GeneTree

Last updated
GeneTree
Type of site
Family history website
Owner Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (2001–2013)
URL www.genetree.com
CommercialYes
Launched1997 (1997)
Current statusClosed on January 1, 2013 (2013-01-01)

GeneTree was a family history website focused on using DNA testing to trace ancestry. [1] A website account was free, and within their account users could order DNA tests, enter results from other testing companies, search the DNA database, create an online family tree, and correspond with family members – including sharing pictures. [2]

Contents

Genetree.com was closed on January 1, 2013 and its assets were transferred to Ancestry.com. [3]

History

GeneTree was founded in 1997 by a graduate of Wayne State University’s Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Terrence Carmichael, who earned a master’s degree in molecular biology and genetics in 1995. Genetree did not offer multi-generational genealogy tests initially. Carmichael declared, “Over 95 percent of our first-year business was in paternity testing.” In fall 2001, GeneTree sold its assets to Salt Lake City-based Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation ("SMGF") which originated in 1999. [4]

The GeneTree website brought together elements of several existing Sorenson Companies: DNA testing by Sorenson Genomics, the DNA-genealogy database established by the SMGF research project, and the media sharing abilities of Sorenson Media. [5] [6]

In 2012, Ancestry.com announced to its customers, "In March, Ancestry.com DNA, LLC acquired access to an extensive collection of DNA assets from SMGF." [7] Genetree.com was discontinued on January 1, 2013 and access to family trees was no longer made available through the GeneTree site. [3] Prior to that date, Ancestry.com offered their subscribers who were former GeneTree customers an opportunity to download their DNA test results and manually enter them at Ancestry.com. Beginning January 1, 2013, those who don't have a current subscription to Ancestry.com no longer had access to their GeneTree DNA results. [8]

DNA tests

Y chromosome

GeneTree offered Y chromosome DNA testing (males only) that gives information about paternal ancestry, including 33-marker and a 46-marker test. [9] YDNA is passed from father to son, so males with the same YDNA often have the same surname in addition to sharing a male ancestor. [10]

Mitochondrial DNA

GeneTree offered mitochondrial DNA testing (males and females) that gives information about maternal ancestry. [11] GeneTree's tests look at HVR1, HVR2, and HVR3 of the mtDNA. mtDNA is passed from mother to children, so people with the same mtDNA share a female ancestor. [12]

DNA and genealogy services

In addition to DNA testing services, GeneTree sold consultation services to help customers further understand their test results. [13]

Press

See also

Related Research Articles

In human genetics, the Y-chromosomal most recent common ancestor is the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) from whom all currently living males are descended patrilineally. The term Y-MRCA reflects the fact that the Y chromosomes of all currently living human males are directly derived from the Y chromosome of this remote ancestor. The analogous concept of the matrilineal most recent common ancestor is known as "Mitochondrial Eve", the most recent woman from whom all living humans are descended matrilineally. As with "Mitochondrial Eve", the title of "Y-chromosomal Adam" is not permanently fixed to a single individual, but can advance over the course of human history as paternal lineages become extinct.

In biology and genealogy, the most recent common ancestor (MRCA), last common ancestor (LCA), or concestor of a set of organisms is the most recent individual from which all the organisms of the set are descended. The term is also used in reference to the ancestry of groups of genes (haplotypes) rather than organisms.

Genetic genealogy is the use of Genealogical DNA tests, i.e. DNA profiling and DNA testing in combination with traditional genealogical methods, to infer biological relationships between individuals. Genetic genealogy involves the use of genealogical DNA testing to determine the level and type of the genetic relationship between individuals. This application of genetics became to be used by family historians in the 21st century, as tests became affordable. The tests have been promoted by amateur groups, such as surname study groups, or regional genealogical groups, as well as research projects such as the Genographic Project.

The Genographic Project, launched on April 13, 2005 by the National Geographic Society, was a genetic anthropological study that aims to map historical human migration patterns by collecting and analyzing DNA samples. The current phase of the project is Geno 2.0 Next Generation. As of 2018, almost one-million participants in over 140 countries have joined the project.

A genealogical DNA test is a DNA-based test which looks at specific locations of a person's genome, in order to find or verify ancestral genealogical relationships or to estimate the ethnic mixture of an individual. Since different testing companies use different ethnic reference groups and different matching algorithms, ethnicity estimates for an individual will vary between tests, sometimes dramatically.

Haplogroup K is a human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup. It is defined by the HVR1 mutations 16224C and 16311C.

Haplogroup V is a human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup. The clade is believed to have originated over 14,000 years ago in the Near East.

A hypervariable region (HVR) is a location within nuclear DNA or the D-loop of mitochondrial DNA in which base pairs of nucleotides repeat or have substitutions. Changes or repeats in the hypervariable region are highly polymorphic.

Since the early years of genetic research, the Sami people have caught the interests of scientists. The Sami languages belong to the Uralic languages family of Eurasia. Some earlier anthropologists have suggested they might be of Asian and/or Siberian origin. The frequency of blood group and protein polymorphisms in Sami differs significantly from the general Northern European population.

In genetic genealogy, a unique-event polymorphism (UEP) is a genetic marker that corresponds to a mutation that is likely to occur so infrequently that it is believed overwhelmingly probable that all the individuals who share the marker, worldwide, will have inherited it from the same common ancestor, and the same single mutation event.

Family Tree DNA genetic testing provider

FamilyTreeDNA is a division of Gene by Gene, a commercial genetic testing company based in Houston, Texas. FamilyTreeDNA offers analysis of autosomal DNA, Y-DNA, and mitochondrial DNA to individuals for genealogical purpose. With a database of more than two million records, it is the most popular company worldwide for Y-DNA and mitochondrial DNA, and the fourth most popular for autosomal DNA. In Europe, it is the most common also for autosomal DNA.

The Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF) was an independent DNA and genealogical research institution with the goal of demonstrating how the peoples of the world are related. SMGF collected DNA samples and genealogical information from individuals across the globe to establish these connections.

The Melungeon DNA Project is a genetic study started in 2005 by the private company Family Tree DNA of people with identified Melungeon ancestors, mostly residing in Hancock County, Tennessee and nearby areas of Kentucky. The Melungeon people are a mixed-race group who married within the group up until about 1900. There was speculation about their identity and ancestry for decades, and many differing accounts of their origins.

The genetic history of the British Isles is the subject of research within the larger field of human population genetics. It has developed in parallel with DNA testing technologies capable of identifying genetic similarities and differences between populations. The conclusions of population genetics regarding the British Isles in turn draw upon and contribute to the larger field of understanding the history of humanity in the British Isles generally, complementing work in linguistics, archaeology, history and genealogy.

In human mitochondrial genetics, Haplogroup H5 is a human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup descended from Haplogroup H (mtDNA). H5 is defined by T16304C in the HVR1 region and 456 in the HVR2 region.

African admixture in Europe Genetic admixture of African and European peoples throughout history

African admixture in Europe refers to the presence of admixture events attributable to dispersal of populations inhabiting Africa in the genetic history of Europe. Certain Y-DNA and mtDNA lineages are thought to have spread from Northeast Africa to the Near East during the later Pleistocene, and from there to Europe with the Neolithic Revolution. More recent, direct African admixture – primarily Berber admixture from North Africa – is associated with the Carthaginian period as well as Muslim conquests of the early medieval period, and is primarily concentrated in western and southern Iberian peninsula, averaging from 2.4% in the North East to 10.6% in the South and West of the peninsula. North African admixture has also been detected in the Italian island of Sicily.

Haplogroup G-FGC7535, also known as Haplogroup G2a1, is a Y-chromosome haplogroup. It is an immediate descendant of G2a (G-P15), which is a primary branch of haplogroup G2 (P287).

Bennett Greenspan Founder of Family Tree DNA

Bennett C. Greenspan is an American businessman. His business ventures have covered industries from real estate to the .com boom. Though he has mainly worked in the fields of photography and genetic testing, he is best known for his pioneering work in genetic genealogy.

International Society of Genetic Genealogy organization

The International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG) is an independent non-commercial nonprofit organization of genetic genealogists run by volunteers. It was founded by a group of surname DNA project administrators in 2005 to promote DNA testing for genealogy. It advocates the use of genetics in genealogical research, provides educational resources for genealogists interested in DNA testing, and facilitates networking among genetic genealogists. As of June 2013, it comprises over 8,000 members in 70 countries. As of July 2013, regional meetings are coordinated by 20 volunteer regional coordinators located in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, Egypt, Ireland and Russia.

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2014-11-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ↑ EON article on GeneTree launch
  3. 1 2 "GeneTree FAQ". GeneTree. Archived from the original on 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2014-11-06.
  4. ↑ editor, "CMMG alum launches multi-million dollar genetic testing company" Archived 2017-08-09 at the Wayback Machine , Alum notes, Wayne State University, School of Medicine's alumni journal, Vol. 17, num.2, Spring 2006 page 1, accessed 24 Jan 2013
  5. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-12-30. Retrieved 2010-08-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ↑ Havenstein, Heather. "Genealogy site uses DNA and social networks to trace ancestors".
  7. ↑ Ancestry.com buys GeneTree and launches new service Accessed 24 Jan 2013
  8. ↑ http://ancestry.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5499 Moving your information from GeneTree to Ancestry.com
  9. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-09-23. Retrieved 2010-08-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-12-30. Retrieved 2010-08-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-09-12. Retrieved 2010-08-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-12-30. Retrieved 2010-08-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ↑ "March – 2010 – The Genetic Genealogist".
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