or at least know where to look for an answer.

DNA Task Force Flier/ DNA Articles etc:
http://www.dnalist.net/Flyer/index.html *****
http://www.genealogydna.org/speakerslist (DNA Task Force Speakers List)
http://www.newstimeslive.com/news/story.php?id=1009519 (National Geographic DNA Project)

DNA Web Pages- general explanations about DNA, and giving references to useful DNA links:
http://worldfamilies.net/helpful_tools.htm (DNA helpful tools) ***
http://www.isogg.org/ Internationsal Society of Genetic Genealogists web site
http://www.isogg.org/newsarchives.htm (ISOGG DNA News Archives) *****
http://www.genetealogy.com/articles/html/ (Links to DNA articles on various topics)
http://vetinarilord.blogspot.com/ (DNA articles on various topics- good site)***
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ncscotts/ (Scott DNA site- excellent)******
http://www.contexo.info/DNA_Basics/Meiosis.htm (Basic biology for genetic genealogy)
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/units/basics/index.cfm (DNA basics and beyond)
http://genealogy.about.com/cs/geneticgenealogy/a/dna_tests.htm (Tracing your ancestry through DNA)
http://www.kerchner.com/dna-info.htm (Kercher web page- General DNA reference material)
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~allpoms/genetics.html (Pomery's DNA site)
http://blairgenealogy.com/dna/dna101.html (Blairs DNA 101)*
http://www.familytreedna.com/dna101.html (FTDNA DNA 101)*
http://www.historicalgenetics.com/ (Historical Genetics)
http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/units/basics/tour/
http://www.dnaheritage.com/tutorial1.asp
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gkbopp/DNA/DNAtimeline.htm (DNA historical time line of events)
http://worldfamilies.net/helpful_tools.htm (Helpful Tools)
http://worldfamilies.net/y-haplogroups.htm (Y-Haplogroups)
http://worldfamilies.net/mtDNA.htm (mtDNA)
http://worldfamilies.net/regional_project.htm (Geographical Projects)
http://www.chezmaya.com/divers/moving.htm (What Y-DNA looks like)
http://www.ancestry.com/learn/library/article.aspx?article=9816 (Genetic genealogy- survey)
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~geneticgenealogy/ (eclectic collection of DNA links-Little)
http://www.dnafiles.org/resources/index.html (Miscellaneous information about DNA, not specifically about genealogical use of DNA)
http://www.smgf.org/resources/papers/PosterASHG2003.pdf (Pilot project showing how autosomal DNA can be used in genealogy)

DNA Surname Projects being carried out:
http://www.worldfamilies.net/ (World Families Network- comprehensive DNA project list)
http://www.dnalist.net/ (DNA surname projects)
http://www.duerinck.com/surname.html (Duerinck webpage- gives a list of surname projects being done)
http://www.le.ac.uk/genetics/maj4/surnames.html (Research project on surnames & DNA)

DNA Test Companies:
http://dna.woodruffgenealogy.net/ydnacomp.htm (Test company comparison chart)*****
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pUnr6rAB3u4lLJBq9_6t1Uw (Test company calibration adjustments)*****
http://www.genetealogy.com/resources/html/cat11.html (List of main test companies)
http://dnaconsultants.com/dna_tests/index.html?gclid=COaDx8CV-Y4CFQSOggod63Tv3g (DNA Consulting)
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bonsteinandgilpin/dna/ydnaco.htm (List of markers tested by various companies)
http://www.thegeneticgenealogist.com/comparison.htm).2 (Comparisons of many of the genealogical DNA testing companies, note prices given for some companies don't include sizable discounts offered to surname projects being don't through those companies.)
http://www.thegeneticgenealogist.com/markerlist.htm).Blaine (Comparison of markers tested by different test companies.)
www.familytreedna.com or www.familytreedna.co.uk (Family Tree DNA)***
(A company with a wide range of DNA services, good resources to assist customers, and a very good reputation for customer services. See http://www.ftdna.com/sitemap.html for FTDNA web site map. Note FTDNA invite interested genealogists to subscribe to their free DNA newsletter. For anyone considering whether DNA has any use in genealogy, this newsletter/ magazine is a good way to get monthly updates and information on the use of DNA in genealogy... see http://www.familytreeDNA.com/fgregister.asp    Past issues of the newsletter can be seen at http://www.familytreeDNA.com/facts_genes.asp?act=past Several have been intrigued by the report on the Meates project in the past issue of the magazine at the following link, this dramatically shows how DNA can be used in genealogy... Facts & Genes Volume 3, Issue 6, October 21, 2004 ***)
http://www.igenea.com/index.php?content=31&test=y-12-group (FTDNA Swiss Office)
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB119509026198193566.html (African DNA)
http://www.dnaheritage.com/ (DNA Heritage)***
DNAHeritage_link1.gif (12168 bytes)
http://www.relativegenetics.com/index.jsp http://66.235.201.45:8085/relativegenetics / (Relative Genetics)*
http://www.cambridgedna.com (Cambridge DNA- Cambridge DNA Services offers autosomal DNA ("admixture"), mtDNA ("motherline"), and Y-DNA ("fatherline") tests for use in personal ancestry research.)
http://www.tracegenetics.com/services_gene.html (Trace Genetics- has large Native American database)
http://www.tracegenetics.com/services_gene.html#WYSNP (SNP tests)
http://www.ancestrybydna.com/ (Ethinic Composition)
http://africanancestry.com/ (African Ancestry)
http://www.vita-med.com/ancientdna.cfm (Remains Testing)
http://www.geogene.com/index.htm (GeoGene)
http://beta.genetrack.com/index.php (Genetrack)
http://www.oxfordancestors.com/ (Oxford Ancestors)
http://www.rootsforreal.com/english/eng-home.html (Roots For Real- MtDNA only?))
http://www.0800-gentest.de/ (biotix GmbH- Germany)
http://www.genbygen.de/genealogie_genotypisierung.htm (GenByGen- Germany)
http://smgf.org/page.jspx?name=participate   Participating for FREE in the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation DNA research project would assist the Marsh Families DNA Project: (Sorenson research project- not strictly a test company, but is offering free tests in a research project. Results are are not directly given to participants, but there are ways they can be obtained. Contact John Marsh for suggestions about how to obtain results. I recommend that all male Marshes consider being tested. In the long run, it would be a huge help to the Marsh DNA Project to have a wide range of Marshes tested. Please tell John Marsh if you are tested in the Sorenson research project, as it will make it easier to locate results, if it is known who has been tested. The free tests will not be offered indefinitely, so if you are interested, take your chance while it is there. Being a research project, they are doing a wider range of tests than commercial test labs, so it may be that we learn some remarkable things not obtainable from other sources.)
http://www.smgf.org/pages/smgf_genetree.jspx (relevant in relation to SMGF above)
http://dnawitness.net (Ancestry by DNA)
http://www.ancientdna.com/ (Ancient DNA, not structured for normal genealogical DNA testing, but may be useful trying to recover DNA from artifacts belonging to deceased ancestors.)
http://www.biotix.de/index.php?newlang=eng (Biotix, German company, ... offering some good services, renamed DNA Fingerprint, see new contact details below)
http://www.dna-fingerprint.com (DNA Fingerprint, new name for biotix)*****
http://www.isogg.org/extractionchart.htm (DNA extraction from personal effects, hair, stamps etc)
http://www.ethnoancestry.com/ (Ethnoancestry)*****
https://www5.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/ (National Geographic Genographic Project- not strictly a test company, and the results are not primarily designed for "genealogical" purposes. However, anyone with results from the Genographic Project will be able to use their results to get some comparison to Marshes tested in the Marsh DNA Project. Any Marsh tested in the Geonographic project is invited to contact John Marsh ajmarsh@arrrg.org, for assistance with comparing to Marshes in the Marsh Families DNA Project.)
http://www.ftdna.com/ftdna_genographic.html (FTDNA site, comments re National Geographic Project)
http://www.clanlindsay.com/new_page_4.htm (List of markers tested by test companies)
http://www.chromosomal-labs.com (Chromosomal Laboratories)
www.dnatribes.com
www.healthanddna.com/genealogy.html (Genelex)
http://www.genebase.com/
http://www.preventiongenetics.com/ (Method for good quality long term DNA storage.)***
http://dnaaction.com/usa/dna-preservation.asp (DNA Preservation Service)
http://www.dnaancestryproject.com/ydna_intro_howto.php
http://www.argusbio.com/about_us.html?osCsid=205c1c824eb40df4f7f09ae7d51a59d1 (Argusbio)
http://www.genetictechnologies.com.au/index_general.asp?menuid=040.010 (Australian DNA tests)
http://www.familygenetics.co.uk/ (Family Genetics)
http://www.whatman.com/products/?pageID=7.31.31 (DNA storage cards)
http://www.preventiongenetics.com/resgeno/researchgeno.htm (Specialist types of DNA testing etc)
http://www.eyeondna.com/2007/06/21/dna-testing-in-the-czech-republic/ (Czech DNA companies- prices in the article are misleading, it seems only 12 markers are tested, and services are limited.)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/NYF01016112007-1.htm (deCODEme- to test 1 million base sections of DNA for SNPs)
http://www.decodeme.com/ (deCODEme)

Genealogical DNA testing available in Johannesburg, South Africa:
PO Box 1038, Human Genomic Diversity and Disease Unit, School of Pathology, Wits, NHLS, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2000

DNA Storage:
Since I have been running the Marsh DNA Project, I have been contacted by a number of Marsh descendants who have no male line relatives living. In some cases, the last male line relative had recently died, and the options for getting samples for DNA testing are no longer available. I suggest that if there is a single direct male line Marsh relative in your family, that you might consider finding a way to get DNA stored for testing in the future. If they are very elderly, it might also suggest obtaining DNA samples should be considered in the near future. Most test companies store DNA for free, itfa test is purchased from their company. Some will process and store DNA for a relatively small fee. An alternative is also simple storage kits which can be purchased to enable DNA of relatives to be stored in your own home, so that you have freedom to get testing done at any test company in the future. As DNA science is rapidly advancing, who can say the exciting opportunities we may have in the future, for learning about our family origins with DNA. If DNA is stored, it is a cheap insurance policy which enable future testing.
http://www.thegeneticgenealogist.com/2007/08/28/dna-from-the-dead-dna-banking-is-legal-but-is-it-ethical-part-i/ (DNA Storage)
http://www.preventiongenetics.com/ (Method for good quality long term DNA storage.)***
http://dnaaction.com/usa/dna-preservation.asp (DNA Preservation Service)
http://preventiongenetics.com/ (Storage using Blood)
http://www.thegeneticgenealogist.com/?s=DNA+Banking&x=15&y=8 (DNA Banking)
http://preventiongenetics.com/ (DNA Storage)

DNA Consultants & related services:
http://www.isogg.org/consult.htm (DNA Consultants & related services)

DNA accessories:
http://www.dnapin.com/ (If you have been DNA tested, and have learned which DNA "haplogroup" you are a member of, you can purchase pins to wear which show your haplogroup)
http://home.comcast.net/~libpjr1/dnapins.htm (Haplogroup pins etc.)
http://www.dna-fingerprint.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Downloads&file=index&req=viewdownload&cid=2 (Omnipop spreadsheet.)
http://www.dna-rainbow.org/ ("DNA rainbow" perhaps interesting, but not strictly useful for genealogy)

Glossary of DNA terms:
http://www.kerchner.com/dna-info.htm (Glossary, use "Genetic Genalogy Glossary" link second line on page)
http://edmund-rice.org/dnagloss.htm (Glossary of DNA terms)
http://www.contexo.info/DYSYCAII.htm (Technical information.)
http://www.genomatix.de/online_help/help/sequence_formats.html (DNA Sequence formats)

DNA is cost effective research:
http://www.familytreeDNA.com/facts_genes.asp?act=show&nk=2.9 (DNA costs compared to alternatives)

Interpretation of results:
http://www.davidkfaux.org/dnaprofile2 (example of one person's interpretation of his results for haplotype R1b)

Haplotree etc: (Note, this seems to be modified over time, particularly for subclades)
http://isogg.org/tree/ (ISOGG Haplotree)
http://www.familytreedna.com/haplotree.htm (Haplotree)
http://www.le.ac.uk/genetics/maj4/JoblingTS.03.NRG.Review.pdf (Includes Haplotree- takes a while to download)
http://www.rafonda.com/age.html (Age and origin of the human species)
http://ycc.biosci.arizona.edu/nomenclature_system/frontpage.html (Y chromosome consortium web site)
http://www.fluxus-engineering.com (Phylogenetic genetic chart software)
http://www.cstl.nist.gov/biotech/strbase/pub_pres/Vallone2004a.pdf (Haplotree)

Genetic distance:
http://nitro.biosci.arizona.edu/ftDNA/Distance.html#Step
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gkbopp/KINNEY/Research/gendistance.htm (Genetic distance)
http://www.mymcgee.com/tools/index.html (Software to produce a table to compare genetic distance)
http://www.familytreedna.com/GDRules_37.html (37 markers, interpreting "relatedness" from genetic distance)
http://www.mymcgee.com/tools/index.html (Genetic distance grid software)
http://www.mymcgee.com/results.html#geneticdistance (Genetic distance calculator)

Human Genome/ Technical articles about Y-DNA/ DNA testing etc:
http://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/mapview (information on the parts of the human genome)
http://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/mapview?chr=Y (Y-Chromosome technical data)***
http://www.genome.gov/Pages/EducationKit/online.htm (Human Genome research- includes animated tutorials)
http://jimwatsonsequence.cshl.edu/cgi-perl/gbrowse/jwsequence/ (James Watson Personal Genome sequence)
http://www.biomedcentral.com/news/20040527/01 (Chimpanzee DNA differs from Human)
http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/GENEALOGY-DNA/2002-09/1032905676 (Chimpanzee Y-DNA)
http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050829/full/050829-9.html (Full chimpanzee genome sequenced.)
http://www.nature.com/nsu/010215/010215-5.html ( "The Y Chromosome: Goldmine and Junkyard")
http://genome.ucsc.edu/cgi-bin/hgTracks?clade=vertebrate&org=Human&db=hg17&position=chrY&pix=620&hgsid=42345570&Submit=submit (Human Genome Browser)
http://human.genelynx.org/cgi-bin/record?glid=24991 (Genelynx data)
http://www.nature.com/nature/focus/humangenome/ (re articles, human genome, at Nature>)
http://www.sanger.ac.uk/Info/Press/2004/041020.shtml
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/03/050328174826.htm (Human DNA & Primates)
http://www.cstl.nist.gov/div831/strbase/ystr_fact.htm (Known Y-DNA STRs... DYS nos. etc.)
http://www.contexo.info/DYSYCAII.htm (electropherograms etc.)***
http://www.dna-fingerprint.com/index.php?module=photoshare&func=showimages&fid=1 (electropherogram library)
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,16163799%5E24331,00.html (sequencing whole genome $3m.)
http://www.cstl.nist.gov/div831/strbase/pub_pres/ISFG_%20Y-STRupdate.pdf (220 potentially useful Y-DNA markers)
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/16/health/16cnd-gene.html?ex=1106958798&ei=1&en=a59890bdf130f014 (Fertility- longevity)
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2004/20040030.htm (Human Tissue Act)
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2004/40030--d.htm#45 (Non-consensual analysis of DNA is at section 45)
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1541283-1,00.html (How we became human)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/SNP/snp_ref.cgi?rs=9786153 (Human Genome database)
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Science/2007/07/31/most_complete_primate_gene_study_reported/7928/
http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2007/730/4
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/jfo/2007/00000052/00000001/art00008 (DNA extraction from hair)

DNA and historic figures:
http://www.isogg.org/famousdna.htm (DNA database of famous people) ***
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/resolve?AJHG024530PDF (article about Genghis Khan)
http://egweb.bcgsc.ca/journal_club/2003_2004/pdfs/short_report_031006_mongol_Y_chrom.pdf (Mongolian DNA- Genghis Khan)
http://www.angelfire.com/va/TJTruth/ (Thomas Jefferson- there are many DNA articles on the net about Jefferson, his Y-DNA was DYS19 = 15 DYS388 =12 DYS389-1 = 12 DYS389-2 = 27 DYS390 = 24 DYS391 = 10 DYS392 = 15 DYS393 = 13)
http://www.ysearch.org/lastname_view.asp?uid=&letter=&lastname=Devereaux&viewuid=PW3G7&p=0 (Historically the Devereaux family are believed to have the same Y-DNA origins as William the Conqueror [from William's great uncle]. A DNA study has been started to try and establish the ancestral Y-DNA of the Devereaux family. This result is for a Devereaux who does not have a confirmed line back to William I's great uncle, but it is a step towards identifying William's Y-DNA.)
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20040119/columbus.html (Christopher Colombus)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/08/us/08columbus.html?_r=2&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1191859208-WfbjoYGJiDXfns94DtOQog (Christopher Colombus)
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/story.jsp?story=6 (Christopher Colombus)
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/articles/norse.htm (DNA of Somerled, Scottish clan chieftain circa 1100)
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-01/uom-uom011706.php (Abe Lincoln)
http://jimwatsonsequence.cshl.edu/cgi-perl/gbrowse/jwsequence/ (James Watson Personal Genome sequence)

Stories about how people have used DNA in genealogy:
http://www.richmond.com/locallife/output.cfm?ID=2777655&vertical=LocalLife
http://jgg-online.blogspot.com/
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/14/arts/14reun.html?_r=1&oref=slogin (West family)
http://www.aconews.com/articles/2007/08/08/noc/news/news18.txt (Berry family)
www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=e8a3a0de-cdd1-4059-9cca-401853e35927
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article2753556.ece

DNA from ancient sources:
NOTE: Paavo at the Max Planck institute in Germany is the leader in this area now and he is making some exciting predictions.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=13890656&ft=1&f=1007 (Ancient DNA from spit)
http://www.isogg.org/ancientdna.htm (Ancient DNA)
http://dienekes.blogspot.com/2005/03/ancient-dna-compendium.html (Ancient DNA Compendium)
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20040621/bison.html (DNA from ancient hair- including Isaac Newton)
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s1158845.htm (Bronze age)
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/Displayarticle.asp?section=theuae&xfile=data/theuae/2004/december/theuae_december568.xml (7,500 year old DNA)
http://www.cr.nps.gov/archeology/kennewick/kaestle.htm (Attempts to get DNA from Kenwick Man)
http://www.archaeology.org/online/news/dna.html (Neanderthal DNA)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13955661/from/ET/ (Full Neanderthal DNA will be sequenced in 2 years)
http://www.nature.com/nature/videoarchive/neanderthaldna (Video, Neanderthal DNA)
http://ealerts.nature.com/cgi-bin24/DM/y/ebF10Sn1nD0HjB0BFjT0Ec (Neanderthal)
http://arstechnica.com/journals/science.ars/2006/5/16/3992 (Neanderthal DNA)
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.07/caveman.html (Neanderthal DNA)
http://www.isogg.org/neanderthaldna.htm (Neanderthal mtDNA)
http://www.archaeology.org/0611/abstracts/neanderthals.html
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn10275-neanderthal-dna-illuminates-split-with-humans.html (Neanderthal DNA)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/02/science/02nean.html?_r=1&ref=science&oref=slogin (Neanderthal DNA)
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/1147417 (Neanderthal DNA suggests some had red hair and fair skin.)
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=689114 (400 year old Jamestown DNA sample)
http://www.nature.com/news/about/aboutus.html#Dalton (10,000 year old American cave man DNA)
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7988 (DNA from fossil bones.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4260334.stm (Extracting better quality DNA from ancient sources.)
http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1476399 (mtDNA from Wales 24,000 years ago)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/08/14/ndna14.xml (DNA from 1000 year old Pict bones)
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=12858290 (2000 year old Egyin Gol DNA)
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s1722109.htm (Suggestions some human DNA comes from Neanderthals)
http://www.praguepost.com/articles/2007/04/25/dna-unmasks-czech-past.php (1000 year old Czech DNA)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21015458/ (Mammoth DNA- techniques for extracting DNA from ancient hair.)

DNA databases:
http://www.ysearch.org/ (Y-Search Public database run by FTDNA)
http://www.ybase.org/default.asp (Y-Base Public database)
http://www.ystr.org/ http://ystr.org (20,000+ database, recently improved search features.)
www.yhrd.org www.ystr.org (Y-STR database)
http://www.contexo.info/megaspreadsheet.htm (Y-STR Allele frequencies)
http://www.ybase.org/statistics.asp (Y-STR Allele frequencies)
http://ystr.charite.de/index_gr.html (Haplotype reference database)
http://smgf.org/page.jspx?name=sorensondatabase (SMGF database)
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~geneticgenealogy/SMGF/search4.htm (Search engine for Sorenson database by Leo Little)
http://www.dna-fingerprint.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=ymatch (Y-Match DNA Fingerprint database)
http://smgf.org:8081/pubgen/site28.jsp (Sorensen Moelcular Genealogy Foundation- Database- also for an article about Jim Sorenson, founder of the database see... http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/10454610p-11374060c.html )
http://new.relativegenetics.com (Relative Genetics... new database, URL may change after testing)
http://www.oxfordancestors.com/members/yline/?msg=noresults (Oxford Ancestors Database- may need to log on a guest. From FTDNA calibration, "You'll need to convert your DYS389 numbers: subtract 3 from both DYS389-1 and DYS389-2, then subtract DYS389-1 from DYS389-2 to get DYS389ii-i (Roman numeral two minus one). For example, if your results are 13-29, you would enter 10-16 at OA. You will also need a value for DYS425 -- 12 is a very strong modal in several haplogroups, although I don't know about J1. Not many companies measure DYS425.")
http://www.dna-fingerprint.com/user.php?op=register&module=NS-NewUser (DNA Fingerprint database, new user)
http://www.sun-herald.com/NewsArchive2/061904/tp3np3.htm?date=061904&story=tp3np3.htm (Adopted child/parent DNA database)
www.identigene.com/SWIMX/Products/dff_main.asp (Adopted child/parent DNA database)
http://www.familytreedna.com/public/adoptees/ (Adoptees DNA Project)
http://www.donorsiblingregistry.com/ (Donor Sibling Registry)
http://www.africanancestry.com/databasemain.html (African Ancestry Database)
http://www.mymcgee.com/tools/yutility.html (Y-DNA comparison utility programme, not a database, but can be used in conjunction with databases).
http://www.appliedbiosystems.com/yfilerdatabase/ (Y Filer Database)
http://www.mymcgee.com/tools/yutility.html (McGee DNA comparison utility)*

MARSH FAMILIESDNA PROJECT John Marsh, Project Administrator, ajmarsh@arrrg.org 1) Information about the DNA Project

MARSH FAMILIES
DNA PROJECT
John Marsh, Project Administrator, ajmarsh@arrrg.org
1) Information about the DNA Project